Air conditioning units are expensive devices both to buy and to run. When they stop working, that’s also an expensive problem to solve. Even so, if you live in a location with unbearably hot summers, an AC unit is essential. Not everyone has that option, though, but they no longer need it because the Eco-Cooler has been invented. The Eco-Cooler is an air conditioner that requires no electricity to function and is created using waste products. It sounds too good to be true, but it exists and is in growing use across the country of its origin: Bangladesh, where 70% or residents live in tin huts without power. To make an Eco-Cooler you take a piece of board cut to the size of a window on your house. Then drill holes in the board big enough to push a plastic neck through. Gather some old plastic bottles and cut the bottoms off, then slide the neck of each bottle through the holes and secure them with the cap. Do this until the board is full. Hang the board on the window and watch the temperature inside drop.

As the video below explains, the simple design works on the same principle as blowing air out of your mouth. To test this, hold your hand up to your mouth then open your mouth wide and breathe out. The air is warm, right? Now do the same thing but with your mouth closed to typical a blowing position. The air leaving your body is cold, right? The bottles work in the same way: the larger end takes in the warm outside air and the change in pressure as it passes through the neck pumps cooler air into the house. The change in temperature using an Eco-Cooler is at least 5 degrees Celsius. That may not seem like much, but when you’re living in a tin hut with no power that can reach 45 degrees in summer, it makes all the difference. I think you could improve the cooling further by also creating one of these for over the door as it would be a much larger area than the window. With the abundance of plastic bottles and easy access to pieces of board, this would make for a great weekend project.

Anyone fancy giving it a go? It would be a good project to do with your kids, especially if they plan on spending their summers in a hot tree house or garden play shed.Your central air conditioner works by performing a complex form of heat transfer with the assistance of a chemical refrigerant. When your refrigerant level runs low, the heat transfer does not take place and the unit, while remaining functional and blowing air, will not provide cold air. This is a sign that you should be recharging or refilling the air conditioner. Research what kind of refrigerant your unit uses. There are different types and recharging with the wrong one could cause problems much worse than simply not having a charged AC unit. While it is possible to acquire coolant and recharge the unit yourself by purchasing a commercial Freon kit, the rest of the functioning elements of air conditioners can seem dangerous and intimidating to an inexperienced person. If you do not feel comfortable with a project of this magnitude, it’s a good idea to call an air conditioning expert.

Refrigerant is toxic, and ingesting it can damage your health. Even while performing the check and removal of the old refrigerant, wear protective gear such as a mask, googles, and gloves.window ac vs air cooler In some areas it is illegal to use refrigerants or do this kind of work on air conditioning units without the proper license. york package ac unitsNote that just because refrigerant is available for sale online or in a store, it still may be against the rules for you, a layperson, to be the one handling it once it’s purchased. ac power supply high currentCheck your local laws before attempting this project. Using your air conditioner’s manual, locate the compressor of your unit. It will look like a metal cylinder and have two lines coming off it.

TIP: Before adding the coolant, use this opportunity to inspect the rest of the components and make sure they are clean and working. There are two reasons this is necessary: 1) it may be something other than the refrigerant that impacting the unit’s performance, and 2) if fresh refrigerant is added and the unit is powered on while another component isn’t functioning optimally, all kinds of general damage could occur far beyond a coolant or charging issue. Locate the service valve inside your Freon kit. It will be the large connector valve found amongst the kit’s other contents. Plug the service valve into a compressor line (one of the lines you located next to the compressor earlier) in air conditioner unit. Follow the Freon kit instructions to attach the service valve appropriately. Your Freon kit also contains a small valve connector. That valve is called the tap valve. The tap valve must be plugged into the remaining compressor line to your AC’s compressor. You will find fittings on top of your air conditioner’s compressor.

