Evaporative cooling moves air through wet pads, so water distribution and the condition of the pads are central to performance. Stale smells, uneven cooling or water running where it should not can point to maintenance or a component fault. We check the cooler and explain whether cleaning, new pads or a repair is appropriate. Because the unit is usually on the roof, safe access and the weather affect how the visit is arranged.
When to get it checked
A musty smell at start-up
The first run of the season smells like a damp shed, usually from water left in the tank over winter or algae on the pads.
Air that barely feels cool
The fan runs, but on a dry day the air is hardly cooler than outside. Dry streaks on the pads, a tired pump or blocked water lines are the usual suspects.
Weak airflow at the outlets
Rooms at the far end of the duct runs only get a trickle. Clogged pads, a slipping belt or a loose duct in the roof space all cut the air volume.
Water where it shouldn't be
A ceiling stain near an outlet, water spilling from the cabinet, or a drain still running after the cooler is off.
Squealing, rattling or grinding
Belts, bearings and loose panels usually get noisy well before they fail.
Why it happens
5 common causes
Minerals left by evaporation
When water evaporates, its minerals stay behind as scale on the pads and in the tank. A scaled pad holds less water and lets less air through.
Water sitting between runs
A tank that doesn't drain after use, or stays full over winter, goes stale. Most start-of-season smells start there.
Dust, leaves and wildlife
The cooler pulls outside air through its pads all summer, along with dust, leaves, insects and the occasional nest.
Wear and weather
Pumps, valves, belts and bearings wear every season, and rubber seals and plastic parts perish in the sun on an exposed roof.
No way out for the air
An evaporative cooler pushes outside air in and relies on open windows or doors to let indoor air out. In a closed-up house, rooms turn damp and stuffy, which is easily mistaken for a fault.
What the job covers
What we usually do on this job. Your quote confirms it for your place.
- Roof access and working conditions assessed
- Pad condition and fit checked
- Water distribution and pump operation inspected
- Drain and bleed arrangements checked as applicable
- Accessible water leaks investigated
- Fan operation and electrical condition assessed
- Controller operation checked
- Condition and replacement recommendations explained
Your options, explained
Pre-season service
Low disruption- Best for
- A cooler that worked well last summer
- How it works
- Pads inspected, tank drained and cleaned, water system cleared, fan and electrics tested, then a test run.
- Worth knowing
- Book it in spring, before the first hot spell.
Service with new pads
Low disruption- Best for
- Pads that are scaled, thin, sagging or crumbling
- How it works
- The same service, with new pads of the right type and size fitted to each panel.
- Worth knowing
- Pad sizes vary between models, so send the model beforehand.
Targeted repair
Medium disruption- Best for
- Dry pads, overflowing water, a noisy fan or a controller that won't respond
- How it works
- The fault is confirmed by testing, then the pump, valve, belt, motor or controller is repaired or replaced at the agreed price.
- Worth knowing
- On an old cooler with several worn parts, we'll price a replacement alongside the repair.
The people behind the work
One local team for electrical, heating and cooling. Family-run, based in Altona Meadows, with 19 years in the industry.
Licensed electrical contractor (REC 38187)See more team photos
Worth knowing before you book
- It operates differently from refrigerated air conditioning
- Evaporative cooling requires the intended path for air to leave the home. Ask us about operating your specific installation.
- Pads do not last forever
- Their condition matters more than an assumed replacement date. We assess fouling, damage and water distribution.
- Roof visits need suitable conditions
- Tell us the roof type and height. Unsafe access or weather may require a different plan or booking time.
What affects the price?
The right scope depends on your installation. These are the details we check so your quote is useful, with any additional work explained before it proceeds.
Getting to the unit
Roof height, pitch and material. A steep two-storey tiled roof needs more gear than a low single-storey one.
The state of the pads
Cleaning sound pads is a smaller job than fitting a new set, and the number of panels and pad type both matter.
Scale and sludge
A tank drained every season cleans quickly. Years of build-up or a nest in the cabinet takes longer.
