While a DIY swamp cooler does work to cool the surrounding air as much as 15 to 40 degrees F, it’s not as effective as AC, and will work better in a smaller space.

Our DIY swamp coolers can’t compete with air conditioning, but they are certainly better than nothing. Jennifer Bardsley publishes books under her own name and the pseudonym Louise Cypress.

With about $30 and a trip to the hardware store, you can build your own AC unit, otherwise known as a swamp cooler, which uses hot air to evaporate water and a fan to circulate cool air.

It’s a classic Burning Man hack: scale down a residential swamp cooler to a compact, 12-volt bucket that hangs outside your tent on the playa. Instant air conditioning.

Swamp coolers have lower installation, maintenance, and operating costs. ... whereas DIY enthusiasts can install and maintain swamp coolers under most conditions.

By Steph Rowe, Newstalk ZB social media producer Desperate times call for desperate measures. And given these are desperate, heat-stricken times, let us introduce Mike Hosking's DIY swamp cooler ...

Flip through the gallery for 18 eco-friendly ideas for staying cool this summer, from chilly frozen water bottles to a DIY swamp cooler that's surprisingly powerful. NEWSLETTERS Emailed Daily.

What about a DIY Swamp Cooler? The Frigidaire EC200WF’s 1.8-gallon tank also comes with an ice pack to bring the water temperature down and (temporarily) chill the air that passes through it.