Life hacks: You've probably seen them. One of the internet's newest fads, their purpose is to show people, "hey, make your life easier by doing this one simple thing you otherwise would never have thought of." Often, the "hack" uses an ordinary household item in place of what could be a pricey novelty gadget; for instance, using a fork to balance tortilla shells instead of a taco holder. But have you ever found yourself wondering if these "simple everyday solutions" are legit? Do they really work? Well, look no further. Our first Does It Work involves a video posted to YouTube in August 2013. In it, user desertsun02 claims that with seven simple and affordable parts, anyone can turn a five gallon hardware store bucket into a homemade air cooler. With traditional air conditioning units starting around $100 and then adding significant $$$ to energy bills to keep them running, cheap alternatives appeal to just about anyone. But does a 5 gallon bucket, a large block of ice, and a desk fan provide comparable cooling to an actual AC unit?

To find out, I'd have to build my own and put it to the test. First, I needed a generic five gallon bucket, which can be found at a major chain hardware store. I then drilled three holes into the side of the bucket using a 2 1/4" hole saw bit for the air vents. Next, I needed a styrofoam insert cooler to drop into the bucket. After sliding the cooler into the bucket, I used the holes I previously drilled as guides for drilling 3 holes into the styrofoam (using a 2 1/8" hole saw bit). I then inserted a 1 1/2" PVC coupler (found in the plumbing section) into each hole, to function as air vents. Finally, I took an ordinary 6" clip-on fan and used it to measure for holes in the lids of both the styrofoam cooler and bucket and cut those out with a utility knife. I dropped a frozen gallon of water inside, put the lids in place, sat the fan over the hole up top, and ¡voila! Total build time: about an hour. The room I used to test the cooler was enclosed and insulated from external temperature changes, and measured 7'x10'.

Using an infrared thermometer, I measured the room temperature of the test room in three locations as well as the coldest point within each of the three air vents on the cooler, every half hour for six hours. I completed the test twice to establish consistency. The air cooler created slightly colder air than an average desk fan would, as evidenced by stable temperatures throughout both tests. The air coming out of the cooler mostly stayed within a range of 57-61 degrees. This was notably higher than the reading of 45 degrees in the video, but significantly cooler than the temperature of the room, which ranged from 77-81 degrees. Peak outdoor temperatures for the test days were 81 (Day 1) and 82 (Day 2) degrees. The temperature within the room dropped about a degree and a half at first, but never fell any lower. And the decrease was not duplicated on the second test at all. In either test, the room temperature never fell below 77 degrees. In both tests, the gallon jugs split from being frozen, eliminating one of desertsun02's claims of being able to refreeze the water and reuse the ice repeatedly.

So back to the original question: Does It Work? The 5-gallon air conditioner, while novel in concept, doesn't produce a significant change in room temperature, nor does it warrant replacing a conventional air conditioner with it. ac unit for a houseYou would be better served sitting in front of an average house fan or biting the bullet and springing for the air conditioner.ac current unit Know of any DIY home / life hacks that we should test? window ac unit service Published: June 30, 2014 — 4:59 PM EDTUpdated: July 1, 2014 — 2:57 AM EDTLearning Center / Heating & Cooling / Portable Air Conditioners / Portable A/C Units: What’s the Difference Between Dual and Single Hose?Portable A/C Units: What’s the Difference Between Dual and Single Hose?Window air conditioners work well in apartments and small areas in houses.

Window air-conditioning and heating units can be an effective way to control the climate in small areas of your home. They can also offer much-needed summer refreshment in older houses built without central air-conditioning systems. Unfortunately, homeowners often find that these small units generate big energy bills. There are, however, some simple things you can do to avoid getting a shock when you open your next electric bill. While it is helpful to look for an appliance with a high energy-efficiency rating, there are many things you can do to help keep operating costs down even if you are using an older, less efficient unit. Select an air-conditioning unit that is the proper size for the area you wish to cool or heat. A unit that is too small will have to run continuously to keep the area comfortable and a unit that is too large will use unnecessary energy. Calculate the square footage of the area you plan to regulate before you go shopping so you know you are getting the optimal size for your space.

Clean or replace the air conditioner filter once at least once a month. If you have a dusty environment you may need to check the filter more often. Choose the window that will best help you meet your goals. If possible, the window unit should be placed in the shade during the summer months and in the sunlight during the winter. Keep heat sources as far away from the air conditioning unit as possible during the summer months. Stoves, ovens, hair dryers and other appliances that generate heat will work against the air conditioner and make it work harder. Also consider switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, which create 75 percent less heat than traditional bulbs. Seal any leaky doors or windows with weather stripping. Use your bathroom’s exhaust fan when taking a shower during the summer months to keep down the humidity, and use cooler water. Humidity and hot water make you feel warmer and more inclined to turn the air conditioning up. Close curtains and blinds on windows that let in direct sunlight when you are cooling your home and open them when you are heating it.