LUBBOCK, Texas – As temperatures rise throughout the country, it's crucial to find an affordable way to cool off. If you need an emergency cooling solution, here are some DIY air conditioner ideas that use items you likely already have at home.
Ice chest homemade air conditioner
For less than $10, you can make this DIY air conditioner from makeuseof.com. You will need a styrofoam ice chest, a cheap fan, and two PVC joints or flexible dryer vents.
- Place the fan face down and one end of the pipes on the ice chest, then trace around the fan and pipes.
- Use a serrated knife to cut holes out (cutting inside the lines so the supplies will fit snugly).
- Fill the cooler with ice, then turn the fan on.
The fan will force air over the ice and out of the vents releasing cold air about the same temperature as you would with an air conditioner.
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Frozen water bottle and fan DIY
This idea from wikihow.com requires only a few water bottles, salt (to lower the freezing temperature of the water), and a table or box fan.
- Pour three tablespoons of salt into each bottle, shake the bottles, then freeze them for a few hours.
- When they are frozen, set them about six inches from your fan and keep the fan on as long as the bottles are frozen.
Wikihow suggested to not use the oscillation setting on your fan if it has one. The bottles can be reused by placing them back in the freezer once they return to a liquid state.
Hang bottles behind your fan
Once again, water bottles and a fan are the stars of the show. For this cooling hack from wikihow:
- Cut halfway around two water bottles, about 1 inch from the top.
- Drill multiple holes above the cuts, all over the bottle.
- Place the bottles upside down behind the fan and tie them with a string or a wire.
- Put ice cubes inside the bottles and turn on the fan to cool off.
The oscillation setting can be used with this idea since the bottles are tied to the fan.
As always, when it gets hot, be sure to follow CDC guidelines to prevent heat-related illnesses. Stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, and apply sunscreen.