A cooler may sit in the corner of a garage or in the back of a truck, performing it’s job of maintaining iced beverages. Eventually, however, the cooler will not perform its job. On one moment a person is enjoying iced beverages during a long weekend at the lake, on the next moment a person pulls out warm beer from the cooler and wonders what has gone wrong with the cooler.
While coolers may seem simple in there design, there are a few issue with coolers that can ruin a person’s plans quickly. The good news for persons that own coolers is that there are fixes to most issues that tend to arise with coolers. Coolers tend to have a few issues that may arise, but with a little knowledge of how a cooler works, a person can usually fix the problems themselves before having to purchase a cooler replacement before the current cooler replacement expires.
The following situations with coolers may arise with individuals who own either hard-sided coolers, soft pack coolers or high-end rotomolded cooler models. Ice may melt at a much faster rate than the owners of coolers might expect. In these cases, the food that was placed in the cooler may become warm.
Common Problems That Affect Your Cooler
1. Issues with the Cooler Seal
While the loss of the ice is one of the most common issues with coolers, the cooler isnt usually defective. Instead, the cooler likely has developed issues with the seal along its lid. Dirt may have collected within the seal, or the cooler’s hinges may have loosened over time.
Even a crack in the cooler’s gasket allows warm air into the cooler, forcing the ice within the cooler to work harder than it should work to maintain the temperature of the items within. To fix the issue of the melting ice, place a dollar bill along the cooler’s lid at several spots. If the bill can be slid out of the cooler’s lid without resistance, the cooler’s seal needs to be cleaned or replaced.
Wiping the seal with warm soapy water and applying a thin coat of silicone lubricant will fix the issue in most cases. If the cooler’s gasket is cracked or flattened beyond repair, however, purchase a new gasket specific to the cooler model. The correct seal can double the amount of time that the ice will last within the cooler.
2. Leaking Drain Plug
The cooler’s drain plug may leak water even when the cooler owner makes sure that the drain plug is tightly closed. Water always finds the path of least resistance within the cooler, which means that the drain plug may be aging. Specifically, the plastic O-ring that surrounds the drain may have cracked or lost it’s shape due to the continual freezing and thawing of the cooler.
If the owner decides to replace the drain plug, the owner can lubricate the plastic O-ring with food-grade silicone grease to stop the weeping of water from the cooler. In cases where the drain plug itself is warped, however, replacing the drain plug is inexpensive and usually requires no tools to perform the replacement. In addition to the damage that the drain leakage may cause, the standing water within the cooler can lead to the growth of mold within the cooler.
3. Broken or Stretched Latches
The cooler’s lid may refuse to remain in a closed position. The cooler may pop open during transport within the truck or while on a ride on a boat. This issue is caused by the cooler’s latch becoming either stretched or broken.
The cooler’s plastic latch may have cracked due to years of exposure to sunlight. Metal cooler latches may have become bent through the added weight of the cooler or through the slamming of the cooler lid shut. In either case, coolers will have a latch hook and a strike plate where the two meet.
The metal parts of the cooler may be able to be straightened using pliers. Plastic pieces that are cracked will need to be replaced with new replacement parts for the cooler. Even after the cooler’s lid is fixed, a heavy bungee cord or ratchet strap may be used to hold the cooler’s lid in place during transport.
4. Strange Odors and Smells
However, this is not as convenient as using the cooler’s lid. Strange smells may fill the cooler each time the cooler’s lid is opened. Coolers tend to trap the same elements that it keeps in them, including moisture and bacteria.
If items with odors were placed into the cooler, those bacteria will breed and cause the cooler to emit those strange smells. A baking soda placement within the cooler for a few days will help to neutralize the bad smells within the cooler. For a deeper clean, however, you should use a mixture of bleach and water to perform a thorough cooler clean, after which the cooler should be dried out with direct sunlight.
A mixture of vinegar and water performs better than other cleaners when placed within a cooler, and it does not leave behind its own scent. To avoid bad smells from developing, however, never place the cooler with its lid shut if there is moisture within the cooler.
