How to Make a DIY Air Conditioner with a Fan & Water Bottles

You don't have to buy an expensive air conditioner in order to beat the heat—instead, you can cool down a room using water bottles and a fan. Either freeze the bottles and put them in front of the fan or attach the bottles to the back. Keep reading for the best hacks to make your fan feel like an air conditioner and feel comfortable and cool in no time!

How to Make a Fan Cooler in Hot Weather

Pour 3 tbsp (51 g) of salt into 3 plastic water bottles, then fill them up with water. The salt lowers the freezing point of the water, making it feel colder. Shake the bottles, then place them in the freezer until the water is frozen. Take them out and set them in front of your fan to enjoy a chilly cross breeze.

Section 1 of 4:

Putting Frozen Bottles in Front of Your Fan

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1
Pour 3 tbsp (51 g) of salt and water into 3 plastic water bottles. Use any size of disposable plastic bottles for the easiest set-up and clean up. Pour 3 tablespoons (51 g) of table salt per bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water (if they’re not already). Put the caps back on and shake the bottles to thoroughly mix the salt.
- Salt lowers the freezing point of water (or ice), which can make it feel colder than regular water.^{[1]
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- Any standard salt you have in your kitchen will work.
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Freeze all of the bottles. Leave them inside for a few hours until they are completely frozen. Once the water turns to ice, take the bottles out and set them aside.^{[2]
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- How long it takes for the water to freeze depends on the size of the bottles and the temperature of your freezer. To speed up the process, adjust the freezer to its lowest setting.^{[3]
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Set the bottles 6 in (15 cm) in front of your fan. A table fan or box fan works best, but you can use any fan you want. Turn on the fan and put your bottles in front of it. The air will circulate around the ice, picking up its cold temperature and distributing it throughout your space.^{[4]
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Research source} Keep the fan on as long as the bottles are frozen.
- Try to spread the bottles out so they don’t block any of the fan’s airstream.
- Put the bottles on a small table in front of a standing fan.
- Try not to use the oscillation setting on your fan if it has one. Instead, keep it pointed at the water bottles for the whole time.
4
Put your bottles back in the freezer to reuse them. When the ice melts, simply freeze the bottles again. In a few hours, you can run your fan like an air conditioner again!
- Keep multiple bottles of water and ice in your freezer so you don’t have to wait for them to freeze again.

Section 2 of 4:

Hanging Bottles behind Your Fan

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Cut halfway around 2 empty water bottles 1 in (2.5 cm) from the bottom. Drink the water of 2 bottles or empty them into another container. Hold the bottle securely with your non-dominant hand against a cutting board, and poke the tip of utility knife through the bottle and work halfway around the bottle. Do the same cut on the other bottle.^{[5]
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- Be careful when handling a utility knife.
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Drill multiple holes in the bottle ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) apart. Use a ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) drill bit meant for plastic. Make a row of holes around the bottle ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) above the cut. Once you finish making the first row, drill 2-3 more rows above it, spacing them ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) apart.^{[6]
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- Alternatively, use a soldering gun to melt the holes through the plastic.
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Tie the bottles upside-down to the back of your fan with string or wire. Make sure your fan is turned off before tying your bottles. Feed a wire or string through 2 of the holes in each bottle. Wrap the string around the fan grating and tie a knot to secure them. To keep them in place, tie another string around the bottles’ nozzles.^{[7]
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- Tie one bottle on each side of the motor compartment of the fan.
- You can also place 2 frozen ice packs inside mesh bags and hang them from the grating on your fan with paper clips, string, or zip ties.^{[8]
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Put ice cubes inside the bottles and turn on your fan. Lift the bottom of the bottle up so you can fit ice cubes inside the cut. Fill the bottle to just below the holes. Turn your fan on high and point it towards the area you want to cool down.^{[9]
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- The fan will pull the cold air from the bottles through the holes you drilled.
- Since the bottles are attached to the fan, you can use the oscillating feature if your fan has one.
When the ice starts to melt, hold a bowl underneath the bottle nozzle. Twist off the cap so the water pours into the bowl. Screw the cap back on the bottle before draining the other. To continue using your bottles, simply add more ice.^{[10]
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Tip: Reuse the water you drain from the bottles to refill your ice tray. That way, it won't go to waste!

