Winter Weather and Your Electronic Devices

The winter months can be a magical time with the holidays and chances of snow. But how much you’re able to enjoy the colder months generally depends on your level of preparedness. A cold snap can cause all sorts of problems with your home, office, or vehicles, but extreme cold is also a potential danger to your computers and electronics. Here are some of the ways cold weather can damage the equipment you rely on to do business, and what you can do to stay prepared.

Batteries

One component affected by the cold is lithium-ion batteries, found in all kinds of electronics from phones to cameras to laptops. Cold weather can seriously deplete your battery life and even damage the battery itself, which can cause it to lose its charge faster from that point forward. Freezing temperatures can completely ruin your laptop’s battery.

If you have to take electronics out in freezing temperatures, just remember to keep it in an insulated pocket or in a backpack when not in use and never attempt to charge a lithium-ion battery in freezing temperatures.

LCD Screens 

LCD screens are employed in a variety of uses from your cars display screen, televisions, and personal electronics. While many LCD screens are designed to withstand temperatures as low as 32°F, for personal devices like laptops and phones, it’s best to keep cold exposure to a minimum and not allow your devices to be stored in temperatures below freezing.

LCD stands for liquid-crystal display. Yes, that’s right, it’s a liquid. And as a liquid, it can freeze in screens that are not specifically designed to work in extreme temperatures. This is why you may notice problems with your laptop or phone screen if you accidentally leave it in the car on a cold night. The most common problem from cold exposure is referred to as “ghosting” where an image may appear burned into the screen through discoloration. You may also experience lagging in the device’s response time. 

While freezing alone can cause damage, powering on the device while it’s still cold will likely only make matters worse. 

What to do if your electronics get too cold:

If you do accidentally leave your device in the cold, let it reach room temperature first before trying to turn it on. And don’t try to take matters into your own hands and add heat to the device with a space heater or hair dryer—it could damage your screen or worsen any existing damage. We recommend, if your device is cold, let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes or so before you turn it on. 

Off-site Backups as a Safeguard

There are times when damage to your equipment is simply beyond your control. Natural disasters and accidents happen, that’s one reason why VIP Technology Solutions Group offers an off-site backup service for the critical data that your operations need to keep going—even if your physical equipment is damaged or destroyed. We monitor your backups daily to ensure they are completing successfully. In the event you need your data restored, our team of experts is there to get you back up and running with as little downtime as possible.  

If your business is looking for IT support that’s tailored to you from a team of local experts, VIP Technology Solutions Group is ready to help. When you partner with us, you’ll always talk to a real person from one of our Oklahoma local offices.