Evaporative Water Coolers - Replacing Rooftop Swamp Cooler
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Lennygrt
06-01-09, 04:26 PM
My central swamp cooler is about 30 years old and beginning to rust out. It also is noisy. I have some questions about what model to go with:
Replace with similar cyprus basic model. Existing one does job very well. Replace with the Penguin which has an extra filter as well as the cyprus fiber. OR Replace with the new hi-tech model. Power company gives $200 rebate on basic and $500 for the top of the line models. Basic models run around $500 and hi-tech goes for $1700 before the rebates. Will their be any payback on the expensive model? In Colorado we very rarely run anything after dark, so operating is very economical.
Also question how one gets such a bulky and heavy unit up on the roof safely without danger and damage to roofing? Possibly a basic unit that comes apart into manageable size parts? I assume a contractor would charge several thousand dollars to do the replacement. Since its a replacement with power and water at the old unit, its not rocket science, just the physical challenge. Know I can get the old one down in parts.
Replace with similar cyprus basic model. Existing one does job very well. Replace with the Penguin which has an extra filter as well as the cyprus fiber. OR Replace with the new hi-tech model. Power company gives $200 rebate on basic and $500 for the top of the line models. Basic models run around $500 and hi-tech goes for $1700 before the rebates. Will their be any payback on the expensive model? In Colorado we very rarely run anything after dark, so operating is very economical.
Also question how one gets such a bulky and heavy unit up on the roof safely without danger and damage to roofing? Possibly a basic unit that comes apart into manageable size parts? I assume a contractor would charge several thousand dollars to do the replacement. Since its a replacement with power and water at the old unit, its not rocket science, just the physical challenge. Know I can get the old one down in parts.
sammy37
06-02-09, 09:32 AM
I am confused with some of the wording that you've used, I assume when you say cyprus fiber that your refering to aspen pad? When you say penguin cooler, are you refering to the one that essick sells? That is a dual inlet model which is simillar to the recently discontinued roto-belt cooler that they manufactured since the early 80's. I would avoid the penguin model, as many of the parts in that cooler must be special ordered, also that is a very heavy unit.
Your best bet is to run over to Lowes and buy one of their single inlet coolers. The advantage to them is that they use an 8" thick Celdek pad that is far superior to anything else and the wet section is sperate from the blower cabinet, in meaning that no water surrounds the blower area.
The other advantage to single inlet coolers is that you can take them apart into two sections to move them up to the roof. Lowes also sells the leg kits for these for easy mounting.
As far as contractors go, labor is not that high for an evap cooler changeout.
One last note, try to avoid some of the real high dollar coolers that may not be as common as what lowes or home depot sells, as they can be hard to get parts for and you dont want to be sitting in a heat wave waiting for specialized parts to arrive.:)
Your best bet is to run over to Lowes and buy one of their single inlet coolers. The advantage to them is that they use an 8" thick Celdek pad that is far superior to anything else and the wet section is sperate from the blower cabinet, in meaning that no water surrounds the blower area.
The other advantage to single inlet coolers is that you can take them apart into two sections to move them up to the roof. Lowes also sells the leg kits for these for easy mounting.
As far as contractors go, labor is not that high for an evap cooler changeout.
One last note, try to avoid some of the real high dollar coolers that may not be as common as what lowes or home depot sells, as they can be hard to get parts for and you dont want to be sitting in a heat wave waiting for specialized parts to arrive.:)