11 Genius DIY Air Conditioner Ideas to Try Out

With high temperatures and humidity levels that summer brings, you simply cannot deal with air conditioning problems. Moreover, nobody wants high energy costs! So, you might be wondering if there exists another way to cool down.

Well, you can opt for a DIY air conditioner!

While nothing beats the ice-cold air from an HVAC unit, a homemade air conditioner can help take the edge off on a hot day.

The best part: A homemade air conditioner only costs a few dollars and can be put together in a couple of hours at max!

This blog will show you how to make an air conditioner yourself using everyday items from around your house. So whether you are dealing with summer power outages or just love simple DIY projects, this guide has you covered.

1. Styrofoam Air Conditioning

To create a DIY styrofoam air conditioner, all you need is a styrofoam box with lid, a fan, and ice for this homemade air conditioner. As the ice melts away, you will feel the cool breeze coming your way!

Materials Required

• Polystyrene box
• Fan
• 2 small PVCs with a 90-degree bend
• Knife
• Ice cubes or frozen bottles

How to DIY Styrofoam Air Conditioning

1. Gather all your materials.
2. Place the small fan at the center of the box lid and trace around it for an opening.
3. Use a knife to cut out the designated area.
4. Take your 2 PVC pipes and place each on either side of the fan cutout. Again, trace the outline and take their cutouts.
5. Insert the pipes in their relative places.
6. Set aside the lid and move on to filling the box with ice cubes or frozen bottles.
7. Put the lid back on and insert the fan in its place.
8. Switch on the fan and tadaa, you’re all set with cool air coming your way our from the pvc pipes. The more the ice, the longer your cooling will last.

2. Milk Carton Air Conditioner

Working from home is convenient until your home air conditioner dies down. Well, don’t fret, you can try making this super easy DIY air conditioner that requires a few supplies you already have on hand.

It is not designed to cool your entire room but can be a great option to place on your desk and enjoy the direct cool air while you work.

Materials Required

• Computer fan
• 12 AC adapter
• Knife
• Glue gun
• Milk carton
• Pen
• Shrink tube
• Ice cubes

How to DIY A Milk Carton AC

1. Place the milk carton horizontally on a table.
2. Put the computer fan at the bottom. Make an outline around the fan.
3. Take a knife and make a cut around that outline.
4. Then take the computer fan and insert it in the cutout of the milk carton.
5. Seal all the gaps around the computer fan using a glue gun.
6. After that, wire the computer fan to a 12-volt AC adaptor.
7. Take ice cubes and fill the carton with them. You will require small, slender ice cubes to fit the opening of the carton.

You will feel the cold air blowing in no time!

3. Fan & Ice Air Conditioner

Want to chill back and enjoy the benefits of air conditioning without hefty bills? You can try this DIY air conditioner with a fan. It requires a few simple items and the best part is that you can also use it to cool an entire room. You will just have to replace the desk fan with a pedestal fan for a larger area.

Materials Required

• 2 plastic bottles
• Small desk fan or pedestal fan
• Cutter
• Metal wire
• Plastic strap
• Soldering iron (optional)

How to DIY Fan Air Conditioner

1. Take 2 plastic bottles and slice them half way from the wider end to create an opening to insert your ice cubes.
2. Take a soldering iron and punch multiple holes on the sides of the bottle at an equal distance.
3. Insert a metal wire in the holes and create a mesh inside the bottles.
4. Take a plastic strap or thin metal wire and attach the bottles to the fan. Keep the opening side up and the bottle cap facing the floor.
5. Fill the bottles with the ice cubes.

Turn on the fan for a cool, breezy effect! You can release the melted water by placing a cup underneath and opening the bottle cap.

4. Copper Coil Air Conditioner

Copper coil air conditioner is a great air conditioning option for smaller areas. It uses an electric water pump used in aquariums which pumps the water through the coils.

Materials Required

• Aquarium pump
• Ice cooler
• 20 feet copper tubing
• 10 feet plastic tubing
• Ice cubes
• Hose clamps
• Small fan

How to DIY Copper Coil AC

1. Start by adding copper tubing to the fan grid which is the outer casing of the fan. You basically have to form loops around the protective grid. Leave 1 or 2 feet of extra tubing at both ends.
2. Secure the copper tubes with zip ties on four sides of the fan grid.
3. Attach the loose ends of the copper tubes with the plastic tubes and secure them with hose clamps.
4. Now attach one end of the plastic tube with the pump.
5. Then insert the pump and another half of the plastic tube in the cooler.
6. Add cold water and ice cubes to the cooler.
7. Turn on the pump and check if water is running through tubing.

