Swamp Cooler — Shut-Down

JL Heating & Air — Fall Winterize / Turn-Off

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Job Info

Pulls today’s Housecall Pro jobs and fills in the customer for you.

Customer Name Phone Address Date Technician / Helper Cooler Type Notes (cover stored? pads pulled?)

1. Arrival Speech

“Hi, I’m ______ with JL Heating & Air. I’m here to winterize your swamp cooler — shut the water off, drain the line so it doesn’t freeze and burst this winter, and seal it up so cold air doesn’t come down into the house. Anything you noticed with it this summer?”

Park professionally and arrive clean/professional.

Greet client, confirm winterize service, ask about summer issues to log for spring.

Take arrival photos of cooler, water line, and roof/work area.

2. Safety & Power Off

Ladder and roof safety first. Shut power off and leave it off for the season so the cooler can’t run dry over winter.

Set up ladder safely; check roof condition before climbing.

Shut OFF the cooler breaker / disconnect.

Confirm the cooler will stay off all winter (tell the customer not to flip it on).

3. Shut Off & Drain Water — DO NOT SKIP

This is the whole point of winterizing. Any water left in the supply line will freeze, expand, and burst the line — flooding the house when it thaws. Shut the water off AND drain the line.

Shut off the water supply / saddle valve feeding the cooler.

Disconnect the water line at the cooler and drain it fully.

Drain the line at any low point / bleeder so no water is trapped to freeze.

Blow out the line with air if it can hold water (especially long exterior runs).

Leave the saddle/supply valve clearly OFF and note its location for spring.

4. Drain & Clean the Pan

Drain all standing water from the reservoir/pan.

Remove mineral scale, sludge, and debris from the pan.

Wipe the pan dry so it doesn’t sit wet and rust all winter.

Note any rust-through or pan damage to repair before spring.

5. Pump & Pads

Drain the pump so no water is trapped inside to freeze and crack it.

Remove worn aspen pads (recommended) or leave per the maintenance plan. Note for spring.

Confirm distribution lines/troughs are drained of standing water.

6. Seal & Cover

Sealing matters as much as draining. An uncovered cooler dumps cold air and the customer’s heat right out the duct all winter.

Reinstall panels/louvers.

Install a fitted winter cover over the cooler (weather/UV protection).

Secure the cover so wind can’t pull it off over winter.

7. Close the Indoor Damper

Close the ceiling/duct damper so cold air doesn’t fall down through the cooler into the house and waste the furnace’s heat.

Locate the cooler damper (ceiling register or in-duct damper).

Close / seal the damper so it’s not leaking cold air into the home.

If there’s no damper, recommend installing one (or a cover panel) for next winter.

8. Customer Walkthrough

Tell them the water is OFF and the cooler should NOT be turned on until spring start-up.

Show them the closed damper and explain it keeps the heat in.

Offer to schedule spring start-up / summerize now.

Notes / Follow-up for Spring

9. Cleanup & Closeout

Remove pulled pads, packaging, and debris from roof and yard.

Take final photos of drained line, covered unit, and closed damper.

Secure ladder and leave the area clean.

“You’re all winterized — water’s off, the line is drained so it won’t freeze, it’s covered, and the damper’s closed so you keep your heat. Don’t turn it on until we come back in the spring. Want me to get you on the schedule for that now?”

Final Pass

Water OFF

Line drained — won’t freeze

Pan & pump drained

Covered & sealed

Indoor damper closed

Client informed + photos done