UK heatwave hits this week – keep your gadgets protected (Image: APPLE GETTY)
Sweltering temperatures are once more hitting the UK, with the mercury expected to hit as much as 35C throughout the latest heatwave. Met Office warnings are in place for a 4 day heatwave that can last between Thursday and Sunday, and while your most immediate concern will probably be ensuring you retain cool you may also wish to be sure that your gadgets don’t overheat. That is because overheating may cause everlasting damage to tech equivalent to smartphones, laptops, tablets and even Wi-Fi routers.
Thankfully though, there are some easy steps you may take today to avoid any issues together with your tech throughout the UK heatwave.
Experts at comparison website Uswitch have offered some easy advice for be sure that devices equivalent to your laptop, smartphone, tablet and Wi-Fi router doesn’t suffer overheating throughout the heatwave.
Easy to follow suggestions equivalent to ensuring electronics aren’t left in direct sunlight, taking your case off your phone, and keeping tech in a well ventilated room will all help avoid any potential overheating damage.
Also, certain devices like Apple smartphones can provide you with a warning if it reaches a certain temperature and is vulnerable to overheating damage.
You will not want it to achieve that stage but should you do get an alert like this throughout the UK heatwave be sure that you head the recommendation on screen.
Tech could suffer from overheating throughout the UK heatwave (Image: GETTY)
Advising people on keep their gadgets protected, Uswitch telecoms expert Catherine Hiley said: “Laptops, computers, mobiles, tablets, games consoles and Wi-Fi routers all require good ventilation to eliminate excess heat when in use. So be sure that they’ve enough room to breathe and avoid keeping them in direct sunlight.
“Avoid placing broadband routers near windows or tucked into corners with poor air flow. In case your device is warm to the touch, try relocating the hub to somewhere cooler with less sunlight and extra space to breathe. Some gadgets generate heat warnings for users, so you may get an alert when your device is struggling to operate.
“Removing protective cases, turning down the screen brightness and switching to low power mode are all easy tricks to assist ease the load on devices in hot weather.
“In case your device is repeatedly overheating even when it’s cool outside, it could indicate signs of an underlying problem, especially if the device is older. If so together with your router, it could be value chatting together with your provider regarding a fix or alternative.”
For those who’re wondering keep your tech protected, here’s more advice from Uswitch on specific products.
It’s also possible to turn to this guide on the Uswitch website that provides additional pointers…
Wi-Fi router
Location — Ensure your router is avoided direct sunlight, particularly throughout the warmer months. Avoid window sills and take a look at a cooler space within the centre of your own home.
Air circulation — Keep your router in a ventilated area to permit the device to manage its temperature. Don’t tuck it behind furniture or other large items, which could make it heat up and potentially impact your broadband strength.
Disconnect unused devices — Turn off the Wi-Fi on gadgets you’re not using, even in the event that they’re in a drawer. They could be adding unnecessary strain to your bandwidth.
Laptops, computers
Spring clean — Now could be the time to remove any dust build-up in your devices. Lint caught within the vents will stop the fans working at full capability and increase the possibility of overheating.
Low level — Turning your brightness down or switching your device to low power mode will ease the strain in your gadgets.
Unplug — Once your laptop reaches 100% battery or a level you’re comfortable with, be sure you unplug the charger. Keeping the device plugged in and unnecessarily charging could generate additional heat.
Mobiles and tablets
Keep it cool — Try to maintain use to a minimum when temperatures are hotter than normal. When it’s too hot, the battery can’t store energy efficiently. You might also notice a lag within the phone’s performance.
Virgin Media offers suggestions for storing the Hub router
Within the background — Leaving background refresh on implies that apps will be updated even while you’re not using them. This will apply extra pressure in your phone’s system during a scorching hot day, so turn this off temporarily.
Take it off — Removing any extra layers out of your devices, equivalent to leather cases, silicone skins or other sleeves will allow your gadget room for ventilation.
Games consoles
Good ventilation — The largest explanation for overheating in games consoles is poor ventilation. Modern machines are built with powerful fans and air vents, and if these get blocked by partitions, or by storing it in a TV cabinet, it’s more more likely to get hot.
Take a break — Games consoles are more liable to overheating while you’ve been playing them for a very long time. Giving it a break and powering off the console for some time, and even putting it in rest mode, will allow it to chill down.
Consider game size — Downloading an enormous game, or playing a game that has an enormous open world, can put a strain in your console. It’s value factoring this in before you get stuck in, as the scale of the sport could affect how easily the console overheats. For those who do have to download a big game, you can try doing it at night, or very first thing within the morning ,when the temperature could be cooler.
