Frequently Asked Questions

Can our pads be supplied in non-standard heights?

Yes, we can supply pads in specified heights other than the standard heights.   We do have cutting facilities and pads can be supplied to any specific height as requested.  In most cases, the price of the cut pad will still be the same as the nearest bigger sized pad used in the cutting process. 

How long will pads last before I should change them?

The life span of Evaporative Cooling Pads is greatly dependent on how often and for how long each day the pad is used as well as the quality of supply water.  It stands to reason that each pad would have a similar amount of workable hours in them and therefore the more often the Cooling Pad is in use the shorter the life span of the pads would be.  The quality of the supply water also has a big effect on life span.  Where the supply is of a good quality municipal type water the pads will last longer.  If the water supply is of poor quality or “hard” type water as found from boreholes etc, the lifespan of the pads will be shorter.  This is because with “hard” water there is a larger amount of solids and calcium left behind during the evaporation process and these will eventually restrict the airflow through the flutes of the pads.

In good conditions with normal use Evaporative Cooling Pads usually last from 2 – 5 years, but in areas with poor water quality and where the coolers are used extensively the pads will need be changed far more frequently.

Is it important to dump the sump water periodically?

Periodic dumping of the sump water is of huge importance in prolonging the life of the pads.  Solids left behind through the process of evaporation need to be purged from the sump/gutter as often as possible.  It is advisable to dump the water in the sump/gutter at least once a day. By setting a constant bleed off of water by slightly opening one of the ball valves will also allow a continues refresh of the water, but the best and most effective method is to also fully empty the sump/gutter when the system is turned off each day. 

Do Evaporative Cooling Pads cool in humid areas?

Evaporative Cooling Pads work best in hot and dry ambient conditions.  The amount of water vapor that can be taken into the air during the evaporation process is limited by how much space there is in the air for that moisture.  In air that is already very humid this space is limited and only some of the water can be evaporated into the air.  The result of this is that the cooling effect is lower.  The combination of the outside ambient air’s dry bulb temperature and humidity at the point in time that the cooling is taking place will determine the resultant temperature drop that can be achieved by the pad.   

Can Evaporative Cooling Pads be cleaned?

Generally speaking, Evaporative Cooling Pads can not be cleaned.  This is because during the process of evaporation the calcium deposits that are left behind fix themselves to the pad surfaces and when cleaning the force required to remove these particles would tend to damage the pad structure.  The use of running water from a hose pipe, as long as the force is not too strong, can be used to rinse larger loose particles from the pad but this will not offer complete cleaning.  With Evaporative Cooling Pads the concept of “prevention is better than cure” would apply and it is best to make sure that the water in the sump/gutter be dumped or purged as explained above.