And you have it! Turn on the fan and enjoy cool air from your homemade copper coil aircon!

5. DIY Portable Air Conditioner

In this method, an ice chest forms the main body while fans blow air through your DIY ducts. It is simple to set up and you can easily find materials in your storage area. You can also carry this homemade portable air conditioner from one room to another depending on your requirement.

Materials

• Air blower motor
• Cooler
• Aluminum ducts
• Small PVC pipe
• Caulk
• Rubber coupling

How to DIY Cooler Air Conditioner

1. Place one end of the PVC pipe on the one front bottom side of the cooler and make an outline. Trace another outline on the top right corner of the cooler.
2. Make a cut-out on both sides.
3. Insert the aluminum duct in the hole on the front and take it out from the hole on the right side.
4. Attach the rubber coupling to the both openings of the aluminum duct. Attach the blower motor to the rubber coupling on one opening and the PVC pipe to the other opening.
5. Apply caulk on the sides of the two holes in the cooler to avoid water leakage
6. Add ice inside the chest and place on the lid.
7. Lastly plug in the blower fan and enjoy cool air.

6. Personal USB Cooler

If the heat generated by your computer bothers you or if you just want additional cooling equipment, you will benefit from this USB cooler.

Materials Required

• Plastic bowl with lid
• USB data cable
• CPU fan
• 4 thread spools

How to Make a Homemade Air Conditioner

1. Place your CPU fan on the top of the bowl and make an outline.
2. Then cut the area you have just outlined.
3. Also place a thread spool on the top of the bowl and take a cutout.
4. Repeat it 3 more times as you have to fix 4 thread spools.
5. Apply glue on the spools and insert them in the holes
6. Now apply glue to the fan and insert it in the cut.
7. Take the USB cable and cut the protective cover from the end. You will see two bare wires.
8. Connect those wires with the fan wires.
9. Add ice cubes in the bowl and cover with the lid.
10. Connect the USB cable in your laptop and your USB cooler will start blowing cool air.

7. DIY Bucket Air Conditioner

If you don’t want to invest in an air conditioner for your small area, for instance like your garage or a shed, this makeshift bucket unit is an excellent alternative.

To provide even distribution of cool air, this bucket air conditioner has holes on all sides. Place it in the center of your room to blow cold air in all directions. As it’s a DIY portable air conditioner, you can place it wherever you like. Just lift the bucket’s handle and move it around.

Materials Required

• Bucket
• Small fan
• Styrofoam liner
• 3 PVC pipes (4-inches each)
• Ice
• Hole saw
• Cutting knife

How to DIY a Bucket Air Conditioner

1. Take the 3 PVC pipes and trace 3 holes on the front side of the bucket.
2. Use a hole saw to make the cutouts.
3. After that, add a styrofoam liner inside the bucket.
4. Use the hole saw and make 3 cuts again in the styrofoam liner for the 3 PVC pipes.
5. Insert the PVC pipes in the holes.
6. Add ice in the bucket and fill it.
7. After that, place your fan on the bucket lid and take measurements.
8. Use a cutting knife to make the cut.
9. Insert the fan and plug it in.
10. Turn on the fan and you will notice cool air blowing from the PVC pipes.

Tip: You can also use frozen bottles instead of ice. It’s better to have 2 large bottles instead of one so you don’t have to replace it frequently.

8. Small Desktop Cooler

This is an easy and cheap homemade air conditioner that actually works! Plus, you barely need a few supplies to DIY this mini air conditioner.

Material Required

• 1 big plastic bowl with lid
• 4-inch PVC pipes
• Small fan
• Glue gun
• Ice cubes
• Battery

How to Create Small Desktop Cooler

1. Gather all your materials.
2. Put your fan on top of the bowl lid.
3. Outline the area and cut it out.
4. Then place all 4 PVC pipes around the 4 sides of the fan cut out and make the outline.
5. Cut the 4 holes in the lid.
6. Apply glue to the fan and 4 pipes and fix them in their respective places on the lid.
7. Add ice to the bowl.
8. Connect fan wires to the battery and switch on the fan.

