My short answerStart watching overnight lows in mid-September. When the forecast starts dipping into the 30s, make a shutdown plan. Have your cooler winterized before freezing temperatures arrive at your home.
Every fall, I get the same question: “How much longer can I keep running my swamp cooler?”
I get it. Everyone wants to squeeze a little more cooling out of the season. We can have an 85-degree week in Salt Lake and then, just a few days later, be looking at overnight lows in the 30s. That makes picking a shutdown date tricky.
I love living and working here. I love this business, and I’m excited for winter—both to get everyone’s coolers ready for freezing weather and, eventually, to get out skiing myself. But first, let’s talk about when to put your cooler away for the season.
Start watching overnight lows in mid-September
My recommendation is to start paying attention to the weather around mid-September. That doesn’t mean you need to shut your cooler down right then. It means it’s time to look beyond the afternoon temperature and check how cold the nights are getting.
If you’re still using your cooler and the forecast stays warm, it’s understandable to want to keep it going. But when overnight lows start getting into the 30s, I’d start making a shutdown plan. The goal is to have it winterized before freezing temperatures arrive.
Temperatures in the 30s don’t automatically mean a freeze, but they’re a good reason to pay closer attention—especially when the forecast is trending colder.
There isn’t one perfect shutdown date for the whole valley
Your house might still get warm in the afternoon while someone else has already stopped using their cooler. Conditions can also differ from one neighborhood to another.
For context, the National Weather Service lists October 20 as Salt Lake City’s average first fall freeze. But an average isn’t a promise, and I wouldn’t use that date as a reason to ignore an earlier cold forecast.
Source: National Weather Service Salt Lake City freeze records (PDF).
The best timing comes down to two things: whether you still need the cooling and what the overnight forecast looks like where you live.
Turning it off isn’t the same as shutting it down for winter
Flipping the switch off inside the house doesn’t drain the cooler or its water supply line. A winter shutdown needs to deal with that remaining water and prepare the system for the season.
Manufacturer instructions vary by cooler, but draining the equipment and supply line is an important part of winter preparation. A cover alone doesn’t take the place of that work.
Source: Phoenix Manufacturing winter shutdown guidance, page 6 (PDF).
You can read more about my swamp cooler winter shutdown service before requesting an appointment.
I keep an eye on the weather for my customers
There’s enough uncertainty this time of year without having to remember to check the forecast every day. That’s why I send seasonal reminders by text or email.
When I see overnight temperatures approaching freezing in the forecast, I send a heads-up so my customers can start making arrangements. If you’d like to receive a reminder, let me know.
I want you to enjoy those last warm afternoons, too. I just want your cooler ready before the cold catches us off guard.
Ready to schedule—or wondering whether to wait?
I’m Matt with Wasatch Cooler Pros, and I service swamp coolers throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Call or text me at 801-783-4727, or send a service request and I’ll follow up to arrange a time.
We’ll get your cooler ready for winter. Then we can start thinking about ski season.