Reddit reviews Standard Plumbing Supply Research Products 7214 Evaporative Cooler Pad, 28" x 34"
We found 1 Reddit comments about Standard Plumbing Supply Research Products 7214 Evaporative Cooler Pad, 28" x 34". Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
The product is easy to useThe product is highly durableThe product is manufactured in China
Evaporative coolers require more maintenance then an A/C unit due to the water involved. Period. But the maintenance is easy. The best design is the MasterCool with the large 8" or 12" cell deck. With proper maintenance the cell decks will last for years if not the entire life if the unit itself. The following is applied to all evap units but mainly non MasterCool brands.
The only difference between a three panel and four panel unit is the discharge location, and one panel obviously. It is mainly for the 'type' of install required and can be sized properly for either configuration. CFM is key! The unit must be able to flush the air in the home at an approximate rate of 30 times per hour. (depending on wet bulb temp, home insulation, etc.) Sounds like a lot and is much more than the A/C unit does, but google it, its true.
Evap cooling is a 'once in-once out' type of cooling. Unlike mechanical cooling that recirculates the air. The home should have a window or two open to release the air from the space. Some homes have 'flopper vents' or relief vents in the ceiling of each room to allow the air to vent to the attic. The attic needs to be vented too. This also keeps attic temps down when its running and is the best way to do it.
For the multi panel units I prefer the 'expanded paper' media over the poly or aspen pads. This link below shows a thin poly pad glued to one side of the paper pad. The poly pad removes more dirt and keeps the inside of the unit and duct work cleaner. I always installed a 1/2" poly pad behind my expanded paper pads before I found these. (Poly pad on the inside!) It also helps keep the skeeters out when its not running! Again, with proper maintenance I got three years on a set of pads. You can buy rolls of the expanded paper at HD & lowes when in season or these precut pads here. https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Plumbing-Supply-7214-Evaporative/dp/B000BOKMKS
If your spider rack or PVC header tubes are plugging up its because you do not have a screen/basket on the pump inlet for debris, or you are not bleeding enough water from the basin to get rid of the calcium. Or the panels are not sealed up and allowing debris to enter around them. You need a small constant bleed when its running or a complete pan rain once a day or two. There are controllers that do this. During the off season wasps like to build nest in them too.
On new installs I would spray or brush "Cooler Coat" (HD/Lowes) in the basin and up the sides a few inches. If not a new install then very thorough cleaning is required before applying the cooler coat. It will peal of if all the calcium and dirt is not removed first. Just like paint. When done properly a quick touch up when needed will allow keep it from rusting out. I had a unit on my first house that ran for 10+ yrs. Draining the unit at the end of the season does more for the life of the unit than anything. Remove the belt from the blower too, to save flat spotting the brass sleeve bearings.
The units with spiders do need some adjusting to maintain proper water flow. This is done by slightly opening or 'partially' blocking the slots in the top of the panels. Usually only needs to be done once at install. but sometimes a little tweak is needed during its life.
If the pads are entirely wet, no dry spots, its doing what its designed to do. Pushing more water does not increase the cooling rate. If its 'evenly' wet down the entire pad, inside and out, that is all that's needed.
There is a myth of adding ice the the basin to help the cooling affect is completely & utterly false. In truth warm water is better because its closer to the evaporation temp of the water on a given day. But its not worth messing with unless you want to play with it. There are DIY kits that put a coil of copper tubing on the top of the unit (paint it black), after the pump, before the spider or header, to heat the water before pouring over the pads.
The best unit, for the longest life, ease of maintenance, and best performance when sized correctly, (relief vents installed) is the MasterCool. Go stainless if the pocketbook will allow and you are going to stay in the home for many, many years.
Source: 25+yrs in HVAC&R. Installed, repaired, maintained and replaced more Evap units than I like to remember.