9. Mini Evaporative Cooler

This DIY air conditioner works like an evaporative cooler, blowing cool air while also adding moisture in the air in small quantities. Plus, it is a great option for you if you are looking for a homemade air conditioner without ice. You just need wet sponges, no need for frozen bottles or ice cubes.

Things You Need

• Plastic box with a lid
• 3 medium-sized sponges
• Paper cutter
• Soldering iron
• 12 V battery

How to Create Homemade Evaporative Cooler

1. Remove the lid of your box. Take the fan and trace its outline on the lid.
2. Use a paper cutter to make a cut.
3. Apply glue to the fan using a glue gun and insert it in the hole.
4. Take your box and use a soldering iron to make approximately 54 small ventilation holes.
5. Place three wet sponges inside the container.
6. Then wire your fan to a 12V battery.
7. Your DIY cooler air conditioner is ready for use!

10. Cannon Air Conditioner

This is a sturdy homemade air conditioner that can definitely solve your cooling woes. It requires time and effort but provides a great opportunity to test your DIY skills!

Materials Needed

• Cooler
• 120 V fan
• 12 V fan motor
• 12 V water pump
• Large PVC pipe
• Hose barb adapter
• Crescent wrench
• Drill machine
• Ice cubes

How to DIY Cannon Air Conditioner

1. Attach your fan at one end of the PVC pipe.
2. Wrap your copper tube around the PVC pipe to form a coil. You will need to take assistance from a family member or a friend.
3. After your coil has been formed, at both ends, attach the hose barb adapter. If you find that the tube is curved and the adapter doesn’t fit, you can take a crescent wrench and clamp it down on the copper tube to straighten it.
4. Take your PVC pipe and drill two holes at the end.
5. Then attach the small plastic tube to the one end of the hose barb adapter.
6. Place this entire setup inside the pipe.
7. Take the large plastic tubing and insert into the big hole of the PVC pipe.
8. Take the small plastic tubing attached to the hose barb adapter and insert its other end to the small hole.
9. Put this setup aside for now.
10. Take your ice cooler and drill small holes on the side to put in a large plastic tube whose one end is in the PVC pipe.
11. Place a water pump inside the ice cooler and fill it with ice cubes.
12. Turn on the fan and start using your cannon aircon!

11. Thermoelectric Cooler Fan

If you have an old computer system lying around, now is the good time to put it to use.This DIY AC makes use of the thermoelectric fan, normally used to cool down computer processors. Utilize some basic DIY skills and your air conditioner will be ready in less than an hour!

Things Needed

• PVC pipe
• CPU fan
• Cooling fan
• Sun/foam board
• Peltier module
• Thermal paste
• Aluminum sink
• Glue gun
• DC jack
• 12 V 5 A power supply
• 2 bulb holder caps — optional

How to DIY Thermoelectric Fan

1. Take a sun board and fit it on the lower side of your CPU fan.
2. Then take a peltier module and place it in the center of the sun board. Trace its outline and take a cutout using a paper cutter.
3. Grab thermal paste and apply it on the empty square area on the sun board.
4. Also apply the paste on the peltier module. Cover it thoroughly with the paste.
5. Insert the module in its space on the sun board.
6. After that, apply glue to the module and paste the aluminum sink there.
7. Put this setup aside.
8. Take your PVC pipe and drill multiple vent holes on the lower side. Also drill a slightly large hole on the upper side for the CPU fan to come out.
9. Place the PVC pipe above your CPU fan setup.
10. Take a cooling fan and fit it on top of the PVC pipe.
11. Take a DC jack and attach the CPU fan wires and cooling fan wires with it. Fit it inside the large hole in the PVC pipe.
12. Use a 12 V 5 A power supply and connect it with the DC jack.
13. Switch on the power supply.
14. Optional step: To give it a cannon shape, you can use two bulb holder caps and glue them to the bottom of the PVC pipe.

Stay Cool & Comfortable With a Homemade Air Conditioner

If you are looking for a way to beat the heat this summer without spending too much money, you should definitely try your own DIY air conditioner. All of the options explored in the blog are super easy and can save you a lot of money on costs this summer. Plus, you can customize your air conditioner to fit your specific needs, which is a huge bonus. Try one (or all!) of these methods and stay cool without breaking the bank!

Originally published at https://www.cielowigle.com on June 29, 2022.