Well the joys of buying a house. Apparently this house was not winterized correctly from top to bottom. Current problem is the swamp cooler. I've never had one before so this is a learning experience. I've replaced all of the filters, cleaned and repainted with submarine paint, and replaced the pump - the previous owners had spliced the wires!! Inspector said that if the water is coming from the ductwork that it is usually because the pump is not working - that's why I replaced (and the wire issue).
Well the pump works, fan works. The water does not make it into the cooler - instead it comes out of the vent in the ceiling. It is a roof mounted cooler. There is no access to it through the attic.
Is is possible for the water line in the ceiling to freeze and rupture? Every other pipe in this house did along the walls.
If so - is the only option of finding this water line is to start removing the ceiling? Or since the water is coming from the vent - try and follow it up - probably not going to be easy with how this house was built.
Guessing on a lot of this as no visual as to where the leak is yet. But literally every faucet/plumbing in this house has had a leak repaired!
Suggestions would be helpful. Family member is coming up tommorow to take a look but he has never played with a swamp cooler either.
Thanks.

 

When did it start leaking ? Has the water been turned on to the cooler for a while and just start leaking or did you just turn it on?

If you've inpected the cooler, basin and all then yes you'll have to trace back the water line.

 

Hi, check the float level is 1/2 to 1in below the overflow tube.

 

Yep the float is at least 3/4" below the overflow tube. And the water had been shut off to the swamp cooler. After I turned it on it took around 1 minute for the water to start flowing out of the ceiling duct. Water never made it to the swamp cooler - it's completely dry....

I guess I should check and see that I didn't paint over where the water comes into the swamp cooler? I still haven't figured out where it is supposed to come in - and maybe I went over it? I haven't been able to find that in any online info yet - does it come it where the float is? Or at another place in the swamp cooler.
I didn't turn the water on until I had repainted the bottom.
Thanks again.

 

Hi, trace the line to the cooler and the line will be hooked up to the float. there is a water opening on the float pointing down, you want to make sure it is open.your supply line sprung a leak over the winter time. my line did too. when its time to shut down your cooler shut your supply line off and unhook it from the cooler and the source and drain the line. use a air comp or a tire inflater and dry your line out. then if it gets real cold your line will not break. i hope this helps.

 

Well, need to replace the water line. To 'find' it would require taking out a goodly chunk of the kitchen ceiling...probably just going to hook up a new one and try to remove the old one....who knows - I'll leave it up to the person fixing it.
This house has had so many new 'holes' made in it to fix problems that I really am getting good at repatching! So that's it. Hopefully that will solve this problem with the swamp cooler. Just have to make it through the 98 degree weather while I'm working nights this weekend - joy.

 

Yes! After 2 hours of trying to pull the broken water line out through the roof and the ceiling....finally able to get a new water line placed! Just in time for it to get nice and hot in Colorado. Will hopefully be able to sleep this weekend before the night shifts