Section 3 of 4:

Maximizing Fans to Keep Your Home Cooler

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Position box fans in your windows to create a crosswind. Open the window on the side of your house where the wind blows inside, or open a window that faces shaded, cooler areas outside. On the opposite side of your home, open the window and place a box fan so that it blows air outside. This way, one window will pull in cool air and the fan will push out hot air.^{[11]
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- Hot air tends to rise, while cold air sinks.^{[12]
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  Research source} If your house has multiple levels, position the fan (or multiple box fans) on the upper level and open the windows on the bottom level.
- To create natural ventilation without a fan, slightly open the window facing the direction where the wind blows into your home. Open the window on the opposite side of your home even wider.^{[13]
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Hang wet towels or sheets over your fan to make it feel cooler. Wet a cotton sheet or a thin towel and drape it over the top of your fan. The water will evaporate and create a wind-chill effect.^{[14]
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Research source} As wind chill increases, it draws heat away from the air and your body, driving down your skin and internal body temperature.^{[15]
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- Although this method doesn’t actually cool the air, it does make it feel cooler and make you feel more comfortable in your home.
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Set your ceiling fan so it rotates counterclockwise in the summer. Ceiling fans are the most effective types of fans because they circulate tons of air to create a draft throughout the room. In the summer, make sure your fan is rotating in a counterclockwise direction so it moves cold air upward.^{[16]
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U.S. Department of Energy
Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency

Go to source} If it isn’t, turn it off and press the small button or switch near the top.
- In the winter, flip the switch again to turn your fan in a clockwise direction and set it on a low speed. This will move warm air from the ceiling down to the other areas in your space.
- To cut down on your energy bills, make sure to turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room.
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Clean your fan as recommended to maximize its airflow. Dirty fans may be less efficient at cooling spaces and can blow dust and other particles back into the air. Most fans come with a manual that tells you how to best clean the blades, but if that’s not available, unplug the fan and remove any screws holding the plastic cage over the blades.^{[17]
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- Pry the cage off the fan with a flat-head screwdriver or putty knife. Use a vacuum to suck the dust off the blades.
- For a deeper clean, scrub the blades with a cloth and hot water. Optionally, add ¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of vinegar and a couple drops of dish soap to the water.
- Additionally, remove any dust from the plastic cage, either with the vacuum or a damp warm cloth.

Section 4 of 4:

More Tips to Beat the Heat

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Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated can help keep your body’s core temperature the same, even when the weather is hot. Both cold and hot drinks work well, but it’s best to stick to water, which can cool you down without any side effects.^{[18]
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- If you engage in exercise outdoors or sweat throughout the day, drink water to replace the liquids you’re losing and stave off dehydration.
- Try to avoid drinking beverages with caffeine in them like tea or coffee. Caffeine may raise your body temperature.^{[19]
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Open your windows when it’s dark outside. When it gets cooler in the evening, open your windows and doors to cool your home naturally—just make sure to lock up before you go to sleep.^{[20]
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Research source} Air conditioning specialist Victor Belavus also says to open your windows early in the morning, before the weather gets hot.
- Keep your home cooler throughout the day by covering your windows with dark drapes or window reflectors.^{[21]
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Take a cool shower before you go to sleep. Belavus says one of the best ways to stay cool without an air conditioner is to “take a cool shower before bedtime.” Cooling down in the shower can also help you feel better mentally and emotionally.^{[22]
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- Regular cold showers have also been found to boost your immune system, combat symptoms of depression, improve circulation, and reduce muscle inflammation and soreness.^{[23]
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- Alternatively, put your hands and feet in cold water. Your wrists and ankles have pulse points where blood vessels are close to the skin, so the water will make you feel cooler quickly.^{[24]
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Wear cool clothing and sleep in cotton sheets. Cotton fabrics tend to be super breathable, which can help cool your body throughout the day and at night. Try to wear light, loose clothing made of cotton, and fit your mattress with cotton sheets.^{[25]
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- Try to avoid engaging in strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, which is usually between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.^{[26]
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Question

Do fans actually lower the air temperature?

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No, fans don’t really lower the temperature. They just make you feel cooler by creating a “wind chill” effect. The moving air helps evaporate sweat on your skin more quickly, helping to cool your body and making you feel more comfortable if you’re hot. Having a fan on won’t make the air in the room any cooler.

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How can I make my fan more powerful?

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You can try putting some frozen water bottles or a bowl of ice in front of it, or experiment with how you position it. Putting a fan at floor level will help stir up cooler air that tends to rest lower in the room. You can also position it so that it bounces air off an opposite wall, which can help improve circulation. In the room.

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How do you make a DIY air conditioner without ice?

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One simple way to do it is to attach a water pump (like the kind you’d use in a fish tank) to some copper tubing, then coil the copper tubing and install it inside the front grille of a fan. You’ll need to put the pump in a cooler full of cold water. This will work best with ice in the cooler, but even chilled water without ice in it should help cool the copper tubes and the air circulating around them.

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Choose fans with a low-rated noise level, which is measured in sones. The quietest fans are rated at 1.5 sones or less.^{[27]
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