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Dump Valves vs Drain Valves: What They Do and When to Replace Them
Nov
As water evaporates in a cooler, the minerals in it stay behind. Without a way to flush them out, the water gets saltier and leaves scale on the pads, pump and tray. Dump valves and drain valves solve this by emptying the tray, so fresh water can come in. Different brands use different names and designs, but the job is the same.
Safety first: coolers are usually on the roof and run on 240V. Use a safe ladder and roof access, and never work on the cooler with the power on. Any hard-wired electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician or cooler technician.
Drain valve or dump valve?
- Drain valve is the term Seeley uses for Breezair, Braemar and Coolair coolers. It’s usually an electrically operated valve (24VAC or 12VDC) that opens to drain the tray after the cooler turns off, and on a timer while it runs.
- Dump valve is the common name on Bonaire and Celair coolers, which also use the Aquamiser and H2O Optimiser systems. They do the same job of dumping salty water from the tray.
- Counterweight drain valves are used on some older CoolBreeze units, such as the SP2040 kit for 2001–2012 models.
Signs your drain or dump valve has failed
- Tray won’t hold water, or water runs from the drain constantly while the cooler is on: the valve is stuck open or its seal has failed.
- Water never drains after the cooler turns off: the valve is stuck shut or not getting power.
- White scale building up quickly on the pads and in the tray: the water isn’t being flushed often enough.
- Musty smell after the cooler has been off: stale water sitting in the tray.
Sometimes only a seal has worn, for example the Bonaire Aquamiser valve seal (6050197SP), so check before replacing the whole valve.
Common replacement valves
- Breezair and Braemar: 24VAC drain valve and shutoff (105345), Braemar 24VAC drain valve (107714), 12VDC drain valve (116389)
- Bonaire and Celair: dump valve drain assembly (6001336SP), Aquamiser dump valve kit (6051658SP), H2O Optimiser drain valve
- CoolBreeze: counterweight drain valve kit (SP2040)
The valve’s voltage must match your cooler: 24VAC and 12VDC valves are not interchangeable. Check the old valve’s label or the part number.
Find the right valve
Browse all drain and dump valves, or find parts by cooler model. Send us a photo of the old valve with your cooler model and we’ll confirm the replacement.
This guide is general information only. Always follow your cooler manufacturer’s instructions, and use a licensed electrician for any electrical work.
