A HOME appliance expert has debunked a viral trend to keep cool in the summer months.
They warned against a DIY AC hack growing in popularity online, calling it a “recipe for disaster.”
As temperatures skyrocket around the country, Americans are looking for ways to keep the AC off while also staying cool in the summer heat.
People are now going viral on TikTok for their DIY air conditioner hacks.
Some of them included hanging damp towels on their fans or placing buckets of ice in front of their electric fans to cool down the surrounding air like this video.
Although this does work temporarily, This Old House writer and HVAC expert Brenda Woods explained why you shouldn’t put anything damp or wet near an electric fan.
Placing a damp towel near your fan may seem like a good idea at first, but it actually poses a “significant threat if done incorrectly,” she said.
The fan will blow cooler air toward you or into your home and work but at what price?
“Having anything damp or wet near electrical equipment is a recipe for disaster,” she said.
That isn’t all she advised against.
There are simple ways that the wrong placement could cause lasting damage to yourself or your home.
There is a “corresponding hack” where you place a bowl of ice-cold water near your fan.
Woods explained that it “can certainly cause issues if accidentally spilled.”
If any water comes into contact with the motor of the fan, plug, or electrical socket it could lead to electric shock.
Having water around any form of electronics can “spark a house fire.”
“This is especially true if the fan is faulty, has damaged wires, or is placed too close to the socket,” the HVAC expert added.
“During a heatwave, the risk of fire increases significantly—and of course, fire can cause severe damage to your home and endanger the lives of its occupants.”
She explained that fires can escalate from small sparks to large flames within just 30 seconds.
The best way to “avoid these dangers” overall is to just not do it.
“Do not place any foreign objects on or near your fan at all, especially not damp or wet objects,” she said.
Woods recommended purchasing a real AC unit, but if it’s not in your budget, she offered a useful trick.
She suggested placing a damp towel in front of your window and letting it blow in the wind.
“This will use the breezes from outside to cool down the room without exposing you to any electrical hazards,” she explained.
