Air Conditioner Baffle

Yesterday, I was brainstorming topics for blog posts. I had been focusing on sewing creativity, which is my specialty, but had totally forgotten about some of the other quick projects I've rigged up around the house. This is a picture of a baffle I made from scraps of foam board to help direct the air more effectively through the living room. 

If you know my family, you would know that I come by this skill quite honestly... my dad has been building baffles of varying sorts since long before I was born. One favorite family story involves my mother returning home after 6 weeks in Mexico to a tube fashioned from black trash bags channeling air from the living room ac into the bedroom! I haven't gotten that extreme... at least not yet. :)

However, I was tired of the air going in all the wrong directions. Here's a photo showing the old air-flow pattern.

Not only did the cold air fall to the ground before reaching the far end of the room, but the ac blew directly on the table, cooling hot food quickly! I tried to think of a different way to arrange the living room first, but it's a small room and this seemed to still be the best arrangement for the flow of traffic. 

I had scraps of foam board from another project, so I cut a rectangle the same size as the vent and two right triangles for the sides. The rectangular piece has slits cut about an inch into the bottom to accommodate the plastic vent pieces. After taping the pieces as shown, I taped the contraption to the ac unit. 

Here is the new air-flow pattern. 

Without the baffle, I can feel distinct cool and warm spots in the living room. With the baffle in place, the whole room stays at a pretty even temperature. 

Total cost - less than $1