In this season, the devices take temperature more easily and this can cause some failures and even damage them; we explain how to avoid overheating.
The summer heat can be very annoying for some people: hot flashes, thirst, the midday sun… and it can also be a problem for our electronic devices. At this time of year, our mobiles and laptops tend to heat up more easily and, although it may seem like a small thing, it is not.
During the summer, we tend to take our devices with us, either to take advantage of telecommuting with a view of the beach or to enjoy our vacations . But, although many of us think that sand is the real enemy of electronics, heat is also one of them.
Currently, most mobile phones (and computers) have emergency systems that deactivate certain functions when they reach high temperatures. They can even turn off on their own if the problem persists. Although the main danger is that this overheating causes a problem in the long run in our device.
But, how do we prevent our mobile from heating up? What to do if the laptop regularly shuts down due to heat? In DownGamer we give you some advice.
What to do with our laptop (or PC)?
In summer, especially if we telework, it is common for us to hear how the fans of our PC or laptop start to work at full power. This may be the first clue that warns us that our device is reaching unusually high temperatures.
Another common indicator is the automatic shutdown, which is the last security measure that the computer has to prevent further damage. Although the most common is the slowdown of processes. That is, it starts to work much slower than normal. Something that can be very annoying, especially if we are working.
To prevent this from happening, several methods can be applied:
– Cleaning. The first measure is the most obvious: it is necessary to regularly clean our device, especially in summer. When we stop cleaning our PC or laptop, it is easy for dust and hair to accumulate, especially in the air outlets and inlets.
This, on many occasions, is the main reason why computers get hot, since we usually clean these devices from time to time. In addition, this can lead to problems beyond a sudden shutdown, since it can also affect the fans and even some component -in DownGamer we have already made a cleaning guide-.
– Move it around. Although most of the year may be indifferent, it may be that in summer the place where we put our laptop or where our PC is is harmful. For example, if the computer is under a window where the sun is projected throughout the morning, it will heat up much more easily.
Therefore, we must look at where we are and assess whether it is necessary to move it.
– Refrigerant base. In the case of laptops, we can use a cooling base. Most of these devices have small rubber feet or bases to let air pass through and prevent it from moving, but sometimes this system is not enough to cool the laptop.
These types of bases – like this one from Cooler Master – usually have grills and fans to facilitate the exit of hot air.
And with mobiles?
Who doesn’t take out their mobile from time to time on the beach or leave it on the towel while taking a dip in the pool… without worrying about the temperature of the device? On many occasions, one tends to notice this when, when picking it up, the screen is especially hot.
But the problems go much further: the first thing is that the heat can cause our device to slow down considerably and even turn off. The second thing is that the heat affects the battery by overheating it until it stops working or, in the worst case, burning it and making it unusable.
The third effect that heat can cause on our mobile is that the screen breaks down more quickly, since we force it to increase the brightness to the maximum while receiving direct sunlight. Plus it can be widened.
Some tips to avoid these situations are:
– Avoid direct sunlight. It may seem impossible, especially in summer, but you should not use your mobile in direct sunlight. This is the main reason why our device gets hot, especially if we leave it on top of the towel at the beach or pool.
– Remove the cover. Although it reassures us to have our mobile protected, in summer it is necessary to remove the cover when we go to carry out very demanding tasks. That is, if we are going to watch a movie or play a game of a video game, it is advisable to do it without a cover to allow the air to flow without obstacles.
– Neither fast charges nor anywhere. We must do without fast charges as much as possible and even more so put our mobile to charge anywhere.
Cloth, soft areas (such as a bed or sofa), or metal are some surfaces that make it easy for the device to heat up. The most advisable thing is to put it to load on the ground (if it is cool) or glass tables.
Another reason why our mobile can reach high temperatures is that we are consuming many resources without realizing it. This is mainly due to many apps running in the background.
In summer it is advisable to close the applications that we are not using and disable some options such as GPS or data (if we have WiFi).
– Don’t try to cool it down. What if our mobile gets hot? Under no circumstances should you put it in the fridge, freezer or any area that is especially cold, as it can damage the device.
We simply have to turn off the mobile and store it in an area where there are no heat sources.
