As temperatures drop, winterizing your cool cell system becomes essential. While not a complex or time-consuming task, properly preparing your evaporative cooling system for winter can prevent future system failures, saving valuable time and money. 

How to Winterize Your Cool Cell Systems 

Follow these steps to properly winterize your evaporative cooling system. 

• Shut Off the Water Supply: Power down your system and disconnect the pump and any control panels. This prevents accidental activation and electrical damage. 
• Drain the Cool Cell System: Open all drain valves and allow the water to drain out. Make sure that you remove any excess water in the system. 
• Clean the System: Remove the cool cell pads from their housing and clean the pads according to the manufacturer's instructions. 
• Inspect Pads for Damage: Replace any worn pads to make sure they perform as they should. 
• Store Cool Cell Components: Place the pump into a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent mold and freezing. 

Leaving the pump in place can lead to cracked housings and other damage. Now is a good time to inspect the system and order any necessary replacement parts. 

Different Climates and When to Winterize 

Winterizing your cooling system isn't a one-size-fits-all process. Your location and climate influence when you should winterize your system. 

In colder regions, winterizing before freezing temperatures arrive is crucial to prevent cool cell system damage. In milder climates, where temperatures rarely drop below freezing, you have more flexibility. 

However, regardless of your location, consider these three factors when deciding when to winterize: 

• Temperature - Freezing temperatures cause any water remaining in the system to expand, potentially cracking lines and damaging equipment. 
• Wind Chill - Even with moderate daytime temperatures, wind chill can accelerate the freezing process, especially in exposed areas. 
• Humidity - Humidity also influences when to winterize. High humidity during cooler months can lead to condensation on the cool cells, causing biological growth and reducing overall effectiveness when the warmer months return. 

Proper planning for winterization around these variables can ensure not only your system but your animals also remain healthy. 

Common Mistakes When Working with Cool Cell Systems 

Some of the biggest issues that result in one’s evaporation cooling system failure (whether winterized or not) are due to a lack of due diligence in maintaining routine maintenance of the system. 

Extend the life of your cool cell system with regular preventative maintenance: 

• Preventative Treatments to the Water: Add descalers and microbicides to the recirculating water to prevent mineral buildup and reduce algae growth. 
• Clean Filters from Debris: Regularly clean debris from the trap and water filters to ensure proper water circulation. Clogged filters can lead to dry or streaked pads and reduce the system's lifespan. 
• Flush the System: Flush the entire system monthly and refill it with fresh water to remove debris and mineral buildup. Test your water's pH levels; readings above 8 indicate a need for more frequent flushing. 

Tips on Restarting Cool Cell Systems 

After the winter season, it’s crucial to take the time to do some diagnostic checks before turning the system back on. 

Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and damage-free restart: 

• Inspect Cool Cell Components: Walk around the system and inspect all components for any visible damage that may have occurred during the winter. Look for cracks, loose connections, and signs of any pest activity. 
• Reinstall the Pump: After the cool cell systems have been inspected, carefully reinstall the pump into the system, making sure all connections are secure. 
• Check for Lingering Debris: Check one last time for any debris that could be in the system so that water flow works properly. 
• Fill the System with Water: Run the system with fresh water while looking for cracks or leaks that may have developed during winter storage. 
• Check Cool Cell Pads: Check to make sure that the cool cell pads are clean and replace any pads that show signs of wear, discoloration, or dry spots. 
• Clean the Spray Bar: Inspect the spray bar above the pads for any clogged holes that could occur due to material buildup. 

By following that process, your cooling cell system should be ready and operational for the summer and spring temperatures. 

Replace Your Cooling Systems with Farmer Boy 

Prioritizing the winterization of your cooling system is vital. While it's neither overly complex nor time-consuming, the effort you invest now will pay off significantly. 

If you have any questions or any cooling system parts that need replacing, contact Farmer Boy today to get started. 

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