Appreciation post: My uncle's advice on my swamp cooler saved me a ton of money

Last week, my swamp cooler on the roof started making a loud grinding noise. I was about to call a repair guy, but my uncle told me to check the float valve first. Sure enough, it was stuck, and the pads were bone dry. I cleaned the valve with some vinegar and it started working perfectly again. Has anyone else had a simple fix like that save them from a big bill?

3 comments

3 Comments

vera_campbell1mo agoMost Upvoted

Oh man, that is the best feeling! My old swamp cooler was leaking a few summers back and I was sure the whole pan was rusted out. My neighbor said to just check the drain plug, and it had a tiny crack. A three dollar replacement from the hardware store and it was good as new. I almost called a service that would have charged me a hundred just to show up.

terry_lewis211mo agoTop Commenter

Always figured you needed a pro for that stuff, but maybe not.

henry3151mo ago

Why do we always assume the worst? Most of the time it's just a tiny part that's gummed up or worn out. A little looking before calling can save your wallet.