Swamp cooler — or evaporative cooler — installation on the Front Range typically takes one day and involves mounting the unit (usually on the roof or a side wall), connecting it to your home’s water supply and electrical system, and cutting and installing a distribution duct or plenum that delivers cooled air into the home. It’s a less complex installation than central refrigerant AC, but there are meaningful decisions to make and real craftsmanship required to get it right — particularly around duct sizing, unit placement, and water line installation that won’t freeze in Colorado winters.
Choosing the Right Unit Size
Evaporative coolers are sized in CFM — cubic feet per minute — of airflow, rather than the BTU ratings used for refrigerant systems. The right size for your home depends on your home’s total square footage, ceiling height, and how much air change per minute is needed to deliver effective cooling. A general rule is to select a unit that can deliver two air changes per minute for the home’s total volume, but homes with high ceilings, open floor plans, or significant solar heat gain through south and west-facing windows may need more capacity. Undersizing a swamp cooler is a common mistake — an undersized unit runs constantly and still can’t keep up on the hottest days. Done’s technicians size units properly for your specific home rather than defaulting to a generic recommendation.
Roof-Mount vs. Side-Wall vs. Window Units
Whole-house evaporative coolers come in two primary mounting configurations for Denver-area homes. Roof-mount units sit on a curb installed over a roof opening and deliver air down through a central duct or ceiling distribution plenum. They’re the most common configuration in older Denver homes and typically provide the best whole-house coverage with a single unit. Side-wall or ground-level units mount on an exterior wall bracket and connect through a wall penetration — they’re better suited to homes where roof access is difficult or where the owner prefers not to cut the roof. Window-unit swamp coolers are available for single-room use but are not a whole-house solution. Done’s team can assess your home’s layout and recommend the configuration that provides the best distribution.
Roof Penetration and Weatherproofing in Colorado
Roof-mount installation requires cutting an opening in the roof deck and installing a raised curb that the cooler sits on. Proper weatherproofing of this penetration is critical in Colorado, where the combination of heavy snow loads, freeze-thaw cycles, intense UV, and periodic hailstorms creates demanding conditions for any roof opening. Done installs properly flashed and sealed curbs designed for Colorado’s climate, with appropriate curb height to keep the unit clear of snow accumulation. A poorly flashed swamp cooler curb is one of the more common sources of roof leaks in Denver-area homes — it’s worth getting this step right from the start.
Water Supply Connection and Winterization
The water line that supplies your swamp cooler runs from an interior shutoff valve (typically in the attic or near the unit) out to the unit. This line must be designed with winterization in mind — in Denver, pipes that aren’t properly drained and shut off before the first freeze can burst. Done installs swamp cooler water lines with a properly located shutoff valve and drain point so the system can be properly winterized each fall. We also cover the unit with an insulated cover at the end of the season to protect the pads and internal components from winter UV, snow, and debris. Proper winterization is a seasonal task, not an optional one in Colorado’s climate.
Distribution: Getting Air to Every Room
Unlike a central AC system that uses your home’s existing duct network, most whole-house evaporative cooler installations deliver air through a single large central duct or plenum rather than a distributed duct system. Rooms need windows or vents opened slightly on the exhaust side to allow the added air volume to leave — unlike refrigerant AC, swamp coolers are introducing outside air, not recirculating interior air. Homes with an open floor plan and central installation point work well with a single-point distribution approach. Larger or compartmentalized homes may benefit from a distribution plenum with multiple supply points. Done’s installation team plans the duct layout during the assessment visit to ensure adequate coverage throughout the home.
Permits and Codes
Evaporative cooler installation in Denver and surrounding jurisdictions typically requires a permit, particularly for new electrical connections and roof penetrations. Done pulls required permits as part of the installation process, which protects you during resale and ensures the work is inspected and up to current code. Unpermitted swamp cooler installations — particularly those with improvised electrical connections or improperly flashed roof penetrations — can create insurance and resale complications down the road.
For questions about whether a swamp cooler or refrigerant-based central AC system is the right choice for your home, contact Done for a free consultation. We serve the Denver metro and Front Range and can walk you through both options honestly, including financing for qualifying installations.
