Homemade Cold Water Air Conditioner

Central air and window-mounted air conditioning units can be expensive and contribute significantly to daily energy use in the home. For under $50, you can transform an oscillating fan into a cold water air conditioner to cool your home to a comfortable temperature without using excessive energy. From start to finish, it should take about an hour or less to construct a homemade air conditioner.

Large standing fan
25-gallon trash can
25 feet of copper tubing, 1/4-inch diameter
Cable ties
20 feet of vinyl tubing, 1/4-inch diameter
Utility knife
Hose clamps (2)
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a 25-gallon trash can with ice water.
- 2
  Wrap a single layer of copper tubing around the back cage of a large standing fan. Secure the tubing with cable ties every 6 inches.
- 3
  Cut two sections of vinyl tubing, into a 7-foot piece and a 13-foot piece, with a utility knife.
- 4
  Insert one end of the copper tubing into the shorter piece of vinyl tubing and tightly secure it in place with a hose clamp. Run the other end of vinyl tubing into the trash can.
- 5
  Stick the other end of the copper tubing into the longer piece of vinyl tubing and tightly secure it in place with another hose clamp. Run the other end of vinyl tubing out the window.
- 6
  Secure the outside end of vinyl tubing to a stationary location with duct tape. Choose a spot where water flow isn't a problem. Warm waste water will run through this section of tubing and will flow onto the ground below the tube.
- 7
  Turn on the fan to activate the air conditioner.

How to Install a Condensing Unit

The Sizing Calculations for an Air Conditioner

Air Conditioners