Whether you’re cozied up to your favorite window, working “al fresco” on your back patio, or catching a signal on the beach, the tech devices you know and love can easily overheat. Follow these steps to protect your precious gadgets when you take your tech outside.
Prevent overheating of your home office tech
Even when it’s cold outside, your home computer can easily become overheated. Take the following steps to ensure it has enough breathing room.
- Clear a 2-inch perimeter around your computer or tablet for proper ventilation.
- Dust any visible air vents.
- Wipe down devices regularly (especially phones), but never spray a device directly!
- Don’t work with your laptop or tablet on top of a blanket – let it breathe.
- Angle your devices away from direct sunlight, and keep them away from heat sources (like radiators) altogether!
- Avoid overcharging. Not only can this overheat your phone, this could damage or weaken the battery as well.
Pro Tip: Make sure you’re getting the best out of the technology around your home – review more bad tech habits you can break today!
Taking tech into your backyard
Whether it’s your phone, tablet, or laptop, having a full battery doesn’t mean it can stay out in the backyard as long as you can. Keep these tips in mind when bringing your tech into your backyard.
Spending too much time in direct sunlight can be bad for you and your devices. Be sure to plant yourself in the shade so you can both stay outside much longer!
If you feel your screens getting hot, be ready to safely shut things down (if possible), remove them from their cases and any power supplies, and bring your tech back inside to cool down. If your device is giving you an overheating alert, move it inside immediately!
Taking tech on vacation
When we travel, we often pack our devices, too. Keep this advice in mind to preserve your tech while on PTO.
- You and your phone deserve rest. Limit the length of your sessions to give your tech time to be idle.
- Avoid keeping your phone in a hot car. If you must leave it there, put it in a cooler place away from your car windows, like the trunk.
- Keep some space between devices to avoid the rise in temperature that can come from being stored too closely together.
SOAKED TECHNOLOGY
What do you when your phone gets wet while you’re texting poolside?
First things first: Do not use a blow dryer or stick it in the freezer!
If you have the silica gel packets: Wipe it off with a lint-free towel and power it off. Take off the case and remove your SIM card, microSD card (if you have one), and battery. Dab the moisture off each piece (don’t wipe).
Known for coming with items like shoes or luggage, you can place your phone in a zip-top bag or plastic bag with a handful of these packets for three days to dry it safely without melting any internal components.
If you don’t have any silica gel packets: Wipe it off with a lint-free towel and power it off. Take off the case and remove your SIM card, microSD card (if you have one), and battery. Dab the moisture off each piece (don’t wipe).
Fold a washcloth and put it in a zip-top or plastic bag with the phone and wait for three days, changing out the washcloth/bag as needed.
Pro Tip: If there are any signs of malfunction, take your phone to a specialist.
Fear not – with Fortegra
By following the steps above, you can reduce your risk of tech damage, and by considering coverage from Fortegra, you can prevent the cost – and frustration – of your devices not working when you need them the most!
What advice do you follow to help your tech last longer? Visit Facebook or Instagram to tell us your thoughts!