Parts found on inspection
A pump, float valve, drain valve, belt, bearing or motor is priced separately once the fault is confirmed.
Electrical repairs
A weathered roof isolator, damaged cable or faulty control wiring is electrical work, priced as its own item.
Before the visit
- Send the model and a ground-level roof photo.
- Record when smells or water issues occur.
- Ask what the visit includes for pads and water-system maintenance.
How it runs
- 1
Describe the cooler
Send the model, roof type and any water, smell or airflow concerns.
- 2
Inspect safely
Access the unit and check pads, water components and fan operation.
- 3
Service or quote repairs
Complete the agreed maintenance and price replacement parts if needed.
- 4
Run and explain
Confirm operation and explain use of the controls and airflow path.
Step by step, in more detail
4 steps
Tell us about the cooler
Send the model if you know it, a photo of the unit from the ground, the roof type and height, and what you've noticed, so we can plan access and bring the likely parts.
Isolate, inspect and clean
Once the roof is safe to work on, we isolate the power and water and take the panels off. Pads, tank, pump, float valve, drain valve and water lines are checked and cleaned to the agreed scope.
Check the fan and electrics
We check the fan, motor, bearings and any drive belt, test the supply, roof isolator and connections, and try each function on the wall controller.
Run it and report
We run the cooler, watch the pads wet evenly and check the drain cycle. You hear what's worn and what can wait, with a fixed price for any extra work.
What is safe to do, and what to leave to us
Safe for you to do
- Turn the cooler off at the wall controller if it smells, leaks or makes a new noise.
- If water is coming through the ceiling near a light, switch off at the switchboard if it is safe to do so and keep out of the room.
- Photograph the unit from the ground and any ceiling stains from inside.
- Open windows or doors in the rooms you're cooling whenever it runs.
Leave these to us
- Climbing onto the roof for a look. A ground-level photo is enough.
- Opening the cooler's electrical box or touching the roof isolator. Electrical work isn't a DIY job.
- Tipping bleach or other chemicals into the tank. What's in the water ends up in the air.
- Running the cooler while water is leaking into the ceiling.
When to get us in
- It hasn't been serviced since last summer
- It smells musty or stale when it starts
- Water is staining the ceiling or running from the drain when it's off
- The air is warm or weak on a hot, dry day
- You've just bought a home with a roof cooler
More detail
What the pads actually do
Water trickles down through the pads while the fan draws outside air across them, and the air cools as the water evaporates. Loose-fibre pads hold plenty of water but thin and sag with age; rigid honeycomb-style pads generally keep their shape longer. Either way, a pad packed with scale wets unevenly, and the dry patches let warm air straight through.
Drain, bleed and water use
Coolers keep minerals down with a small continuous bleed to waste, a drain valve that empties the tank on a cycle, or a sensor that measures how salty the water has become. When that system sticks, scale builds fast and the water goes stale. YourHome says central systems can use 25 L or more of water an hour on hot, dry days, so a stuck float valve wastes water you won't see from the ground.
The electrical side of a roof cooler
A roof cooler has a power supply, a weatherproof isolator, a fan motor, a pump and control wiring to the wall controller. Sun and rain are hard on isolator covers, and water inside one is a common find. Total Comfort is a licensed electrical contractor (REC 38187), so our electricians handle that side under the same quote, and Energy Safe Victoria says a Certificate of Electrical Safety must be provided for any electrical installation work.
Local rules and conditions
Victorian requirements and local conditions that shape this job, with the sources listed at the foot of the page.
Made for dry heat
Laverton's weather station averages 9.4 days a year at or above 35 °C, mostly between December and February. The federal energy website says evaporative coolers work well in low-humidity inland regions, and the Bureau of Meteorology notes that Melbourne's warm northerlies come from the north, where Australia's hot, dry interior lies.
