Why Do Swamp Coolers Often Lead to Mold?

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Many swamp coolers lead to mold growth.

Why Do Swamp Coolers Frequently Cause Mold?

Do you have a swamp cooler in your Ball Ground, GA, home? This cooling device evaporates cool moisture rather than uses forced air to cool down a home. Many homeowners choose to use this type of cooling unit because it is more energy-efficient than an air conditioning device, but it has other faults. Many swamp coolers lead to mold growth.

• Excess Moisture: The development of mold is not that surprising. After all, the system actually uses evaporated water to cool down your home. Usually, the cooler is connected to your home's water supply to ensure it always has the water needed to run properly. If the water supply leaks or the belt builds up condensation, you may have too much moisture around the unit. You may get too much water simply because you have a leaking swamp cooler.

• Too Many Components: While this unit is more efficient than an AC, it still has a lot of components to make it work. There's the central unit, belt fan, cellulose pad, and ducts. Water can get trapped at any of these locations leaving you with a moldy house. A regular cleaning of these components done by a professional mold cleanup crew can help you stop mold from growing.

• Broken Parts: Like other household appliances, this machine can have breakdowns. A leaking swamp cooler only exacerbates the moisture buildup these machines are known for. If the belt breaks down or another issue arises, the water may sit there inviting spores, bacteria and other unwanted growth.

• Added Humidity: Not only does the cooler itself introduce extra moisture to your house, but the weather could increase the humidity levels. If there is a humid day, you may be at an even higher than normal risk of mold growth occurring.

Even when you aren't dealing with a leaking swamp cooler, there is a chance that your cooling device could be introducing mold to your home. If mold growth is a regular problem, you may want to consider switching to an AC unit.