When I changed the blue pads in my old swamp cooler to the organic "paper" straw-like pads, it worked 200% BETTER. The blue pads are plastic, water slips down fast, blows warm air. With all due respect. Thanks for this changing pads video & realistic view on old vs new a/c coolers.

The package specifically says do not fold, make sure it's an exact fit to avoid dry spots or getting water in ductwork

So I switched this year from Aspen pads to DuraCool. I live in an arid part of Colorado. It is currently 73 degrees outside and my swamp cooler is registering an output temp of 71 degrees!!! Yep you read correct. ONLY 2 degrees cooler than the outside, dry air--no rain, moisture or humidity present, BTW) Pump and Blower are working great. Water flow is visible down all sides of each panel. After watching another KZfaq video of a man's dissatisfaction with the DuraCool pads, I decided to check something that he mentioned. Sure enough.... the INSIDES of almost all the surfaces of the DuraCool pads are BONE DRY!!! The external surfaces (with the water visibly draining down them) are soaking WET. My Aspen cool SO MUCH BETTER than these. Any idea what could be causing this? I feel so ripped off since the DuraCool were more expensive and were touted to increase cooling efficiency.

holy shit bravo I was wondering where you went

might hold more water but it will restrict the air flow in that area.

Yeah those blue pads do not work nearly as well as the wood aspen pads . I work at a hardware store anytime somebody goes for the blue pads I try to talk them out of it. The blue pads might last longer but to me the cooling temperature is much more important than how long it lasts. What has probably happened with his you're basing the performance of both products when they wood aspen pads are at their very last leg not doing well anymore and you're putting in brand new blue pads yeah the blue pads might do better than the really beat up an old wood pads you just need to replace your wood pads

Nice but don’t like AC.

selecting durablue just because it is better is NOT the reason. The catch-22, different pad materials functions DIFFERENTLY!!!! Do NOT listen to the installers, manufacturer advertisement (could be considered false because not telling what is different), and other bragging owners. It is YOU, OWNER of the evaporative cooler understanding and exploiting the pad materials and you have habits. YOU must insist on using new but same pad materials as long the materials exists.

Wouldnt have to worry about chinese making AC if we made them here.