How To Keep Mold Out of Your Swamp Cooler

5/23/2019 (Permalink)

Leaking swamp cooler

If you live in Unity Village, MO, or in any arid region like the Southwestern United States, you probably know what a leaking swamp cooler is. These home-cooling units are incredibly cost-efficient and effective but can cultivate mold if not maintained properly. Luckily, it’s easy to prevent.

Why Swamp Coolers?

Mold reproduces via microscopic airborne spores that are invisible to the naked eye until they start breeding a colony. They only need the following to multiply:

• Air
• Water
• Any moisture source
  
  

A swamp cooler is the perfect combination of the above. It uses the process of evaporation to cool moistened cellulose pads, runs warm air over them to cool it down and then distributes the cooled air throughout your home, essentially creating humidity. Even better for mold is a leaking swamp cooler. This not only provides a great place to breed mold but also an efficient system for spreading mold throughout the rest of your house.

Preventative Measures

Make sure to open your windows every once-in-a-while to circulate dry air throughout your home. Check your unit often for visible mold, a musty smell or leaks. Be sure to follow all recommended maintenance schedules.

Mold Removal

If you’ve already found mold in your swamp cooler, don’t panic. There are solutions short of replacing the entire unit. If your cellulose pad is infested, you can replace it, and the rest of the components can be cleaned. If you have a leaking swamp cooler, it will need to be repaired. If the mold has spread from the swamp cooler to your air ducts, you should enlist the help of professional mold remediation services because any personal attempts to contain mold damage already in your home could end up spreading it further.

Swamp coolers are a great way to cool your home in a hot, dry place. However, the moisture they introduce can encourage mold growth. Keep an eye on your unit to prevent any mold damage to your home.