Wrapping your Linky meter with aluminum foil: more and more French people are doing it, but it's a very bad idea

© Lemon squeezer

The videos are a hit on social media, especially TikTok: wrapping your Linky meter in aluminum foil is said to be the miracle solution to protect yourself from electromagnetic waves.

Deployed since 2015, the Linky communicating meter is now an integral part of the French energy landscape. While its installation has made it possible to automate meter readings and avoid technicians having to travel, it continues to raise sometimes irrational fears among some users. Among the most widespread concerns are the supposed presence of a spy camera – in reality a simple control LED – as well as the continuous transmission of personal data, while the meter only communicates once a day, at night.

Fears about electromagnetic waves occupy a prominent place in this debate. Some users report headaches, dizziness and other symptoms that they attribute to their Linky meter. However, scientific studies paint a very different picture. An in-depth study conducted in 2017 by the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) shows that Linky emissions are well below regulatory thresholds – between 25 and 37 times lower than the authorized limit values. These emissions are even lower than those of many common household devices, such as Wi-Fi boxes or household appliances.

These concerns previously affected users of smartphones and then wireless headphones. The psychosis reached such a level that companies like Fazeup marketed anti-wave patches. A few months later, scientific studies demonstrated that not only were these patches useless, but worse, they increased the emission of waves.

Aluminium foil, a very bad idea

Wrapping your Linky meter with aluminium foil is just as useless. Worse, using aluminium foil as a protective shield presents significant risks. This practice can cause the meter to overheat by preventing its natural ventilation, with potentially serious consequences: power cuts or even fire risks. Even more worrying, the conductive nature of aluminum foil creates a risk of electrocution for people handling the meter or the surrounding electrical wires.

The growing popularity of this practice on social media, where some videos have accumulated tens of thousands of views, perfectly illustrates the dangers of misinformation in terms of home security. The “tips” that seem harmless at first glance can have serious consequences when they concern electrical equipment.

It is also important to note that the Linky meter only transmits data once a day, for a short period between midnight and 6 a.m. Wave emissions are therefore not only low, but also very limited in time.

• More and more French people are wrapping their Linky meters in aluminum foil to protect themselves from waves
• The waves emitted by the Linky are 25 to 37 times lower than the regulatory limits
• In addition to being useless, this practice presents significant risks of fire and electrocution

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