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This is probably the last thing you want to see if you’re dropping your daughter off at her new dorm.

As the summer progressed, I felt like I needed to improve my initial design. Luckily enough the science department had just thrown away an old freeze drying machine which had a perfect radiator. A few minutes crouched by the dumpster with some hand tools, some minor adjustments, and the Black Beauty was born.

Credit goes out to Pete H. in sunny England for this great build. This version of the homemade air conditioner removes the need to drain water outside by using an aquarium pump, and sits on a rotating base.

Spencer from Ohio made this incredible build using some good old american muscle.

This version of the homemade air conditioner implements two improvements, a flow valve and a condensation collector.

Several people have asked me if I have managed to quantify the performance of this system. I ran a few quick numbers – accuracy is not going to be great due to measurement error. In terms of rough numbers though, I’m pretty happy.

I decided to modify the system to run off a garden hose, for increased reliability and to prevent late night stumbles from flooding my room.

The major factor affecting the efficiency of the air conditioner is the heat exchanger.

My very first attempt at homemade air conditioning, preserved for posterity. If you’re planning on building your own, take a look at my final design, the Black Beauty.

It was the summer of 2005, and my student house was stiflingly hot. Fueled by a combination of too many engineering courses and too little money, I made my own air conditioner.