The warm weather is finally here in Des Moines! This is fantastic news for those of us who like to spend time outside, soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful weather. However, the high temperatures are terrible news for your sensitive computer. Whether you own a traditional desktop PC, a laptop, or a tablet, your computer's integrity might be compromised by the summer heat.

How Excessive Heat Impacts Your Computer

Operating your computer in a hot indoor environment without air conditioning, using it in direct sunlight, or leaving it in a vehicle during the summer could cause it to malfunction. Computers are not built to withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures or moisture. The ideal environment for computers is an air conditioned, enclosed space with minimal moisture. Computer fans can only work so hard to keep the internal components cool. If the temperature and/or humidity levels get high enough, the fans will prove ineffective at cooling the computer's internal components, or they will stop cycling air away from the computer altogether. This is the nightmare scenario every computer owner should strive to avoid.

Dust, Pollen, and Sand

Like many people, you may like to take your laptop or tablet outside when the weather gets warm. Working at outdoor cafes, the beach, public parks, and other outdoor spaces can be pleasant and convenient. However, using your computer outside of your home, office, or school exposes it to particles like dust, sand, and pollen. If enough of these accumulate within your computer, it will eventually stop working. It's prudent to have your computer's vents and circuit board cleaned on a regular basis to remove all of the dust, pollen, sand, and other particles that accumulate when you take your device outdoors.

Lightning

During a storm, lightning is a legitimate threat if it strikes your home or office when your computer is left plugged into an outlet. The average building is constructed with an electricity line that provides upwards of 120 volts. A lightning bolt's current often exceeds several million volts. Your computer is not engineered to withstand this voltage, and a lightning strike could fry your computer. (This is one of the reasons it's important to back up your data!)

Back Up Your Data and Enjoy Your Computer All Summer Long

Making sure your data is backed up, preferably using cloud services, essentially eliminates the potential for catastrophic data loss when the temperatures rise. Have your data backed up on a regular basis and you won't have to worry as much about summer heat, humidity, lightning, and other threats. When you choose automatic backup, your data will be backed up at regular intervals without any further action on your part. This way, if the summer heat, humidity, sand, or other factors make your hard drive inaccessible, you won't lose valuable data; it will be waiting for you in the cloud (or on an external device) so you can access it when your device is repaired or replaced.

If the Iowa summer heat gets to your computer, reach out to Dymin for help. Our data backup and cloud services will keep your computer's data safe and secure, giving you flexibility and peace of mind. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about our data backup or recovery services, in-home computer setup and repair, or computer maintenance in Des Moines.