How to Care for Laptops in Hot Weather

Your laptop may be your right arm. You take it with you wherever you go, and that's one of the sole reasons you use a laptop--it's portable. But if you live in a warm climate, or it's summertime where you live, caring for your laptop in hot weather is crucial to a long and reliable laptop life.

Things You'll Need

• Cooling pad

Instructions

1. Purchase a cooling pad and/or laptop stand. When on a flat surface, air can't circulate under your laptop, which makes it overheat. Laptops come with a built-in fan, but they can't cool down a laptop over an extended period of time.

2. Keep your laptop out of your automobile. Car temperatures can reach 120 degrees or more. Extreme heat can not only damage your laptop's internal components but can melt the external casing.

3. Consider using a removable hard drive. You can protect your data on your laptop from the hot weather by using a hard drive that you can remove and take with you when you must leave your laptop temporarily exposed to the elements.

4. Maintain a level temperature in your home or office. By using air conditioning in your home or at work, your laptop can remain in a cool environment. Air conditioning also helps to eliminate moisture in the air from humidity, moisture that can damage your laptop.

5. Watch the weather forecasts. Hot weather can bring thunderstorms and severe weather that can cause surges through electrical outlets to your laptop. Care for your laptop by keeping an eye on the possibility of volatile weather conditions, and keep your laptop unplugged during these weather episodes.

Resources

• Belkin laptop cooling pad