Pro Handyman Blog

A swamp cooler, aka evaporative cooler, really doesn’t have many parts by comparison, but the parts they do have are important. One of the things that keeps the swamp cooler running is the pump. The pump moves water over the filter media to keep it wet. Over time sediment builds up in the base of the cooler, the water will wash debris from the filter media, and evaporation leaves behind deposits which can clog the pump. The pump screen plays a vital role in stopping the debris from reaching the inlet of the pump. Do you need a pump screen? Absolutely.

The pump screen is simply a plastic basket that the pump sits inside. It has many small openings to allow water in but blocks debris from entering. Occasionally, you might have to clean the debris from the openings in the basket.

You will have to remove the screws that hold the pump in place at the bottom of the cooler and then place the basket below it. On some models, depending where the hose connects from the pump to the spider, you may have to feed the hose through a hole in the basket. The basket usually has a knockout for this reason, but if not you can use a utility knife to make your own hole.