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Are high-recovery water heaters more expensive? 

Yes, but not astronomically more. But the upfront cost isn’t the only advantage of a high recovery water heater. A high-recovery water heater will be more energy efficient, making the operation less expensive. How are they more energy efficient? Thinking about it, you’re not running water as long as waiting for it to heat up, which means you’re using less electricity or gas too. This will also take ease the hot water pressure too. 

Are high-recovery water heaters worth the higher upfront cost?

If you have a large number of people in your house using hot water and there never seems to be enough, then yes, the investment for a high recovery water heater is worthwhile. For a household of 6 or less, probably not the best value. 

Based on standard water heaters, use this guide to determine what size you need:

• A household of three: 30-gallon water heater tank
• A household of four: 40-gallon water heater tank
• A household of five: 50-gallon water heater tank

What is the 70% rule for water heaters?

Using a 50-gallon water heater as an example with the thermostat set at 120 degrees. The 70% output rule means that this water heater should provide approximately 35 gallons of hot water before going into recovery mode. 

When shopping for a new water heater, it is important to remember the amount of hot water it will deliver within a timeframe is key. Not only do you want a water heater that performs efficiently, but you want to make sure it has the delivery capacity that fits your household’s needs. 

The performance capability is measured by the first-hour delivery. This is the amount of hot water you should have in one hour with a fully heated water heater. The hour starts counting down from the time someone starts a shower, a load of dishes or clothes, and how quickly it takes the next person to have the hot water they need. 

Which is better, a tankless water heater or a high-recovery water heater? 

With a high-recovery water heater, it will heat the water used by any of the water outlets quickly. To know which is the best option for your household, work with a professional that is experienced and knowledgeable in all types of water heaters. 

It is said that a tankless water heater will never run out of hot water. However, it can get overwhelmed with the on-demand from several water outlets at the same time. This means that while one person is showering, the dishwasher or washing machine running at the same time could cut the amount of hot water down in the shower. 

What is drain water heater recovery? 

This is a great conservation of water!  A DWHR (Drain Water Heat Recovery System) recovers heat from water that goes down the drain. A DWHR works simultaneously with showering as it is taking the heat that isn’t being used in the hot water and reuses it. 

What are the disadvantages of drain water heat recovery?

Because there is a storage system with a DWHR, the system must be connected to a drain that has the most continuous hot water use. In other words, a bathtub drain would not be compatible. 

You found this blog post because your swamp cooler is not blowing cold air. As an HVAC company in Denver, CO, we know some things about swamp coolers.

It can get sweltering in Denver in the summer months, so the last thing you want is to be without the use of your AC or swamp cooler. Swamp coolers are a good, energy-efficient alternative to central cooling systems as they draw much less electricity. In fact, most of the electricity used by a swamp cooler is simply to run the fan. 

But when your swamp cooler stops blowing cold air, it can leave your home hot and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are only a few reasons for a swamp cooler to stop working correctly, as these are pretty simple machines. 

In the following post, Custom Heating, Plumbing & Air Services LLC walks you through some swamp cooler troubleshooting tips. 

Remember that a professional HVAC contractor should always handle equipment — not a homeowner.

1) Check the Circuit Breaker

Is your swamp cooler not blowing cold air? Then the most likely culprit is a tripped circuit breaker. When your swamp cooler stops blowing cold air, the first thing you should do is check your fuse box. Reset the breakers and see if that kicks your swamp cooler back on. 

Next, you will want to check for any blown fuses. Your swamp cooler will likely run with another section of devices/room like your living room lights, kitchen lights, appliances, or bedroom lights. If these other lights/devices are also not working, you could be dealing with a blown fuse. 

2) Check the Wiring

If the circuits seem to be in order, you could be dealing with faulty wiring. One way to tell if the swamp cooler wiring is the culprit is if you have persistent power surges where the circuit breaker is tripped. 

This is usually caused by faulty wiring in the swamp cooler or leading into the fuse box. Tell for sure by looking at the wires that lead into the circuit breaker. They are probably faulty if you see black spots in the wiring or around it. 

You should also look at the wiring that leads into the swamp cooler itself. Again, you will want to watch out for black or dark spots on the wires or near them. If you see that the wiring has been compromised, don’t try to fix it yourself. Instead, call a certified HVAC technician.

3) Use A Voltage Stabilizer

Sometimes a swamp cooler doesn’t blow cold air because it is not getting sufficient electricity. If you notice that your swamp cooler turns itself off shortly after it kicks on or doesn’t turn on, the problem may have to do with the voltage it is receiving. 

To avoid this problem, you can use a voltage stabilizer which helps regulate the amount of electricity the appliance gets. 

If the problem is that your swamp cooler isn’t getting the proper voltage, it can become damaged over time when you try to keep using it. Using a voltage stabilizer may be the best option for maximum use out of your swamp cooler. 

4) Check the Belt

Much like a car motor, the motor of a swamp cooler depends on a belt. The belt transfers energy so that the fan can spin. Unfortunately, frequently with swamp coolers, the belt simply slips off. When this happens, the fan simply can’t run. 

Carefully open up your unit and check to ensure the belt hasn’t merely slipped off. If it has, put it back in place. You may also find that the belt is old and no longer serviceable. In this case, you will simply have to replace it. 

5) If All Else Fails

If you have gone through steps 1-4 and still can’t figure out the issue, the motor may have simply failed. While this is rare because swamp coolers are relatively simple devices, it does happen when the unit is old or defective. 

If it seems that your swamp cooler is simply not turning on, the motor could be the culprit. In cases like this, the best thing to do is to have it repaired or replaced. 

Contact a Professional Swamp Cooler Service

Is your swamp cooler not blowing cold air? Contact us here at Custom Heating, Plumbing & Air Services LLC if you want the problem resolved quickly and expertly. We service all kinds of cooling, heating, and HVAC units and can resolve your issue quickly.