As the UK heats up, homes turn on fans and air conditioners to keep cool.
Temperatures are expected to reach 28 degrees in London, while other parts of the UK could reach 25 degrees.
As the warm weather arrives in the UK, we’ve rounded up common mistakes that could increase the risk of house fires and electric shock.
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, warns: “As temperatures rise, we expect shoppers to reach for fans and other appliances in a bid to stay cool.
“Many will be tempted by cheaper versions they can see on social media or online marketplaces.”
This could endanger your home and its occupants.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson added: “Electrical products are the fourth biggest risk of fire in the home.
“It is essential to use any device according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.”
Stay safe and cool this summer with these essential tips.
1. BE COOL, NOT STUPID
Staying cool in hot weather is essential and you may be tempted to copy the tricks you see on social media.
You may have seen TikTok creators strapping ice packs to their fans in a bid to create a “portable air conditioner” to cool their rooms.
Some have even put frozen towels over their fans to try to keep them cool.
Both could put you at serious risk of electric shock, as water is at risk of coming into contact with the motor.
Electrical Safety First advises everyone to ignore these videos which can generate hundreds of thousands of views.
Giuseppe said: “Avoid being attracted to the viral heat wave hacks you see on social media, it is not uncommon for these hacks to expose you to the risk of electric shock.”
2. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR APPLIANCE ON DURING THE NIGHT
It may be tempting to keep cool air flowing as the nights become humid, but households put themselves at risk if their devices fail while they sleep.
However, ESF advises turning off the fan or portable air conditioner before going to sleep.
Giuseppe said: “How you use your fan is equally important and, as tempting as it may be to leave it on all night, we don’t recommend it.
“Should a failure occur with your fan during the night, your response time is greatly reduced when you are asleep.”
If you must leave it on, the charity says households should ensure smoke alarms are working properly.
3. NEVER BUY FANS IN ONLINE MARKETS
Buying electric fans from online marketplaces could leave you vulnerable to substandard and potentially dangerous products.
Giuseppe said: “Safety starts where you buy, and we always recommend going to reputable retailers where you know your product will be manufactured to a high standard.”
Last month, The Sun reported how a viral hot weather device could leave you at risk of electric shock.
These dangerous fans, which plug directly into the sockets of light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, have flooded online marketplaces in recent weeks.
They work like traditional ceiling fans, but don’t require a hard connection, meaning homeowners can simply plug them in without calling an electrician.
They appear to be easy to use by screwing them into a standard pendant light common in most homes.
However, he warned that the products are dangerous and could cause electric shocks.
At the time, Giuseppe said: “Ceiling fans, by their design, are in no way suitable to be used in light fixtures, and this new trend is just another example of how onlookers can unknowingly be prompted to do so. misuse of the products.
“The added weight of attaching a motor to your fixture runs the risk of not only damaging it, but also damaging the cables due to the excessive stress and movement they will be exposed to over time.
“For this reason, we have much broader concerns about the quality of these products.
How can I spot potentially dangerous items online?
There are several ways to check if an item you purchased online might be of inferior quality.
Electrical Safety First recommends that buyers always carefully inspect the packaging and any items purchased online.
Telltale signs of poor quality items include unfused plugs, non-UK plugs, missing instructions, or spelling and grammatical errors on packaging.
You should also never buy based on price alone. Not all bargains are worth it if the item is not real.
All electrical products must be labeled with the manufacturer’s name or trademark and other markings such as CE or UKCA.
This information is usually found on the product itself. However, these can still be copied and applied to counterfeit products.
Electrical Safety First only recommends purchasing from a trusted retailer, either directly from the manufacturer or a trusted trading name.
This is because online marketplaces are currently not required by law to verify the safety of products sold on their sites, while brick-and-mortar stores are.
4. LOCATION IS KEY
It is always vital to place your fan or air conditioner on a flat, stable surface.
For example, if your fan is balanced precariously on the edge of a surface, it could tip over, causing the blades to hit the guard and putting additional stress on the motor.
This could also break the fan completely.
Portable air conditioners carry the additional risk of electric shock.
This is because they often contain small tanks of water, which could splash into plugs or other nearby outlets if they tip over.
5. KEEP YOUR APPLIANCES CLEAN
If a fan’s vents or motor become dusty, there are two risks.
Firstly, the engine can be put under additional stress due to dust and dirt.
But dust could also become an ignition source if the engine were to overheat.
Always clean the vents to ensure your fan works efficiently and stays in good condition.
Be sure to unplug the fan and follow the manufacturer’s instructions before opening the guard or attempting to clean the fan.
6. DON’T IGNORE BUZZING OR HISSING
If your fan makes a slight humming noise, it may be a sign of an electrical fault or “arcing.”
Always make sure your fan is plugged in safely.
If you notice any burning smells or unusual noises, turn it off immediately.
If you have a portable air conditioner that is turned off but making a hissing sound, you may have a refrigerant leak.
The gas used in air conditioning refrigerant is usually colorless and odorless.
However, a leak could be harmful to your health, causing headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and fatigue.
7. CHECK WEAR
We often store our cooling appliances for years and store them in the colder months where damage to the cables can occur.
Always check your device to make sure the cables are in good condition.
Using an appliance with worn and frayed cords puts you at risk of electric shock and fire.
8. STAY SAFE WHEN USING LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
If your appliances or devices, including smartphones, are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, there are additional precautions you should consider during hot weather.
You should always ensure that your device is not exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.
Exposure to sunlight increases the risk of lithium-ion batteries overheating.
Lithium-ion batteries are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and inherently flammable.
These fires spread quickly and are difficult to put out, causing a lot of damage.
These batteries also present a fire hazard when they are overcharged, short-circuited, submerged in water, or damaged.
