Unfortunately, our used window a/c unit bit the dust 2 weeks ago. We've been trying to 'tough it out' for the last few weeks, but trying to sleep with the room temperature above 80 degrees has been VERY difficult for the 2 of us. With temps soaring even higher, it's likely the room temp could approach 85+. Ugh... The temps this week may just be the worst of the whole year, with 100F days forecast later in the week. I live in a 1br ground-floor apartment with one window and two doors (only one with a screen, bugs get in the front door if we leave it open), and by the evening it is HOT. The evening sun heats a brick wall which I think is partly why it gets so hot. We have overhead fans which move air around the room, but not in any direction out of/into the house.
I'm reluctant to buy a used AC unit in case it breaks on us again. I'm reluctant to buy a new one because I may be moving across the US before next summer, and wouldn't want to bring it with me. Around here the hot weather should only last another month or so, so a temporary solution should be good enough.
So that brings me to my question... has anybody had success with a DIY cooling solution? I have heard of homemade swamp coolers, but do they work well?
I have very basic knowledge of electronics. As a last resort, would I be putting myself in danger if I opened my A/C unit up to find the problem?