With a fan and a wet towel, you can build your own simple air conditioner in summer. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Fan and wet towel: How it works
A fan and a wet towel – that’s all you need to cool down in summer. Air conditioners are often expensive to install, consume a lot of energy, and are not exactly environmentally friendly. A homemade cooling system using a fan and a wet towel seems like a good alternative to air conditioning.
- To build this simple air conditioner, all you need is a fan and a wet towel. The towel should be moistened with water. It is also a good idea to have a chair and a bucket handy.
- Then hang the towel over the back of the chair and the seat. Keep in mind that moisture can damage wooden chairs in particular. Therefore, you should make sure that this is not the case with your chair.
- Now place the fan in front of the chair and switch it on. You can hang the end of the towel that is at the foot of the chair in a bucket of cold water. This will keep the towel moist and you won’t have to wet it again each time. Ice cubes are also recommended to keep the water cold for longer.
Fan and wet towel: Things to keep in mind
Cooling down with a fan and a wet towel seems like a relief in hot weather and a good way to cool down a room in summer. In theory, the fan should lower the temperature by evaporating the water in the damp towel. Fans do lower the perceived temperature, but they do not actually cool the air in the room. The wet towel method cannot compete with air conditioning and can even be counterproductive, as it greatly increases the humidity in the room, which can actually make the heat feel even more intense, especially in already humid weather. In addition, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind.
- The wet towel should always be hung at a distance from the fan. Never place it directly on the device. This could cause the motor to overheat or a short circuit to occur.
- A towel that is too wet can damage the electronics. Therefore, make sure that the towel is only damp and not dripping wet.
- If the fan is directed directly at the towel, it will only cool in spots and less water will evaporate per volume of air. This results in less cooling. It is better to position the fan so that the air flows past the towel at an angle or slightly to the side. You can also position the towel so that the air flow picks up the cool air and distributes it throughout the room.
- A permanent increase in air humidity promotes mold growth in the home. You should therefore ensure that the room is adequately ventilated. However, open windows in summer only make sense if the outside temperature is lower than the room temperature. Mold should be removed immediately as it poses a health risk.
- The method using a fan and a wet towel is not suitable for people with allergies or respiratory diseases. The humid air can affect the indoor climate. In addition, dust mites thrive in humid environments. This can cause allergies to worsen.
