Short answer: Greenhouse cooling-pad water management should control source-water quality, sump concentration, filtration, bleed or replacement, flow distribution, algae, scale, cleaning and winter storage. Pad life and cooling performance cannot be guaranteed by pad thickness alone.
Provide pH, EC, alkalinity, hardness, sodium, chloride, iron, manganese, suspended solids and other relevant water data. Well, municipal, desalinated and recycled sources create different scale, corrosion and biological risks. Treatment should be selected from analysis and the pad manufacturer guidance.
Evaporation removes water while leaving many dissolved minerals behind, so sump concentration can rise during operation. A bleed, replacement or treatment strategy may be required. The correct approach depends on source water, evaporation rate, environmental requirements and system design; do not use a universal bleed percentage.
| Component | Buyer check |
|---|---|
| Distribution pipe | Are holes, pressure and flow arranged for even wetting across the pad? |
| Pump | Does its duty point cover distribution flow, lift and pipe losses? |
| Sump | Is working volume, level control, overflow, drain and cleaning access adequate? |
| Filter or strainer | Does it protect distribution openings and allow easy cleaning? |
| Return gutter | Does it collect water without leaks, standing zones or overflow? |
Dry pad sections reduce effective cooling area, while excessive flow can carry droplets. Fan operation, pad face airflow, greenhouse leakage and distance also affect performance. Commission the pad and fan system as one package instead of checking water circulation alone.
Scale may result from concentrated minerals, while algae and biofilm relate to light, nutrients, temperature and sanitation. Identify deposit type before cleaning. Use only compatible cleaning procedures and chemicals approved for the pad, pump, seals and local safety requirements. Aggressive cleaning can damage pad material.
Check sump level, pump sound and distribution daily during use
Observe dry, flooded or damaged pad areas
Record make-up water and bleed or replacement operation
Clean filters, strainers and distribution openings
Remove sediment from sumps and return gutters
Inspect leaks, seals, supports and air bypass
Follow manufacturer shutdown, drying and seasonal storage guidance
Coordinate pad pumps with exhaust fans, outside humidity, temperature, sump level and staged cooling demand. Protect the pump from dry running. Alarm low water, pump fault and abnormal pressure where appropriate. Avoid wetting pads without the designed airflow if it creates carryover or unnecessary humidity.
Keep pump seals or a spare pump where crop risk justifies it, plus filters, floats, valves, distribution parts and repair materials. Record pad product, installation date, water analysis, cleaning and observed performance. Replace damaged sections based on condition and manufacturer guidance, not an invented fixed interval.
Possibly, but water analysis, concentration, treatment, bleed and cleaning need a project-specific plan.
Possible causes include blocked holes, low flow, poor leveling, air locks, leaks or pump and pipe problems.
There is no universal schedule; monitor water, concentration, contamination and manufacturer guidance.
No. Pad design, airflow, wetting, outdoor humidity, fan system and maintenance all affect performance.
Use the fan-pad buyer guide, cooling system category and water-quality checklist.
Send the climate, pad dimensions, pump data and water analysis through the contact page for a cooling-pad water checklist.