I tried the WORST summer fan ever – three reasons why everyone should avoid tempting bargain
EVERYONE is digging out the fans and their best cooling hacks as the weather heats up again.
There are so many fan options and air conditioning units to choose from, but they don't come cheap.
2
So when I spotted a bargain fan with a twist I thought I might be onto a winner.
I'd also seen a load of these types of devices all over TikTok, with people saying how good they are.
The product in question is a handheld water mist spray fan.
What a great idea! A cool water mist blowing straight to my face on a hot summer's day, I believed.
And at £8, I really thought I couldn't go wrong.
Alas, I was very mistaken.
This device is not the cooling solution I had hoped for one bit.
Firstly, the mist was not very misty at all.
It was more like the spray bottle I use for watering my plants, leaving my face pretty drenched - just the thing I was trying to avoid.
Secondly, the fan is really quite weak - I've had far better handheld fans over the years.
Met Eireann confirm 22C heat to blast this weekend as spots with 'best chance of sunshine' pinpointed
And finally, at this size it's not very portable either.
So, it's back to the traditional fans I go.
Maybe this particular model I bought was no good but I'm not convinced by the concept at all now and would urge others to avoid and try something else.
DANGEROUS VIRAL FAN HACKS TO AVOID
There are a number of cooling hacks going around on social media that experts say aren't safe at all.
One of the most popular heatwave hacks online is the "DIY air conditioning unit".
The hack sees users attach frozen bottles of water to the back of their fan in a bid to circulate cooler air around their room.
"This mindless 'hack' is not only dangerous but ineffective too," explained Luke Osborne, technical director at Electrical Safety First.
"The frozen bottles of water will inevitably melt, creating condensation on the outside of the bottle.
"This will create water droplets that risk coming into contact with the motor of the fan, increasing your risk of electric shock.
"You're also adding weight to your fan that it's not designed to handle, which may put unnecessary stress on your fans motor and risk damaging your device.
"Whilst you may find you get a few seconds of relief, this hack is pointless in that it won't supply enough cold air to reduce the temperature across a room."
Similarly, other content creators have put freezing towels over the top of their electric fan which is also dangerous.
Image credit: Getty
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