Cooling down during summer heat spells can be a constant struggle.
When Instructables user danolanater needed a low-cost, energy efficient way to keep cool this season, he took to the internet for ideas.
He quickly stumbled upon all sorts of different projects worth testing out — most using some combination of plastic buckets, fans, styrofoam, and ice. However, after putting a few into practice, he began noticing flaw after flaw in their designs.
From the fans blowing warm air instead of cool air, to the ice inside the buckets melting into leaky pools of water, each project he tried became its own mess.
So, this inventive builder, determined to find the cool air solution best suited to his lifestyle, started formulating his own design.
By implementing a few clever fixes, this DIY-er was able to build a cost-effective, easy-to-use five gal. bucket air conditioner, perfect for keeping cool all season long.
Keep scrolling through our gallery to learn more about how this inventive builder transformed a simple bucket into an awesome air conditioner, designed to beat that lingering summertime heat.
Instructables DIY-er danolanater needed a way to keep cool this summer, but didn't want to spend a ton of money.
So, like any crafty maker, he turned to the internet for ideas.
He quickly found all sorts of different videos explaining how to make air conditioners out of plastic buckets — a perfect project for his tight budget.
This DIY-er tested out a few of the projects he found, finding that each had its own unique set of flaws.
Instead of succumbing to frustration, this builder began testing out different fixes and learning all sorts of lessons along the way.
His project started by drilling holes into his bucket, from which cool air would blow.
Learning from other folks' flawed methodologies, he quickly learned that these holes' placement mattered. If they were too high up on the buckets, they mostly blew warmer air, rather than the desired, cool air.
After a few attempts, he learned that these holes should be low enough on the bucket's exterior to funnel the cooler air sinking toward the structure's base, but high enough to contain any moisture that might accumulate within the air conditioner's interior.
With his hole placement set just right, he inserted a styrofoam lining around the bucket's sides and PVC piping into each hole.
He made sure the pipes' ends sat flush with the foam lining, to prevent airflow issues.
Next, this DIY-er attached his fan to the bucket's foam topper to channel outside air through his new air conditioner.
With his fan in place, this builder's air conditioner was ready to go.
Now, all it needed was fuel.
This Instructables user's air conditioner would run on ice, but not cubes straight out of the tray.
He learned early on that filling his bucket air conditioner with plain ice quickly resulted in a messy pool of water.
Instead, this crafty innovator decided to fill plastic bags with water and freeze them into ice popsicles.
These popsicles would be freezing cold like regular ice, but contained, so that as they melted they'd produce less messy water.
He filled his bucket with these ingenious popsicles, turned on his fan, and let the cool breeze blow.
This DIY-er added a bit of salt to each popsicle, as salt helps ice become even colder than it would be on its own.
Adorned with a handy thermometer, this plastic bucket air conditioner cools this DIY-er down perfectly while he's watching television or falling asleep at night.
Now, he's exploring adding a solar battery to power his air conditioner even more efficiently.
Inspired by a slew of other online projects, but disatisfied with elements of each's design, this crafty builder troubleshooted his way toward his perfect, affordable, and efficient DIY air conditioner.
What do you think of this DIY air conditioner? Have you ever made your own air conditioner? Let us know in the comments.
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