5. Broken Cooler Handles
The handles of the cooler may break or pull away from the cooler’s body. The handles are subjected to a lot of stress when cooler are transported with their contents. Cheap coolers may use rivets to attach the handles to the cooler’s body. Over time, the rivets may tear through the cooler’s outer shell.
If the handle is still attached to the cooler, reinforcement of the handle with stainless steel bolts and washers will fix the cooler’s handle issue. Aftermarket handles may be installed on the cooler to provide more even distribution of the cooler’s total load. The repair to the cooler will pay for itself because when a cooler loses its handles, it becomes dead weight when it holds more than a few pounds.
6. Sun Damage and Scratches
The cooler may develop deep scratches, gouges or areas that have faded from exposure to sunlight. This damage does not usually impact the cooler’s performance, but it may hide damage that does. Ultraviolet sunlight contains elements that break down the coolers plastic materials.
The plastic begins to chalk and develop cracks from this sun exposure. A close look at the cooler may reveal the severity of the scratches. A plastic restorer spray can help to restore the cooler’s plastic material to its original color and shine.
If cracks are found along the cooler’s body, however, it is time to purchase a new cooler. The cooler will eventually fill with water if it has cracks that extend more than halfway through the cooler’s wall.
7. Worn Rubber Feet
The cooler may slide within the truck or boat in which it is transported. The rubber cooler feet may be worn smooth or have fallen off of the cooler over time. Without the rubber features of the cooler’s feet, the cooler may become a projectile when the truck or boat makes turns. Replacement cooler feet are inexpensive and can be glued or screwed onto the cooler in a few minutes.
In addition to replacing the cooler’s feet, a thin layer of closed-cell foam tape may be placed along the cooler’s bottom to allow the cooler to remain in place in transport and to protect the hull of the truck or boat from any potential scratches.
8. Moisture in Insulation Cavity
Moisture may build up within the cooler between its inner and outer wall. The cooler will feel heavy when filled with contents, and may make a sloshing sound within its body.
This issue is usually caused by a puncture or seam in the cooler that allows water to enter the cooler’s insulation cavity. Once the water enters the cooler, it cannot escape. Additionally, this water destroys the cooler’s insulation.
Look for cracks near the drain plug or cooler lid. If the cooler is in the early stages of failing, coolers contain repair kits with marine-grade epoxy to patch cooler seams. If the cooler is damaged beyond repair, however, it is time to purchase a cooler replacement.
9. Squeaky Lid Hinges
The cooler’s lid hinges may make loud squeaking sounds when the lid is opened or closed. The hinges may feel gritty when the lid is being moved. Dirt and salt have entered the cooler’s hinge and are damaging the cooler’s metal pin within the hinges.
If the cooler is not too damaged, the owner can disassemble the hinges to allow for the placement of a dry lubricant that contains Teflon instead of oil-based lubricants that may attract more dirt to the cooler. Replace the cooler’s hinge pin with a thicker stainless steel version and the cooler will last a little longer.
10. Degraded Foam Insulation
The cooler’s ice may not last as long as it used to. The cooler’s foam insulation may have absorbed moisture over time. The cooler loses its ability to resist the transfer of heat from the environment to the items placed within the cooler. There is no easy fix to the insulation problem.
However, you can pre-chill the cooler with ice the night before every trip. Additionally, the cooler should be kept out of direct sunlight whenever possible. While coolers will fail over time, coolers that are properly cared for will last well into a decade.
Coolers that are neglected, however, will fail within two or three seasons. The difference between a cooler that will last the owner for many years versus one that will fail is in the maintenance tasks that are usually not thought about until there is a problem. You should clean the cooler’s seal, grease the drain plug, tighten the cooler’s latches and dry the cooler before placing it in storage.
By performing these tasks on a regular basis, the cooler will last the owner long after other coolers have been added to the landfill. The next time you open the cooler and everything inside is the temperature you hoped for, take a moment to appreciate that victory. A reliable cooler dont announce itself.
A reliable cooler just simply does its job and does so in the way that a reliable cooler is meant to do its job.