With a fan and a wet towel, you can build your own simple air conditioner for the summer. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Fan and wet towel: Here’s how it works
- To build this simple air conditioner, all you need is a fan and a wet towel. The towel should be moistened with water. It’s also a good idea to have a chair and a bucket on hand.
- Next, drape the towel over the back and seat of the chair. Keep in mind that moisture can damage wooden chairs in particular. Therefore, you should make sure this isn’t the case with your chair.
- Now place the fan in front of the chair and turn it on. You can hang the end of the towel that is at the base of the chair into a bucket of cold water. This keeps the towel damp, so you don’t have to re-wet it every time. To keep the water cold longer, ice cubes are also recommended.
Fan and wet towel: What you should keep in mind
Cooling down with a fan and a wet towel seems to provide relief in the heat and is a good method for cooling a room in the summer. In theory, the fan is supposed to lower the temperature through the evaporation of water from the damp towel. While fans do lower the perceived temperature, they don’t actually cool the air in the room. The wet towel method can’t compete with an air conditioner and may even be counterproductive, as it significantly increases humidity in the room—which can actually make the heat feel worse, especially in already muggy weather. Additionally, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind.
- The wet towel should always be hung at a distance in front of the fan. Never place it directly on the device. Doing so poses the risk of the motor overheating or causing a short circuit.
- A towel that is too wet can cause damage to the electronics. Therefore, make sure the towel is only damp and not dripping wet.
- If the fan is directed directly at the towel, it only cools in specific spots and less water evaporates per volume of air. As a result, the cooling effect is reduced. It is better to let the fan blow past the towel from the side or at a slight angle. You can also position the towel so that the airflow picks up the cool air and distributes it throughout the room.
- A sustained increase in humidity promotes mold growth in the home. You should therefore ensure adequate ventilation.
However, opening windows in the summer only makes sense if the outside temperature is lower than the room temperature. You should remove mold immediately, as it poses health risks. - The method using a fan and a wet towel is not suitable for people with allergies or respiratory conditions. The humid air can negatively affect indoor air quality. Additionally, dust mites thrive in humid environments, which can exacerbate allergies.
