Swamp Cooler Water Lines in Pueblo, CO

How the water gets there

A swamp cooler on the roof or a wall is fed by a small copper or plastic line, usually tapped off a pipe in the basement, attic or utility room, with its own shut-off valve. A float valve inside the cooler tops up the water as it evaporates. Drain or bleed-off lines carry used water away.

Freeze damage

If the cooler line isn't drained in the fall, the water inside freezes and splits the pipe, often where it runs through the attic or along an outside wall. You may not know until the next spring start-up, when water appears on a ceiling.

Leaky valves and saddle taps

Many older coolers were fed with a saddle valve clamped onto an existing pipe. These are prone to dripping and corroding over time. Replacing one with a proper tee and a quarter-turn shut-off makes the line easier to close and much less likely to leak.

Drain and bleed lines

Bleed-off water carries minerals out of the cooler so they don't crust up the pads. The line should drain somewhere safe, not across the roof or against the foundation. A blocked line can overflow the pan and leak inside.

Moving to central air

Homes switching from a swamp cooler to air conditioning often leave the old water line behind. Capping it properly at the source, rather than just closing a valve, removes one more place for a leak or a freeze.

Get the lines checked

Before cooling season, have the line, valve and drain checked, especially if the cooler sat through a hard winter. See the start-up and shut-down guide. Send a request and a plumber will get in touch.