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No matter where you live in the world, chances are you might experience the wrath of an extreme summer heat at some point. So, if you live in areas such as the desert valleys of Arizona or California, where temperatures can exceed 100-degree Fahrenheit, anything that cools you off is a welcome thing.
What is a Misting System?
On a brighter note, there are a range of cooling appliances available to cool you off, but most of them are either inefficient or expensive to run especially across longer periods. A misting fan however gives you the best of both worlds i.e. air conditioner like cooling at a fraction of the cost.
This type of fan looks similar to a traditional fan, but blows out cool mist along with the breeze of the fan. Another great benefit of misting fans is that they are extremely versatile and portable, in that they can be used in a wide range of locations such as camping outings, barbeques and sporting events.
Misting fans can also help kids stay hydrated and cool, so that they don’t become ill due to extreme heat temperatures. They are basically made up of a few components nozzles to push the water out and of course fan blades to circulate the air. Given that there are lesser components, you’re probably wondering how to create a misting fan and here’s the lowdown on myriad ways to go about it.
How to Make a Handheld Misting Fan?
- Handheld fan
- Spray bottle
- Two small rubber bands
- Scissors
- Sticky-backed Velcro
- Start by laying out the above materials on a flat surface.
- remove the top from the spray bottle and cover the tip right before the nozzle with the Velcro.
- Now do the same with the handheld fan, and then stick the fan and spray bottle together with the rubber bands.
- Fill half the bottle with water and affix it with the spray nozzle.
- Now simply turn on the fan and spray the bottle and you will have a cool mist effect.
How to Use Misting Rings for Fan?
Misting rings are just that, rings generally made from stainless steel that attach seamless to any outdoor fan and instantly provide cool breeze. To get started, you will need:
- Misting ring
- Fan
- Misting fan adapter kit
- Extension cord
- Electrical outlet with GFCI
- Water supply/faucet
- Start by laying the fan flat and then place the mist ring on the exhaust side of the fan. Make sure the nozzles are pointing away from the fan.
- Attach the misting ring to the fan with zip ties, and then secure them in place.
- Snip the extra ends of the zip ties for a neat look and so that they do not interfere with the fan.
- Once the mist ring is secure, you can set the fan in an upright position.
- Now this is where you need to pay attention. Plug in the fan to a GFCI-protected electrical outlet, which trip when there is a “ground fault”.
- Now connect the faucet adapter with the ring and then the tubing side to the water supply.
- lastly, turn on the fan first, then the water, and you will cool mist blowing along with your fan’s breeze.
How to Install a Misting Kit?
Installing is misting kit is a great idea if you’d like to cool a larger space. To get started, you will need an outdoor misting system, which should come with several other components.
- Measure the area you’d like to cool and then measure, cut and hang the PVC pipes at least 8 feet off the ground.
- Next, coat the PVC pipes with glue and then insert the misting nozzles over it.
- Mount the pipes with the included clips and then adjust the nozzles.
- Run the pipes to a faucet and connect it using an adapter.
- Turn on the water and let it run for a minute or two, and you will see cool mist coming out of the nozzles.
Building a Misting Fan from Scavenged Parts
If you can’t get your hands on a misting kit or misting attachment, there’s no need to break a sweat just yet, because you can create a misting fan with parts you probably have in your home.
Things you will need:
- Thin tubing
- Fan
- Water bottle
- Fish tank air pump
- Plumbing tape
- Misting nozzle (spray paint tip)
- Silicone caulk
- Knife
- drill
- Get started by cutting two lengths of tubing, where one will go from the water supply to the air pump and other from the water supply to the fan.
- After you’ve cut the tubes appropriately, unscrew the cap of the water bottle and drill or poke two holes through it. Make sure the holes a slightly smaller than the diameter of the tubing.
- Now insert each piece of tubing into the holes, where the tubing that goes to the fan should reach the bottom of the bottle, and the other that goes to the air pump should be inserted just a bit into the cap.
- Once you’ve set each piece of pipe into the bottle cap, apply the silicone sealant generously on both sides of the cap to prevent leaks and to get a good air seal.
- Grab the spray nozzle and fit it to the tubing with some plumbing tape. Be sure to create a good seal, so that the water pressure doesn’t push it out.
- Clip the nozzle to your fan, and then turn on the fan and air pump and mist away!
Final thoughts
A misting fan can provide great relief from the unforgiving summer heat. The best models come with a wide range of functions such as mist adjustment, but you can always make your own misting fan if you don’t want to buy one just yet. DIY misting fans probably won’t offer the same performance as a feature rich misting fan, but if you want temporary relief from the heat, they will do the trick!
