Homemade Evap. Air Cooler! - Awesome Air Cooler! - Easy DIY (quickview w/closeups)

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Published 2014-07-30

Homemade Evaporative Air Cooler. Easy DIY. This "large-area" air cooler is capable of cooling multiple rooms - up to 30F lower than the initial "room temperature". Designed to be used with a standard 20" box fan. Run-time: 6-10 hours per fill-up (holds 3 gallons). all supplies are easily found at the home stores. Note: Check my youtube video page for the "extended version" of this video (includes complete building instructions w/extras). notes on construction: wood used; one 10 foot 2x3 (99.75" in total). twelve 2 1/2" wood screws. one heavy duty "CoolPad Ice" all season cooler pad. one roll (2ft by 5ft) of metal screen, called "hardware cloth". 5/8" vinyl tubing (1/2" internal diameter). 200GPH fountain pump (from harbor freight). one 2' long piece of pvc pipe (1/2" diameter). assorted pvc connectors. 1/8" drill bit for water holes. 7/8" spade bit to cut hole at top of wooden braces. one 24" long window box (7" high) from walmart. lastly, works best in semi-dry and dry climates *the drier the climate the better it performs - also, for best results, use a strong/powerful fan. tip: to dry out the cooler pad do not remove it. just shut off water pump and let fan run. it should be completely dry in 15 to 20 mins. only remove cooler pad when replacing it (once or twice a year - if you use heavy duty one). you may need to use some pvc pipe cement if there are any leaks (on non-threaded connections). about $4 a bottle. (i didn't need to use it.) you may need to use teflon tape on any connector that is threaded and leaking. cooler is totally self-contained and area around cooler stays completely dry. (ran it all day for 3 days and observed no water at all outside of the air cooler).
**UPDATE (05/22/2018) If you like this vid....also check out my latest and greatest Large Area DIY Evap Air Cooler. here's the youtube video link • Large Area Evap. Air Cooler! - DIY AC...

All Comments (21)

@kayleydobbs8167 7 years ago

Nice idea. Do you know what the change in your electric bill was compared to standard air conditioning?
@ElkoJohn 7 years ago

Really top notch concept and video, thanks.
@meadow227 9 years ago

this will save me a lot of money - thanks!
@indianb1918 1 year ago

Great and informative video.
@ishaanpilar 6 years ago

Can you suggest me the best material to soak the water?
@ashes2rose 7 years ago

Whats the make of the fan? Is the fan available online? Because that fan is good one you have used.
@reasoningtruth 6 years ago

desertsun02, I think the point Theo M was making was that while the unit is running "INSIDE" the house it will be cooling great at first but as time goes on inside the house humidity will start rising slowing down the evaporation thus slowing down the cooling. If you could get your cooler in a window so it's only dealing with the steady outside humidity you will fair better as long as your not in the tropics somewhere. No matter how effective the pads are you will be raising your humidity, (why do you need to keep filling the water tank and notice, as the time goes on you will need to fill it less and less because the room air is getting saturated causing less evaporation thus slowing down the cooling). I love your design. I've been looking for a good one to copy for a window here at home. I needed it to be flat like yours so I can put it inside the window without taking up too much space. That's what I mean if you could just park that thing next to an open window so it's drawing just the outside air in I'm sure you will be needing a jacket!
@lucholambo5138 6 years ago

Thanks do you have the plans to build one..
@tmalonso 9 years ago

Did you take any measurements on how much it increases the humidity levels yet? Would it be less effective in high humidity conditions due to less evaporation? It would be nice to know a ballpark for cooling btu's so you'd be able to do a power consumption comparison with a window a/c or mini-split...very cool idea, thanks for sharing! :)
@desertlogic222 9 years ago

Can't wait to see how you do a 12v version. Bilge pump? Single or multiple computer or radiator fans? Excellent!
@lovetofly32 7 years ago

I want to see results with ice water!! :-D
@tancoconstruction1247 9 years ago

We need this for our tailgates coming up. How will it work outside, 2 fans facing each other 15' apart? thank you
@PaulDossAlabamaGulfCoastVideo 9 years ago

You could mount a container of water, maybe 3 lt bottle, upside down on one side with a hose running into the reservoir. It would give a much longer run time between refills. Just a thought.
@j1o2h3n4ify 7 years ago

Can I use a foam for the mesh?
@BLAZINBEATS123 9 years ago

hi how much do you sell them for?
@danielschultz7181 9 years ago

Any problems with the fan getting wet? Other than that concern I'm thinking this would be awesome to build. Great videos as usual. Thank you
@CMZneu 2 years ago

Is there a reason you have the fan sucking air instead of pushing it? i feel it would be better for the fan to push since the humid air won't be hitting it as much.
@honglalalalasungwon3 9 years ago

What kind of water pump did you use for the coor? It seems quite small and simple.
@philh1826 1 year ago

Is the best design of yours for garage? Vegas is 110 right now and my 400sf garage feels like an oven
@indianb1918 1 year ago

Does the water in the bottom tray get cool as well ?