Misting Systems and Kits

• Before building your own misting fan, you may want to evaluate competing systems. You can find them in fully assembled units and do-it-yourself kits. Garden hose pressure is enough to create a fine mist with the smallest units, but the better ones add a booster pump to increase water pressure from 120 to 160 PSI. The largest systems use multiple fans that run off 1,000 to 1,500 PSI high-output pumps.
  
  You can find kits for cooling animal runs, patios, backyards, and even sports events. These kits have medium- to high-pressure pumps that connect to a garden hose, or water reservoir, and use an in-line filter to remove particles that could clog the misting nozzles. Tubing of 1/4- to 3/8-inch delivers the pressurized water to the misting nozzles.
  
  

Homemade Misting Fan

• If you have a floor-standing fan, a cleaning spray bottle (with a screw-on head), and a 3/4-inch garden tap adapter ring, you can build a simple misting fan. Unscrew the spray head from your bottle and pull off the attached tube. Screw the 3/4-inch garden tap adapter onto the spray head. Do it gently, to avoid stripping the threads, and make sure the pieces are aligned properly. Mark the ring of the screw-on head, where the bottom ring of the tap adapter levels out. Your mark should be about 1/10 of an inch below the outer edge of the screw-on head ring.
  
  Unscrew the tap adapter and cut off the marked area of the screw-on head ring. This will allow the tap adapter to snap into place when you connect it to your hose. Carefully screw the tap adapter back onto your spray head. Snap the adapted spray head onto your hose and use two wires to attach it to the front of your floor-standing fan. Turn on the tap and your fan to use.
  
  

Misting Fan Maintenance

• Misting fans can dramatically increase your comfort on a hot day. To ensure they are always ready for use, keep them clean and out of the sun. Make sure you unplug the fan before cleaning the blades with a cloth dipped in a soap solution. This will remove dust, bacteria and algae that may have accumulated on the blades.
  
  If the hose or water reservoir that connects to your fan is exposed to direct sunlight, heated water may harm your unit or spread bacteria when your system is in use. Move your system to the shade, or keep it covered, to prevent this.