Set up & customize your Portacool evaporative cooler with CoolSync™

Take a new approach to beating the heat with a portable evaporative cooler. The Portacool APEX™ Series comes in a range of sizes— perfect for cooling your patio, garage, workshop, or warehouse; keeping customers comfortable; or protecting athletes, employees, or animals from extreme heat.  

In addition to picking the right size Portacool for your needs, you can further customize your cooling with CoolSync™ Technology. In this guide, we’ll show you how to optimize your Portacool set up and get the most out of your portable evaporative cooler.   

Getting started with Portacool 

Your Portacool evaporative cooler is ready to go right out of the box, no installation required. Simply wheel your evap cooler to the area you want to cool, add water to the water reservoir, and plug it into a power supply. Make sure to register your Portacool to activate your comprehensive warranty and receive ongoing support.  

Choosing the right place for your Portacool 

Portacool provides targeted cooling relief to the hottest areas in your home or business. Follow these tips to put your Portacool in the perfect spot: 

• Ensure that your Portacool is on a level surface.
• Choose a spot with easy access to water and electricity.
• Put the power cord in an area with low traffic, away from carpets, floor coverings, and other tripping hazards. 
• Portacools work better when plugged directly into the wall, without an extension cord; if you need to use one, the extension cord should be 14-gauge or greater, shorter than 50ft long, and properly grounded.
• Don’t operate your Portacool near sparks or open flames. 

Connecting with CoolSync™ 

CoolSync™ Technology is built into every APEX cooler, allowing you to control your Portacool through a smartphone app for ultimate convenience. 

Here’s how to sync your evap cooler with your phone: 

1. Download the Portacool app on the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). 
2. Create an account or sign in to an existing account. 
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect your Portacool to your smartphone.  
4. Manage your cooling in real-time and customize these settings: 
   1. Schedule: Set a cooling schedule 
   2. Fan speed: Adjust airflow intensity  
   3. Wind direction: Change louver angles (available on APEX 500 and APEX 700)  
   4. Group sync: Synchronize multiple coolers 
   5. Water control: Track water and electricity usage 
   6. Notifications: Stay up to date on maintenance and alerts  

Maximizing cooling performance with CoolSync™ 

Portacool evaporative coolers can lower air temperatures by up to 30°F, making them a powerful solution for residential and commercial cooling. To ensure maximum performance: 

• Keep your evap cooler connected to Wi-Fi for remote monitoring.
• Follow maintenance best practices for evaporative coolers (covered below).
• Use scheduling to have your cooler pre-soaked and ready to cool during peak heat. 

Let your evaporative cooler presoak for peak cooling power 

To get the best performance from your evap cooler, give your Portacool time to presoak when you turn it on. Presoaking ensures that your HydroTek™ Evaporative Media is evenly wetted so it can cool the air as it passes through the fan. 

Here’s how to presoak your media and maximize cooling power: 

• Turn on the evaporative cooler.
• Presoaking will begin automatically.
• DO NOT bypass the presoak phase—it ensures uniform water saturation.
• Once presoak completes, increase the fan to your desired level and ensure the Pump Speed is set to max. 
• You can set the fan and pump speeds from the Portacool app or by pushing the control buttons on the cooler.  

Personalize your operating mode  

Portacool APEX Series coolers have 3 different operating modes:  

• Max cooling: We recommend using this mode for maximum cooling performance. To cool your space, the cooler will automatically optimize the water flow rate based on surrounding air conditions.
• Eco mode: This setting helps you conserve water and electricity. It reduces the water flow rate and consumption.
• Manual mode: We recommend this mode for experienced users only. You can customize your water flow rate and pump speed to dial in your cooling experience. This mode is only available on the APEX 1200, 2000, 4000 and 6500.  

Create a custom cooling schedule 

Get targeted cooling, when you need it most. Set up a cooling schedule in the Portacool app to make sure your cooler is up and running when you need immediate heat relief. This way, you can give enough time for your cooler to “warm up” by presoaking the evaporative media.  

Scheduling saves you and your employees time. For instance, you can group your coolers on the Portacool app and set the times they start running. Then, your teams don’t have to walk around and manually turn each cooler on and off.   

If you want your warehouse to be cool by 8am, schedule the coolers to turn on at 7:30am to give the media ample time to presoak. Once your coolers turn on, they’ll run using the last cooling settings you used. At the end of the day, you can schedule your coolers to wind down with your teams. You can set your coolers to turn off at closing, and they’ll dry the evaporative media and then go into standby.  

Troubleshooting an issue with the Portacool app 

Some issues may be caused by a connectivity or network problem. Double-check your Wi-Fi connection and follow these steps to troubleshoot your unit. For further information, consult the APEX Series Owner’s Manual or contact our support team. 

Why isn’t my Portacool turning on/off with my schedule?  

1. Verify the Wi-Fi status light is solid blue on the display.  
2. Power cycle the cooler by unplugging and plugging the cooler back in.  
3. If the problem persists, delete the schedule in the Portacool app and create a new one.  

Why isn’t the Portacool app showing the accurate state of my cooler?  

1. Verify the Wi-Fi status light is solid blue on the display.  
2. Power cycle the cooler by unplugging and plugging the cooler back in.  
3. If the problem persists, then re-add the cooler to the app by selecting New Connection from the display menu and following the on-screen instructions. 

Maintaining your Portacool 

Regular maintenance ensures long-lasting evaporative cooling performance: 

• Drain the water reservoir weekly. Remove the drain cap and allow all the water to drain out. Check inside the reservoir for any dirt, debris, or scale buildup, and clean as needed. Don’t over-tighten the drain cap when putting it back on.
• Clean the evaporative media periodically. Use clean water from a hose with a spray nozzle and a soft-bristle brush to gently clean the outer edges of the media. This will help remove dirt, debris, or scale buildup. 
• Address hard water issues. Check your water quality and use Portacool Hard Water Treatment™ to prevent scale buildup, reduce equipment corrosion, and prolong the life of your media.
• Store your Portacool properly. This involves draining the water tank and drying the media and tank to prevent mold and mildew. Cover the Portacool and store it in a dry area when not in use for long periods of time. 

Smarter cooling starts with Portacool 

CoolSync™ Technology transforms your Portacool into a smart evaporative cooler with remote control, scheduling, and energy-efficient cooling solutions. Whether you need outdoor patio cooling, warehouse spot cooling, or home garage heat relief, Portacool ensures optimal comfort. 

Ready to beat the heat? Find a Portacool dealer near you or contact us with any questions.