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1. Arrival Speech
“Hi, I’m ______ with JL Heating & Air. I’m here to get your swamp cooler ready for the
season — new pads if needed, clean it out, check the pump and motor, and get water running so it’s
ready to cool. Anything it was doing wrong last summer I should know about?”
Park professionally and arrive clean/professional.
Greet client, confirm summerize service, ask about last season’s issues.
Take arrival photos of cooler, pads, water line, and roof/work area.
2. Safety & Roof Access Most coolers are on the roof. Ladder and roof safety first — secure footing, no wet roof, watch power lines. Shut power off before touching the motor or wiring.
Set up ladder safely; check roof condition before climbing.
Shut OFF the cooler breaker / disconnect before working on it.
Confirm power is off before touching motor, pump, or wiring.
Bring tools/pads up safely — don’t carry loose by hand on the ladder.
3. Open & Inspect Cabinet Remove winter cover (set aside for re-use in fall).
Remove panels/louvers; inspect cabinet for rust-through and leaks.
Scrape and clean rust/scale; treat or coat the pan if needed.
Clean out leaves, dirt, and mineral buildup from the pan.
4. Pads Inspect existing pads — replace aspen pads (most years) or clean rigid media.
Install correct size/type pads, seated fully with no gaps.
Confirm pad frames/clips hold pads firmly against the louvers.
5. Water System — Pump, Float & Distribution Clean/inspect pump; clear intake screen of scale and debris.
Clear distribution tubes / spider lines and the water troughs above the pads.
Check/adjust float valve so water shuts off at the correct level.
Confirm bleed-off / purge line is installed and clear (controls mineral buildup).
Check overflow / standpipe is correct height and clear.
6. Belt, Motor & Blower Inspect belt for cracking/glazing; replace if worn. Set proper tension (~½–¾" deflection).
Check pulleys/sheaves for alignment and wear; tighten set screws.
Oil motor and blower bearings if they have oil ports.
Spin blower wheel by hand — check for wobble, rubbing, and debris.
Belt Size Motor HP / Speed
7. Electrical Inspect motor wiring, junction box, and switch for damage or corrosion.
Check disconnect/whip and confirm proper grounding.
Test the cooler switch (vent / cool / pump) operation.
8. Turn Water On The water line was likely shut off and drained for winter. Turn it back on slowly and watch for leaks before walking away.
Reconnect water line to the cooler if it was disconnected for winter.
Open the water supply / saddle valve slowly.
Check the saddle valve and line for leaks. Replace a weeping saddle valve.
Let the pan fill; confirm float shuts off at the right level (no overflow).
9. Start-Up & Test Run PUMP first and let pads soak before running the blower (prevents dry-blowing dust).
Confirm water is reaching ALL pads evenly through the distribution lines.
Turn blower on; listen for noise, vibration, and belt squeal.
Confirm good airflow at the registers inside and cool, not musty, air.
Recheck for leaks and confirm bleed-off is dripping as designed.
Confirm a window/vent is cracked so the cooler has somewhere to push air.
10. Customer Walkthrough Show the switch settings (pump/cool vs vent only).
Remind them to crack a window/vent when running, and to run pump before blower.
Note when fall shut-down/winterize should be scheduled.
Notes / Recommendations
11. Cleanup & Closeout Remove old pads, packaging, and debris from roof and yard.
Reinstall all panels/louvers securely.
Take final photos of new pads, clean pan, and running unit.
Secure ladder and leave the area clean.
“You’re all set for the season — new pads, cleaned out, water’s running, and it’s cooling.
Remember to crack a window when it’s on. We’ll reach out in the fall to winterize it so the line doesn’t freeze.
Anything else while I’m here?”
Final Pass Pads in & soaked
Water on — no leaks, float set
Pump & blower running right
Good airflow inside
Panels on, area clean
Client informed + photos done
JL Heating & Air — Internal helper training checklist. Run the pump and soak the pads before the blower. Confirm no leaks before leaving.