How To Replace An Evaporative Cooler Motor

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If you have an evaporative cooler not blowing air, you may have to replace the motor. An evaporative cooler, also known as a swamp cooler because of the humidity it produces, cools the surrounding air through evaporation by filtering water through pads.

The cooled air is sent in the room by the motor. A motor on an evaporative cool isn't difficult to replace. Here are some tips to replace an evaporative cooler motor.

Prepare to Work

For this project, you need:

Unplug the evaporative cooler. If it is hard-wired, you will need to shut off the unit from the breaker panel.

Remove the Old Motor

Loosen the screws that secure the access panel on the back of the unit, and store the hardware in a safe place. The motor is connected to the belt by brackets that swing out or slide on a track. Check the belt, pulley, and bolts for damage as you move along, and replace them, if needed.

Disconnect the wires, and loosen the bolts on the belt, and take it off the pulley. Use the Allen key to detach the bolts on the pulley, and remove the pulley from the motor shaft.

Loosen the bolts on the brackets to remove the motor. If the motor is heavy, get an assistant to help you move it. Clean the inside of the cooler with a damp cloth.

Install the New Motor

Use the old motor as a guide to buy a replacement. Place the new motor on the motor arm, but don't reattach the brackets yet. You want to make certain everything works properly first.

Install the pulley, and tighten the bolts with the Allen key. Ensure the pulley aligns with the blower pulley (the part that resembles a steering wheel), or the pulley could wear out sooner from tension.

Insert the belt on the pulley, then tighten the bolts. Check the belt for slack. The belt should move three-fourths to one-inch as you push on it midway. If the belt needs tightening or loosening, have an assistant hold it while you adjust the bolts.

After you get the right tension, reattach the brackets, and tighten the bolts. Connect the wires following the instructions. Before you reinstall the panel, turn the power back on, and test the unit.

Once you are satisfied everything works properly, reattach the access panel. Clean the outside of the cooler. If the unit doesn't work, or you don't trust your skill, contact an HVAC service, such as Allzone Air Conditioning & Heating Corp.


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