The summer months can be unbearably hot! Enjoy the outdoors, even in the heat, with this DIY swamp cooler, air-conditioner using an inexpensive styrofoam cooler, ice, and a fan. Watch the video for the easy tutorial!
One of my favorite spots to be during the summer months is outside on our patio! It’s a beautiful and cozy space; however, from July through September the heat and humidity become very uncomfortable to endure. The several box fans placed around the patio help cool things off, but I wanted a better cooling solution for those particularly hot evenings. This easy to make swamp cooler helps keep the immediate vicinity cooler and is great to have for small outdoor gatherings!
Before I dive into the easy outdoor air-conditioning tutorial, let’s first address the elephant in the room! This contraption is not cute. I typically want the things I share here to be both attractive AND functional and this doesn’t quite meet my aesthetic standards! That being said, when you’re hot, sticky, and sweaty, you care less about how cute the item is and more about its function. Feel free to hide the device in a nearby bush, or come up with some creative way to make it look more appealing!
Click PLAY on the video below to watch a quick video explanation on how I made this!
Supplies Needed:
- Styrofoam cooler
- 2 Elbow dryer vents
- Small fan
- Box cutter
- Ice
Assembly Instructions:
- On the lid of your cooler, place your two dryer vents and fan in the desired location. Your personal preference and placement is going to be determined by the shape of your lid. Trace around the objects and then use a box cutter to cut out the styrofoam inside the lines you traced. You want a snug fit.
- Ideally your fan should be smaller than the lid for a snug fit directly into the styrofoam lid. If your small fan happens to be larger than the lid, use your creativity to come up with a solution. We used some materials we had on hand to create a fluted base to set the fan on.
- Fill the cooler with as much ice as possible, and top it off with cold water. You can also add salt to allow the ice to begin melting which will make the air that blows out immediately cooler.
- Optional: Place a box fan in front of your cooler to strengthen the dispersion of cold air.
I hope this little outdoor hack proves helpful! Thanks for stopping by today!
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My Affordable Patio Furniture and Outdoor Decorating Tips
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