Why Doesn’t My Cooler Fill with Water or Start the Pump When It’s Cold Outside? - External Air Sensor Fitted


⚠️ Customer Safety Notice

This article contains general information intended for homeowners and occupants. Installation, servicing, repairs, electrical work, gas work and refrigerant-related work must only be carried out by appropriately qualified and licensed personnel.

Before performing any checks or maintenance, ensure the equipment is switched off and safe to access. Do not remove covers, enter roof or ceiling spaces, work at heights or attempt repairs unless you are qualified to do so.


If in doubt, contact an authorised service agent or licensed tradesperson. Safety must always take priority.

What’s Happening?

If your cooler has the External Air Sensor installed and enabled, it won’t run the water components—like the pump, drain, or solenoid—when the outside temperature drops below 18°C. This is normal and part of how the system is designed to work.

Why Is It Designed This Way?

  • When it’s cold outside, evaporative cooling doesn’t work well because the air is already cool and therefore doesn’t evaporate much water.
  • The external air sensor feature is designed to save water and energy by not running the water parts when they’re not needed.
  • It also protects the cooler from damage in areas where it gets frosty or freezing.

Smart Cooling Features

  • The cooler automatically adjusts how it works based on the outside temperature.
  • In thermostatic mode, if the outside air is cooler than your set temperature, it will stop pumping water to the pads and just use the cool outside air to keep your room comfortable—this often happens at night.

What Parts Are Affected?

  • Water pump
  • Drain system
  • Solenoid valve (controls water flow)

How Can I Test the Cooler in Cold Weather?

If you need to test the cooler when it’s cold outside, you can temporarily turn off the External Air Sensor using the MagIQtouch wall controller:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on the Cooler tab.
  3. Find External Air Sensor.
  4. Switch it Off.



⚠️ Important: Only turn it off for testing. Turn it back on afterward to keep your cooler working properly and safely.

Extra Settings You Can Use

  • Pump Off Set Point: Stops the pump and uses outside air to cool your space.
  • Auto Drain Set Point: Automatically empties the water tank when it’s close to freezing outside—this helps keep your cooler in good shape.