DIY Air Conditioners
 

With the weather the way it is lately, I figured I'd share this here since I've never seen anyone else post it. This is something I actually posted on my fb back in May after watching a few different videos on YouTube. Now, there are quite a few different versions out there, but I found that this is the easiest version to make.

Materials:

90° angle PVC pipe $6
8" fan (used) $10
Styrofoam Box $free
10 ice packs $free

No more having to sweat through summer nights (for super cheap)... Priceless!

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...80764442_n.jpg

About a week later, I changed the fan to a brand new one from Walmart for less noise and a smaller size with equally good airflow for $8.96 here:

2 in1 clip/base fan | Walmart.ca

From my personal experience, this will blow cold for an entire night or at the very least, colder than your standard fan blowing around warm air!

Get building, post your pics and ENJOY some cheap air conditioning!! :D

$25 for you to make one for me ;)

i think you got yourself a side business for the summer spoon lol

Where do you get the Styrofoam box for free?

And for ice, do you use those re usable blue freeze packs?

Yes

I seen one where the guy was just using a milk jug filled with water and frozen, would work similar.

I just fill 2 x 2L pop bottles with water, freeze em, and place in front of fans.......




After,

I just turn on my ac. :troll:

Portable ac's aren't that expensive and used over the years is a cheap investment.

Downside with this idea is that it's adding moisture to the air, especially if you're actually using ice rather than ice packs (even with ice packs, you're not removing humidity, just trapping it temporarily). A proper A/C unit dries the air as well as cooling it, which makes the cooling more effective.

I'm using a window-mount A/C right now that we paid $89 for... six years ago. That's basically $15/year, and still going strong.

Great idea! Another way to stay cool is go to a swimming pool, go watch a move(make sure the movie is in for a while so less people watching = cooler theatre) or go to the casino and just watch people play. Casino is actually pretty good air condition is strong and they give free drinks!

Can you provide a bit more pictures and instructions on how to do this?

I'm pretty intrigued and would love to start a DIY A/C project.

Where do you get free styrofoam boxes and free ice packs??

Warning: This might end up being more expensive than buying an A/C unit.

Most seafood markets have styrofoam boxes and ice packs. Won't be free obviously but nothing over a couple bucks.

Don't think those products are available in the Canadian Home Depot.
:okay:

I've got some Styrofoam boxes for free if anyone wants em. Smells like salmon though :heckno:

haha sorry, forgot to mention I got the box and ice packs from work for free. I can occasionally get one but my buddies have been taking them for their own a/c projects.

my version is quite literally freeze ice packs, cut hole into styrofoam box lid and BOOM, you're done.

there are guys out there who have attached solar panels to their fans so electricity is free too :lol you'd still have to plug it in for the night, but it's a cool idea.

i also keep a spare set of ice packs in the freezer so I can swap in fresh ones.

Yes, I'm using the reusable ice packs. It's just a lot cleaner to deal with than actual blocks or cubes of ice.

Buckets and drainage pipes? Of course they are.

Having said that, I got my portable AC off here for $120, 5 years ago and it's still going strong.

I'd strongly recommend against using styrofoam boxes that had fish in them lol. it'll stink up your room real quick.. thought that would be obvious :badpokerface:

if you have a sliding casement window, as most new houses in vancouver do, you can mount a window air conditioner designed for vertical sliding windows into your horizontal sliding casement window, parts will cost around $120 incl. the air conditioner and materials from home depot


i bought a cheap 5000 btu haier unit from walmart in the states, and used kinda the same method the dude above used except less ghetto for my computer room. Just make sure it's a window on the side of your house so it's not as big of an eyesore lol

not worth ur time. it will cool u down a bit if u aim the tube right at ur face but if u expect it to cool ur room down think again. wont even cool a small closet

How about suggestions for portable air conditioners that are reasonably priced, can cool down a decent sized room, say ~300 sq ft and is quiet enough to let you sleep?

Does that exist? lol - any recommendations from you guys on good portable ones?

for 300sq ft will need at least 10k btu probly around $400-500

Cool, any specific brands/models you would recommend? I'm looking for quietness.