A dangerous hack which has gone viral on TikTok ahead of the warmest weekend so far this year could risk electric shock, a consumer safety charity warns. Electrical Safety First is urging people to avoid putting themselves at risk as the first heat-health alert was issued across parts of England by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency.
Temperatures are forecast to increase steadily heading into the weekend with Saturday expected to see temperatures rise to as high as 30C in southern parts of England before they slowly decrease in the days that follow.
Britons looking to beat the heat have been turning towards TikTok videos offering advice on how to make your own air-conditioning unit.
The hack involves attaching a frozen towel to an electric fan while in use with the aim of blowing colder air around rooms.
Electrical Safety First is warning people to ignore the “hack”, saying it could pose a “serious” safety risk.
Mr Capanna said: “The biggest risk comes from the towel, which would eventually thaw and become sopping wet. Water and electricity do not mix and, by copying this hack, water could come into contact with the motor or the plug and its socket, increasing the risk of an electric shock.”
The product safety engineers offered a range of tips for using fans, including not leaving it running overnight.
He explained: “It’s tempting to keep cool air circulating as the night time temperature stays high but this leaves you at risk if a fault occurs within your device while you’re sleeping.
“Always turn your fan off before you go to sleep and ensure you have working smoke alarms in your property.”
Further safety measures include buying a fan from a reputable retailer; making sure it is positioned on a stable surface; making sure the device is clear of dust and cleaning its vents so it works efficiently.
It is important to unplug a fan and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions before opening the guard or attempting to clean it.
Mr Capanna warned: “If your fan is giving off a light buzzing sound it may be a sign of an electrical fault or ‘arcing’ occurring at the plug.
“Always ensure your fan is plugged in securely if you notice any smell of burning or unusual noises, turn it off immediately.”
He advised people to always check a device’s electrical leads to make sure they are in good condition and the vents are free from dust, which can hinder a product’s performance.
Swathes of England and Wales have also been issued with a thunderstorm weather warning by the Met Office ahead of the weekend.
The weather service issued the warning on Thursday ahead of what is expected to be the warmest weekend of the year, with central and southern England, and the whole of Wales, set for rain and thunder on Saturday.
The warning comes after weeks of prolonged high pressure which has led to the recent sun and high temperatures, but as the high pressure moves north, the UK is expected to see higher temperatures as well as thunder, hail and rain hit central and southern England and Wales.
A change in weather is expected to come at around 2pm on Saturday with the warning in place until 9pm on Saturday.
