4 Fail-Proof Ways to Protect Your Electronics from Heat this Summer
As summer heat intensifies and you spend more time outdoors, you know it’s important to hydrate and protect your skin from sunlight. But there’s something else you may not think to protect: your electronics!
You likely carry at least one device—if not several— everywhere you go. What happens to my electronics in heat? Can I leave my laptop in a hot car? These are all questions you may be asking yourself, and Rent-A-Center is here to answer. Learn about the dangers of storing electronics in heat, and what you can do to prevent damage to your devices this summer.
Storing Electronics In Heat: The Risks
Most electronic devices generate heat during normal operation, and many have built-in cooling systems for this very reason. However, a warm environment can increase their heat far beyond normal—and fast. What happens when high temperatures outpace your devices’ cooling systems? Here are just a few possibilities:
- damage to internal components, like boards or wire coatings
- battery life degradation
- heat expansion inside devices, which leads to cracks and bloating
- screen warping
- screen burn-in (common with TVs)
- melting of glue or structural components
Some devices may warn you if they’re exceeding safe operating temperatures. Others might even turn off automatically or go into sleep mode to minimize heat generation. Even if your device isn’t giving you a warning message, though, it’s important to stay mindful of how much heat and direct sunlight they’re exposed to. Read on for tips to protect your favorite electronics on hot summer days.
How to Protect Your Electronics in Heat and Direct Sunlight
1. Take laptops, phones, and small electronics out of the car when you’re out and about.
How long can electronics stay in a hot car? While not all electronics will break down quickly in this environment, it’s just not worth the risk. Since your vehicle is enclosed, it creates a greenhouse effect where the inside can be even hotter than the outside. And on a scorching summer day, your car’s interior only takes a few minutes to reach detrimental levels.
If at all possible, don’t leave electronic devices in your car on a hot day. And if you absolutely must leave your laptop or tablet in the car while you go inside, try parking in the shade and use window covers if possible. You’ll also want to store your electronics out of direct sunlight (it’s a good idea to keep them out of plain sight to deter thieves, anyway!). But even those safeguards aren’t fail-proof against heat damage; your best bet is to take them with you.
2. Think twice before mounting your TV outside.
You can’t stop thinking about a movie night surrounded by fireflies or an all-weekend-long sports marathon on the porch. How much heat can a TV withstand, though? Less than you think.
Before you move your TV out of the air conditioning, remember that TV heat will be multiplied outside in summer. And, if you choose to mount your TV, you’ll also decrease the airflow around the back of it.
If you decide to mount a TV outside, choose a mount that can move the TV away from the wall and lets you easily remove and store it inside on a hot day. This can keep it out of direct sunlight as the sun shifts, too.
3. Cover your windows.
Think sunlight can’t damage your TV when it’s indoors? Think again. If your TV, laptop, or desktop computer is exposed to repeated direct sunlight in the same place, day after day, it could spell trouble. TV screen burn-in can happen from having a static picture displayed for too long, and it can also be caused by excessive sun exposure.
Not to mention, overheating caused by direct sunlight can damage the outer layer of your TV or computer screen, leading to a blurred picture and a permanently damaged display. To help prevent this (and keep your house cooler!), consider adding light-blocking or light-filtering curtains to any windows that get intense sunlight throughout the day.
4. Leave devices inside while you enjoy summer backyard fun.
We know, we know: you want to take all the adorable pictures of your kids or pets while you enjoy a summer outdoor activity. But it’s all too easy to set your phone down, get caught up in the fun, and return to an overheated device later. Keeping your electronics indoors or inside a purse or bag can not only help prevent damage, but it can also help you become more present when creating memories too!
Damage to Electronics from High Heat: Is It Reversible?
While heat damage to electronic devices is preventable, accidents do happen. And unfortunately, most heat damage will affect device performance, which can worsen over time. If your smartphone or laptop has sustained damage from high temperatures or direct sunlight, it’s time to replace it before it becomes unusable. Turn to your local Rent-A-Center for an upgrade today, and enjoy free delivery and flexible payment options on rent-to-own brand-name electronics.