DIY Homemade Bed Cooling System

No need to explain the reasons for this. If you’ve found this site, you get it.

I tried a couple routes first and won’t bother explaining the failures (mostly related to fan issues and I don’t want to use a pond fan/pump).

So here goes…

Step 1 – Be single or have a spouse that will let you do this

It’s unsightly and such, but maybe w/ a white fan it would be better. Also, it holds it’s shape well and is easy to move around so you could move it for special occasions or seasons.

Step 2 – Buy the supplies

Fan – This fan is a good price and powerful. I recommend one to go on the floor.
Hose – this one is stiff and accordianed to hold it’s shape.
Timer (optional) – like this timer or…
Remote (optional) – like this outlet remote

The way this bed cooling system sets up the fan is at the foot of the bed so a timer or remote is handy. I went w/ a timer so I could turn it on and later, once I’ve cooled off, it will turn off on it’s own.

Step 3 – Assemble

Shape the hose to go from the fan (on the floor) up and under the covers. Bend the end to face towards the head of the bed.

You can’t really see the end of the hose, but it’s aiming towards the top of the bed. The hose really holds it shape so this won’t be an issue.

Put the fan at the base of the hose. I used hot glue to hold it together and it has worked well. I taped it at first to make sure I had it working right.

That’s really it. If you have a timer or remote, plug those in. You may be able to run the power cord under your bed and make it look a bit nicer???

You might be able to get a smaller hose but it would really affect the performance – particularly how much air from the fan gets through it. Or a longer hose and run it along the bed, but that too could make the air flow subpar.

As I mentioned, I tried a couple other things first and they didn’t work: tubes too small, too long, etc.

A more flexible tube might let you move it out of sight during the day, but I’d wonder if at night it would get pushed around to face the wrong way or get crimped.

A couple of pics…

Another shot…

16 Responses to "DIY Homemade Bed Cooling System"

Chuck says:

September 4, 2017 at 5:27 pm

I’ve tried it, and this make shift a/c bed cooler works like a charm! Great idea!

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1. bearc0025 says:
  
  September 5, 2017 at 9:38 am
  
  Thanks! I plan on making some improvements too… stay tuned. 😉 Man, “stay tuned” is such a dated expression.
  
  Reply
  1. Anonymous says:
    
    May 3, 2024 at 4:36 am
    
    Any updates? 🙂 thanks for this post, so helpful!
    
    Reply
Nicole says:

April 19, 2018 at 9:39 pm

THIs looks like a sweet plan. My partner always has to be coolx and I’m trying to come up with an idea or a way to help him. He always ends up going to lounge and putting air con on. Plus our room heats up during the day more than others and I’m not quite sure if his massive bed will fit in the smaller room nicely. Does this mainly affect one side of the bed haha? Namely his side. If I make it 🙂 thanks so much for sharing!!

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1. bearc0025 says:
  
  April 20, 2018 at 7:07 am
  
  Hi! Yes, it mostly just cools one side. You can play w/ the angle and speed of the fan to help too. I took it off for the winter but just put it back on and was happy that it took about 10 seconds. 🙂 Also, once I was happy w/ the setup, I used a hot glue gun to attach the hose to the fan more securely.
  
  If you try it out, let me know!
  
  Reply
Chase says:

May 12, 2018 at 5:54 am

Did you end up doing more improvements?

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1. bearc0025 says:
  
  May 12, 2018 at 7:42 am
  
  Actually no. It works great. I will say it might work too well in a sense. Sometimes my wife can feel it over on her side. A smaller hose, less powerful fan (I should check that it’s on low) or maybe just playing w/ the direction of the tube might do the trick.
  
  Mostly it’s fine though. It works great!
  
  Reply
Chase says:

May 12, 2018 at 8:46 am

Thanks for that I already had one of those fans so I just order the hose and I figure I’ll get us switch some time later.

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Chase says:

May 24, 2018 at 6:18 pm

So I made one, used cable ties to hold the pipe onto the fan and it’s worked decent. At first I thought it was going to put up too much air so I tried cutting the flow and half and eventually I found out that the fan was just blowing up underneath the bottom of the sheet and making my feet freezing cold tucking in the sheets solved that.

We have a split King and so all I did is run the hose right up the middle of the split with fan on medium and we both can feel it. Sometimes it’s a bit much but a fold in the sheet handles that.

I’m thinking about doing a timer that comes on at like 11:00 at night and then turns off at like two or three in the morning

Reply
1. Chase says:
  
  July 1, 2018 at 6:27 am
  
  Just an update a month later.
  I got one if those smart plugs and set it up on a timer with them. It let me run the cords under the bed like you mentioned.
  
  For the past couple of weeks I put the hose between the quilt and sheet and it’s worked well. I have it up on high and my feet don’t get cold but I still get the air movement. I’m thinking of switching to one of the small vortex fans where I could tie the fan up out of the way too
  
  Reply
2. Irv Post (@IrvPost) says:
  
  April 4, 2019 at 12:20 pm
  
  I saw a posting somewhere that showed 2 sheets sewn together like a sleeping bag with a hold at the bottom where the fan blew inside the sheets where the air did not blow directly on the person, made the sheets balloon until a lite blanket was thrown over it. Seemed like a goos idea to try. Only needs 10 minutes on a sewing machine and 2 sheets.
  
  Reply
  1. bearc0025 says:
    
    April 4, 2019 at 12:24 pm
    
    I like it. I’ve used fitted sheets w/ a fan and made a fort for the kids. But the air doesn’t leave too well so it doesn’t create much of a breeze. If you try it, report back. Thanks!
    
    Reply
Marielle says:

March 21, 2023 at 12:51 am

Thank you for the instructions!! I bought a 4″ diameter metal dryer vent duct so I could flatten the end, mimicking the BedJet nozzle, and it’s very flexible and holds its shape while sending quite a bit of air into the bed. It’s so simple to set up that that it really drives home how overpriced the BedJet is – I feel you’re paying more for aesthetics and convenience than for the actual product. Mine isn’t the prettiest thing, but I spent $20 on 8 feet of duct, of which I used maybe 2.5, and had the fan and duct tape already, so I’m okay with it being ugly.

Thanks again!

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1. bearc0025 says:
  
  August 20, 2024 at 9:11 am
  
  Yes, many things are overpriced due to ease, appearance, etc. Great job! I love that idea of the flattened end! Thanks for the info!
  
  Reply
Katie says:

April 4, 2024 at 9:18 pm

I did this and love it! I cut a hole in the bottom of a plastic plant planter and put the hose into that – that way the planter covered the whole fan and then into the pipe. I am wondering; when my blanket falls in front of the nozzle on my bed, it seems to slow the fan down and obstruct the airflow. Fire hazard? Any advice on this?

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1. bearc0025 says:
  
  August 20, 2024 at 9:10 am
  
  I don’t think that would be a fire hazard – fans don’t really have that tendency (to cause fires) but I’m not a lawyer, accountant or fire safety expert so just take that as my opinion. Regardless, I wouldn’t want that to happen. Do you have heavy blankets? Mine tends to create more of a tent/bubble. Then again, in trying to keep cool, I’m usually just using a sheet (no blanket) so there’s not much weight.
  
  Reply