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GJ Swamp Coolers Grand Valley evaporative cooling
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New or replacement

Replacing a cooler, or adding one

A replacement usually makes sense when the pan or cabinet has rusted through, or when several parts fail in one season. A cooler with a sound cabinet and one worn part is usually worth repairing first. Either way, ask for written prices for both options, and ask about permits before work starts.

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What decides it

Four things to ask about

Single-inlet evaporative cooler cabinet on a metal ground stand beside a stucco house
A single-inlet cabinet on a ground stand.

  • The pan and cabinet

    They hold the water. Rust-through and a leaking pan are the most common reasons to replace instead of repair.

  • Speeds and vent-only

    The Department of Energy recommends a cooler with at least two speeds and a vent-only setting, so it can run as a whole-house fan on mild days.

  • Reusing what is there

    Ask whether the roof opening, duct, water line and wiring can be reused, and what changes if the new unit is a different size or style.

  • Direct or two-stage

    Direct coolers add moisture to the air. Indirect and two-stage designs use a heat exchanger to cool with less added humidity, per the Department of Energy guide. Ask what is available and what it would take.

Permits

Check before work starts

A new or replacement cooler can involve a permit. Mesa County Building handles building permits for unincorporated Mesa County, Palisade and the City of Grand Junction; Fruita has its own Community Development office. Ask before work starts. This site does not decide permit questions.

Mesa County Building DepartmentCity of Fruita Community DevelopmentCity of Grand Junction permits

Questions

Replacement questions

How do I know what size cooler I need?
This site does not size coolers. Sizing needs the manufacturer data and a look at the house: floor area, layout, ceiling height, duct and window paths. Ask the installer how they sized it, and get it in writing.
Do I need a permit to replace a swamp cooler?
A new or replacement cooler can involve a permit. Mesa County Building handles building permits for unincorporated Mesa County, Palisade and the City of Grand Junction; Fruita has its own Community Development office. Ask before work starts. This site does not decide permit questions.
Should I switch to refrigerated air instead?
Maybe. It depends on how you handle humid late-summer days, energy use and water use. The month-by-month comparison uses NOAA normals and Department of Energy guidance.
What does a new cooler cost installed?
No prices here, on purpose. Ask for a written price before any work starts, with the parts named.

Price a replacement

Say where the current cooler is mounted and what failed. Photos from the ground help.

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