A cheap a/c!
Ok, this is not an original idea by any means or stretch of the imagination. I saw this idea on either Facebook or Youtube. It was such an interesting (and easy) project, that I decided to try it.
This is what happened. I was planning to do a simple 5 gallon bucket with a fan and pvc pipe. Well I went to Lowe’s to get my supplies. I picked up the first item on my list… a 5 gallon bucket. Easy pee-zee. Then I move on to my next item… a styro-foam bucket to go inside. This was supposed to provide insulation. Ugh! No luck!
(By the way, if you want to do the 5 gallon bucket cheap a/c, go to HomeDepot.com. You can order most everything there…including the styrofoam bucket.)
Then, I decided that I would try to improvise. I looked at all kinds of foam insulation to fit inside my 5 gallon buck. Nothing seemed to be flexible enough. Plus, I had to remember that I needed to cut holes in the side of the bucket and whatever insulation that I chose. As I pondered and wandered the aisles, nothing was going to work.
I thought to myself… Wally-world will have it! They have everything! So, I put back my bucket and headed to Wal-mart. When I got to Wal-mart, I started walking the aisles. And, to no avail, they didn’t have what I needed. What am I going to do. I thought to myself, I am going to make this thing tonight.
I then picked up my phone and started watching Youtube. After I watched the video on how to make my home made a/c unit, other variations started popping up. OK, change in plans. I am going to just by a cheap plastic cooler, a fan and a 3″ 90° pvc elbow.
Staci text (or texted, I guess) me, and asked what I was doing. I let her know that I was on my way home. I was out of the house and looking for parts for about 2 hours. But, now, I have everything I need.
Troy, my co-worker, let me borrow a really cool tool for cutting holes. In addition to that, I had my Dremel.
As soon as I got home, I started my project. I put the pvc pipe on the top of the cooler and traced around it. Then, I did the same thing with my fan. I grabbed the tool that Troy let me borrow, and I attached it to my drill and started cutting. I cut as much as I could with this handy hole cutter, and then I broke out my Dremel tool for the final cuts.
I put the pvc pipe in the smaller hole… perfect fit! I put the fan in the second hole… perfect (or, at least, close enough). I went to the freezer and broke out some ice packs and threw them into the cooler. I plugged in the fan, and turned it on.
Holy cow! It worked! So, for about $50, I now have a portable, a/c unit.
I am going to freeze gallon jugs of water to put inside my cooler. Instant a/c, and a fun little project.
UPDATE
A couple of days ago, I brought this in and showed everyone what I made. Troy, decided to take it with him and make some improvements. (That being said, this will work fine in a home environment with a regular fan. We are planning to use it in an attic with temperatures around 120°-140°F.)
So, Troy added this mac-daddy fan to it that he had at his house. He also reinforced the top with a little sheet metal. This cooler (1/3 full of ice) is putting out 55°F air! It is sooooo cool! Here is what the Island Breeze looks like now.
If you have any a/c problems, feel free to give us a call at 843-821-0937.
“I was worried about the cost of replacing the entire air conditioning unit, but this company did get me a good payment plan that will not harm my monthly budget. They are very professional and very honest starting with the customer service to installers. I am very satisfied with the work they did in my house, which I will recommend to everyone. Thanks guys, you are awesome!” 
Another week has almost past, and it looks like 90° weather is in our forecast. As the spring fades into summer, everyone is going to be looking for a cool place to relax.
These temperatures can cause heat stroke, and in some cases, death.
When we partnered with York (a Johnson Controls Company), we found that the values of our small, family owned and operated company were also shared with York. York and the Arctic Air family believe in 100% Customer Satisfaction. Because of our partnership with York as a CCE (Comfort Control Expert), we can now offer the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! 
That means that you get hometown value combined with a large, industry leading corporation that believe in the same things…. basically, we take care of our customers.
If you are in need of a new air conditioning and heating system, please give Mike a call at 843-821-0937.
Our weather in South Carolina is always hit or miss when it comes to the winter months. Last week, we had a terrible winter storm. Some South Carolinians still do not have electricity. And a week later, we are hitting record high temperatures. Go figure!