Heat health advice mentions the pads
Victoria's Department of Health advises checking that your cooling works before extreme heat, having it serviced if needed and keeping filters, pads and vents clean. Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, Brimbank, Maribyrnong and Port Phillip all sit in the Central district for its heat health warnings.
Rentals with an evaporative cooler
From 1 March 2027, a new lease needs energy-efficient cooling in the living area, and the Victorian Government notes that evaporative cooling already installed meets that standard. Consumer Affairs Victoria lists a rental provider's cooling appliance that isn't working as an urgent repair.
Useful reading
Guides to read before you decide, with checklists and questions to bring to the quote.
- Air conditioner maintenance: what to watch between servicesKeep useful records, follow model-specific filter care and recognise symptoms that need a repair visit.
- Getting your air conditioning ready for a heatwaveA spring test run, clean filters, a clear outdoor unit and a backup plan: how to find a tired air conditioner before the first hot northerly does.
- Evaporative or refrigerated cooling for Melbourne's west?How evaporative and refrigerated cooling handle dry northerly days, muggy nights and winter, and what switching from one to the other really involves.
- Landlords: heating, cooling and electrical obligations in VictoriaA rental provider's map of the heating, switchboard, safety check and repair duties on a Victorian rental, and what the 2027 energy standards change.
Common questions
Questions people ask about this
- My evaporative cooler won't start. What can I check?Start with the wall controller and the power: check the controller's display, the circuit breaker and safety switch at the switchboard, and any winter or off-season…
- Why is my evaporative cooler noisy?Most cooler noise comes from wear and loose parts: fan bearings that grind or squeal, a worn or slipping belt, panels and pad frames rattling in the wind, a pump humming…
From the blog
- Why does evaporative cooling struggle on humid Melbourne days?Understand the difference between a weather-related limit and a change in performance that deserves a service inspection.
- Keep the evaporative cooler in a rental, or replace it?An existing evaporative cooler meets the 2027 cooling standard. Whether to keep it comes down to the heater, renter comfort on muggy nights and upkeep.
Sources for the rules and local facts on this page
10 sources, with the date each was checked
- 1.Bureau of Meteorology: Mean number of days ≥ 30 °C 6.9 6.0 4.5 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.9 2.8 5.1 27.0 82 1943 2026 Mean number of days ≥ 35 °C 3.6 2.4 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 1.9 9.4 Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 2.energy.gov.au (Australian Government, DCCEEW): Evaporative coolers are not suitable for all regions. They work well in low-humidity inland regions. ... Purchase and installation can be expensive, but ducted evaporative coolers use less than half of the electricity… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 3.Bureau of Meteorology (article issued 3 August 2026): To the north lies Australia's hot, dry interior, while to the south stretches the cold Southern Ocean. ... Warm northerly winds arrive first, bringing higher temperatures and clear skies. Then, as a cold front moves in… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 4.Better Health Channel (Department of Health, Victoria): Check that your fan and air-conditioner works well. Have your air-conditioner serviced if needed. Ensure the filters, pads and air vents are clean. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 5.Department of Health, Victoria: In response to a new Bureau severe or extreme heatwave warning, we will issue a heat health warning. ... The following list shows all the local government areas in Victoria and what forecast district they belong to… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 6.Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (energy.vic.gov.au), page last updated 05/08/26: From 1 March 2027, at the start of a new lease, rental homes must include: energy-efficient cooling in the living area (noting that if evaporative cooling is already installed, it meets the standard) ... By 1 July 2030… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 7.Consumer Affairs Victoria: a cooling appliance or service provided by the rental provider is not working the property does not meet minimum standards a safety-related device, such as a smoke alarm or pool fence, is not working Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 8.YourHome (Australian Government): Evaporative coolers cool outside air and blow it into the house; some windows or doors will need to be left open when the cooler is in use to allow indoor air to exit. ... For central systems, water use can be 25 L or… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 9.Energy Safe Victoria: Electrical work isn’t a DIY job, even for small jobs such as changing power points or light switches. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 10.Energy Safe Victoria: Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES). Accessed 30 September 2026.
