The upgrade path
From swamp cooler to refrigerated air
A swamp cooler is not a failure. In a dry house with the windows open it does the job on little electricity. People switch when the damp weeks of monsoon leave the house clammy, when the roof unit is worn out, or when they want the windows shut against the dust. We will tell you honestly if your cooler still has years in it.
Some houses keep the cooler for dry months
Others take it out completely
The quote prices each choice on its own lines
The changeover
How the work goes, step by step
Often one to two days on site for a single system. The quote says how long yours takes.
- 01
The visit
We look at the cooler, the roof, the ducts and the electrical panel, and measure the rooms.
- 02
The written quote
Every line: the equipment by model, the duct work, the permit, and the removal of the cooler. You read it at your own table.
- 03
Closing the old opening
The roof or wall opening is capped and sealed so the rain and the dust stay out.
- 04
Ducts and the new system
Ducts are sealed or replaced as quoted, then the outdoor and indoor units are set and connected.
- 05
Start-up and walk-through
We start the system, measure the airflow and the refrigerant charge, and show you the thermostat and the filter.
Swamp cooler or refrigerated air
Two ways to cool an El Paso house
Many houses here still have a swamp cooler on the roof. It works well in dry weather and badly in the damp weeks of monsoon. Here is the plain comparison.
| Swamp cooler | Refrigerated air | |
|---|---|---|
| How it cools | Swamp coolerWater soaks pads, and a fan pulls outside air through them. | Refrigerated airA compressor and refrigerant carry heat out of the air in a closed loop. |
| Damp weeks | Swamp coolerCools less when the air is already damp, as in the monsoon. | Refrigerated airKeeps cooling, and takes moisture out of the air too. |
| Windows | Swamp coolerA window or two open so the air can leave. | Refrigerated airClosed. The house stays sealed. |
| Dust and pollen | Swamp coolerOutside air comes in; the pads catch some dust and need cleaning. | Refrigerated airAir passes through a filter you change. |
| Yearly upkeep | Swamp coolerPads, pump and water line in spring; drained and covered in fall. | Refrigerated airA check of the coils, charge and drain before summer. |
| Power and water | Swamp coolerUses less electricity and uses water. | Refrigerated airUses more electricity and no water. |
Before you switch
Can I keep my swamp cooler?
Some houses keep the cooler for the dry months and add refrigerated air for the damp ones. We will tell you whether your ducts allow it and what each choice involves.
Do I need new ducts?
Not always. We test the ones you have. If they are sound we seal them; if they are too small or damaged the quote lists the change as its own line.
How long does a changeover take?
Often one to two days for a single system. Duct work adds time, and the quote says how long yours will take.
Do El Paso Electric rebates apply to my job?
Programs have rules about equipment and dates, and the rules change. We check the current ones when we write your quote and mark what the program asks for.
Want to know what your house needs?
The visit is when we look. The written quote comes after it.