Summer is here and with it comes summer Fridays and rooftop happy hours. Professional and personal endeavors have everyone on their devices in the heat and humidity, and a few simple steps will keep your technology working quickly and efficiently.
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1. Keep Them Safely Stored
You should have a cool and dry space to store your devices throughout the year, but it's worth mentioning to never leave your tablet, laptop or smartphone in an area that's exposed to direct sunlight in the summer. -
2. Power Off
Devices generate heat when they are running and may heat faster in high temperatures. Powering off devices when not in use minimizes the effects of overheating. This also gives the device a chance to reset settings and close out programs that may be running unnecessarily in the background.
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3. Limit Outside Use
When snapping photos, or making calls, it's best to keep your devices free from the sun as long as possible. This is especially the case with something like a laptop. While working from your patio is wonderful on occasion, be careful. Airborne debris and hot summer heat spell disaster for the sensitive hardware within. -
4. Check for Dust
If you've got extensive PC setups at an office or at home, now is the time to check them for dust build up. This blanket of filth will put your systems on the fast track to overheating, and can end up causing performance issues. Dust and debris from outside usage can affect laptops and other devices as well. These devices should also be checked periodically for debris build-up. -
5. Short Cables
Check to see how long and how many cables are attached to your workspace. Long cables can take up space and limit airflow to only certain parts of a system. Use the correct length and amount of cable for your workspace and keep them organized to ensure maximum air movement to your devices. -
6. Check Fans and Use Cooling Gadgets
It's a good idea to make sure all fans on every installed system are functioning properly. Even a single broken one can be the difference between sufficient cooling and temperature problems. Fans keep your hardware safe and are a strong line of defense against overheating. If you're working in a particularly warm space, check out some tools to keep your device from getting too hot like cooling pads or additional fans. -
7. Protect the Screen
Depending on where you are, the sun can cause severe damage to device screens if left exposed too long. Keep this in mind if you if you plan to use a device frequently outside. A screen protector may be a wise investment in this case.
A few simple steps can keep your workspace and devices functioning properly, no matter the weather. That being said, it can be difficult to pinpoint issues you may have with devices and even more difficult to correct those issues. Stratosphere Networks is here to help with any maintenance and performance needs you have regarding your devices.