How Often Should You Replace Evaporative Cooler Pads?

With summer over and the cooler months of autumn well on the way, chances are high that you've either slowed down your evaporative cooler use or maybe even shut it down with the end of the cooling season. You're also likely to want to replace evaporative cooler pads that have become clogged over summer. But when and how often should you do that?

If you want your evaporative cooler to provide adequate cooling to your home and significantly reduce energy consumption, you need to replace the pads at the right time. They play an essential role in the process by passively filtering the air, retaining moisture and helping your system cool your home. However, cooling pads gradually clog up with dust, dirt, and mineral build-up and cause a raft of problems.

Let’s explore how frequently you should change your cooler pads and the consequences of leaving it too long or neglecting them completely.

How Evaporative Cooler Pads Work

Before we look at the need to replace evaporative cooler pads, let’s first understand how they work.

Evaporative cooler pads are integral to how your cooling system runs. As the unit draws warm air in, that air passes through these water-soaked pads, where the heat is absorbed through evaporation. This naturally cools the air before it’s blown into your home, creating a cool breeze of natural air without refrigerants.

For the best possible performance, you need pads of high quality and condition – they must stay wet and clean to cool and maintain better air quality. Choose high-quality plastic or melamine paper pads. These will help you to get the best possible performance from your evaporative cooler.

So, How Regularly Should You Change Evaporative Cooler Pads?

Knowing when to replace evaporative cooler pads can make a big difference to your system’s performance, energy use and indoor air quality. In most cases, a yearly replacement should suffice. But instead of swapping them out as winter arrives, do as the Victorian Government’s Sustainability website suggests and replace them at the beginning of summer. 

It’s worth noting that an annual replacement is an average ballpark suggestion. Depending on various factors, you might want to change them a bit more frequently. These factors include:

• How often you use the cooler
• The water quality in your area
• The level of dust or dirt in the environment
• The type of pads your system uses

You may also need to replace melamine paper pads more frequently than plastic ones.

Replacing regularly helps prevent clogged pads, supports cooling and ensures your evaporative cooler delivers fresh air with efficiency and ease.

Signs It’s Time to Replace Evaporative Cooling Pads

If your evaporative cooler isn’t performing as well as it used to, your cooling pads could be the problem. Being aware of what red flags to look out for is the best way to keep on top of issues like poor airflow, higher energy use and evaporative cooler failure.

Here are some common signs it’s time to replace evaporative cooling pads:

• The pads appear dry, brittle or cracked even when the unit is running
• You notice musty smells, mould or signs of bacteria
• There’s a visible build up of minerals or dust on the pad surface
• Airflow from the vents feels weak or uneven
• The home doesn’t feel as cool, despite the unit running constantly
• You notice a decline in indoor air quality

Clogged pads reduce airflow, so replacing them promptly keeps your evaporative cooler delivering fresh air, adequate cooling and efficient operation.

Why Pad Replacement Matters for Air Quality and Efficiency

Aside from comfort, if there’s anything else you want from your evaporative cooler, it is good air quality and system performance. If you’re weighing up the benefits of evaporative cooling vs traditional air conditioning, those three benefits would feature highly for both options. To enjoy these qualities at their very best, it’s important to replace your evaporative cooler pads consistently.

Pads blocked up with dust, dirt, and mineral build-up reduce the airflow of your unit. They place avoidable strain on the system and compromise your home’s comfort. Worn-out pads can also cause mould and bacteria growth; both will impact the smell of the air and potentially your health too.

Replacing your cooling pads just before the oncoming cooling season prevents evaporative cooler failure, supports better airflow and keeps your system running efficiently. You’ll get better air quality, consistent temperatures and can reduce energy consumption, all while avoiding the risk of a sudden system breakdown.

Always Use a Licensed Air Conditioner Technician

When it’s time to replace evaporative cooler pads, it’s always best to call a licensed air conditioner technician. These professionals have the essential tools and safety equipment to work on the unit on your roof, diagnose any hidden issues and install the correct type of cooling pads.

A licensed technician can also check for signs of wear, mineral build-up and airflow problems that may affect the unit’s efficiency. Trying to do it yourself can lead to system breakdown and reduced performance. There are also obvious safety concerns with working from significant heights, and DIYing it may even void your system’s warranty.

With expert help, you’ll get peace of mind knowing your evaporative cooler is running safely and efficiently, delivering fresh air, reducing energy consumption and preventing expensive repairs in the long run.

Keep Your Cooler Running at Its Best

Replacing evaporative cooler pads is one of the easiest ways to keep your home cool, comfortable and energy efficient.

When you replace evaporative cooler pads regularly, you’re protecting your system from blockages, poor airflow and potential evaporative cooler failure. You’ll get better air quality, lower running costs and more reliable cooling – especially during the hottest months. Whether your pads are plastic or melamine paper, they won’t last forever, particularly in areas with poor water quality or lots of dust.

Replacing your cooling pads at the right time helps your evaporative cooler run efficiently, deliver fresh air and avoid costly system breakdowns or expensive repairs.

Please note: Thanks for reading our blog “How Often Should You Replace Evaporative Cooler Pads?”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.