Follow the instructions in the Freon kit’s manual for the best results or if there is any confusion. To add Freon to the lines, you need to attach the Freon container to the two valves that you have just installed. Follow the instructions set in your Freon kit to secure the container between the two valves. Basically, the air conditioner will force the Freon into the unit. Now that you’ve finished installing new refrigerant to your home AC unit, you need to let the Freon flow in to it. To do so, simply turn on the unit and turn it up to the highest setting. This will force Freon into your unit, effectively recharging your air conditioner in the process. Once the unit is done taking in all of the Freon, turn off the air conditioning unit. Remove the Freon container and the two valves that you installed.9 air conditioning alternatives Monday, May 2 nd 2016 It's a safe bet that you have an air conditioner -- according to the U.S. Department of Energy, two-thirds of homes have air conditioning units, and we spend more than $11 billion each year to run them.

In fact, a full five percent of all electricity in the United States goes to keeping us cool. That number won't surprise homeowners, who are accustomed to seeing their utility bills go up the moment they turn on the air conditioner. What if you could get some of that money back this summer? Read more: 4 essential home maintenance jobs for spring How to live without air conditioning Life without air conditioning is entirely possible, and can be quite comfortable. It's a matter of planning ahead, using the natural resources you have at your disposal and getting creative when things heat up. Here are a few great ways to keep your cool and save serious cash as summer ramps up.It sounds simple, but the idea of funneling cool air through your home requires a bit more thought than just throwing open a window or two. Start by paying attention to the direction the wind is blowing, and open up a window that will take a direct hit of that cool air. Then open another window on the opposite side of the room to create that funnel effect.

Opening it up can create a 'chimney effect' that pulls air up and out, resulting in a constant breeze.To get more of that air in the house, use a window fan. An oscillating fan near the window will work as well. Ceiling fans are great if you have them; make sure they are turning counterclockwise during the summer for the greatest benefit.When the sun beats down, close the curtains to prevent the heat from radiating into your home and increasing the temperature. Follow the sun through the day and close the curtains of windows that take a direct hit, and open up the others to provide more indirect light with less heat. For even more savings, invest in heavy drapes.Summer is the perfect time to use the slow cooker instead of the oven, or head outside to grill rather than using the stove burners. Not only do these appliances help prevent heat buildup, they force you to get more creative with meals -- a win-win situation for anyone who loves to cook. Buy (or create) an evaporative cooler.

If you live in an area of low humidity, look into an evaporative cooler -- they cost about half of what a typical air conditioning unit does, and use only a quarter of the energy. Still too rich for your budget? Make a simple 'swamp cooler' by placing a block of ice in a bowl and positioning the bowl in front of a fan. It's a temporary set-up for those impossibly hot days. Plan for the future. For serious money savings, install awnings on the windows that take on the most sun, invest in UV-fighting coatings on the windows, and plant trees that will eventually tower over your home and block the sun. Cooling the house down is great, but cooling down the body can make you even more comfortable. Here's how to make that happen without spending too much cash. Cool from the inside out. Cooling the individual might be more helpful than cooling the room. Have plenty of water and ice on hand at all times, and let the kids (and adults!) indulge in popsicles, frozen juice bars and the like.

Stay cool at night. Most people enjoy sleeping in a room that is a little on the cool side; that's almost impossible when you are choosing not to use the air conditioning. However, there are a few tricks to try. Start by putting your sheets and pillowcases in the refrigerator for an hour or so before bed -- you will slip into cool sheets. You can also use the old pulse point trick: wrap an ice pack in a washcloth and place it against your wrist, the side of your neck or the bend of your knee. It will make your whole body feel cooler. Play in the water. When things get too hot to stand, head outside. Wash the car, fill up the kiddie pool, get out the slip-and-slide and splash to your heart's content. If you choose to stay inside, take a cool shower to lower your body temperature and make the heat more tolerable. These ideas can help a great deal, but you might not want to part with your air conditioning unit just yet. Instead, make sure it's quite energy-efficient and always up-to-date on maintenance.