HVAC expert warns about TikTok’s DIY AC hack: It’s a ‘recipe for disaster’
A home appliance expert has debunked a viral trend for staying cool during the summer months.
They warned about a DIY air conditioning trick that is gaining popularity online, calling it a “recipe for disaster.”
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As temperatures soar across the country, Americans are looking for ways to leave the air conditioning off and still stay cool in the summer heat.
People are now going viral on TikTok with their DIY air conditioner hacks.
Some of them hung damp towels on their fans or placed buckets of ice in front of their electric fans to cool the surrounding air, as in this manner. video.
Although this works temporarily, This old house Author and HVAC expert Brenda Woods explains why you shouldn’t place damp or wet objects near an electric fan.
DIY DO NOT DO
Leaving a damp towel by your fan might seem like a good idea, but she says it can be “a huge hazard if you do it wrong.”
The fan blows cooler air towards you or in your home and work. But at what cost?
“If there’s anything damp or wet near electrical equipment, that’s a recipe for disaster,” she said.
That wasn’t the only thing she advised against.
There are simple ways that improper installation can cause permanent damage to yourself or your home.
There is a “go-to trick” where you place a bowl of ice cold water near your fan.
Woods explained that it “could definitely cause problems if accidentally spilled.”
If water comes into contact with the fan motor, plug or socket, it may cause an electric shock.
NO NONSENSE
If water gets near electronics, it can ’cause a house fire’.
“This is especially true if the fan is defective, has damaged wires, or is too close to the electrical outlet,” the HVAC expert said.
“During a heat wave, the risk of fire increases significantly. And of course, fire can cause serious damage to your home and endanger the lives of its occupants.”
She explained that fires can grow from small sparks to large flames in 30 seconds.
The best way to avoid these dangers is to simply not do it.
“Do not place foreign objects on or near your fan, especially damp or wet objects,” she said.
Woods recommended purchasing a real air conditioner, but if that’s not in your budget, she had another helpful tip.
She suggested placing a damp towel in the window and letting it flutter in the breeze.
“This uses the outside wind to cool the room without exposing you to electrical hazards,” she explains.
