July is typically the hottest month of the year and while many Brits will be looking forward to a sun tan, their technology may suffer. With long sunny days comes alfresco dining and many of us jetting away on an abroad trip. A little-known side effect, however, is phone batteries can suffer long-term damage.
If we leave our devices exposed to long periods of sunlight a notification will appear on your phone or tablet when they become overheated. Technology experts are now warning Brits to keep their routers away from direct sunlight to ensure your wifi speeds stay as strong as possible. When your wifi router is in the sweltering weather it can overheat affecting its performance. Its power can also be affected if placed in a cupboard or behind a tv.
Placing the router inside a cabinet restricts its ability to transmit signals and traps heat, potentially leading to it overheating.
Juliet Moran from TelephoneSystems.Cloud said: “Electronic devices are always letting off some type of heat when in use but in the summer it’s important to be extra mindful of this.
“Most people are aware they should keep things like their phones out of the sun but you should also be mindful of where you place your wifi router.
“This can also overheat and affect the router’s performance if it’s in direct sunlight or tucked away in or behind a cupboard or the tv.
“When it comes to laptops, they’ll have vents to help keep them cool and prevent them from overheating when in use.
“It’s really important you make sure these get good airflow so try to use them on flat and hard surfaces like tables or laptop trays. Placing them on soft surfaces such as pillows can block the vents and trap the air inside which can be dangerous.”
To instantly boost your wifi speeds it is best to move the router to a cooler, well-ventilated space, away from direct sunlight and heat sources like radiators or ovens.
It is best practice to find a spot that’s naturally cooler and has good airflow such as elevating the router on a shelf or table.