Summer is a time where we have to deal with extreme heat. During this period, our body heating up is not all we have to worry about because the heat affects even our electronics. The laptop is not excluded from the number of items that can get ruined when the sun acts on it. Hence, one of the very important knowledge one should have is how to keep laptop cool in the summer.
A laptop has all the features and components of desktop computers. It is smaller and easier to travel with. Because of the way laptops are made, they naturally tend to heat up when working, even without the summer weather. To solve that problem, laptop makers add heat vent(holes by the side or under your laptops), and fans to keep everything running smoothly.
The heat produced when your laptop is in use comes out through holes around the corners or under your laptop. In the summer, the external heat can be harmful to your laptop. During this period, you will notice that your laptop heats up quickly especially when you are working from home. High heat can shorten the lifespan of your laptop and affect its performance.
Fortunately for us all, there are steps to follow that will help your laptop to cool down in the summer or when the temperature gets high to enable it to function normally. Keep reading to find out the various ways you can keep your laptop cool in the summer.
How To Keep Laptop Cool In The Summer
Want to use your laptop in the heat of summer without damaging your laptop? Here are some tips on how to keep your laptop cool and avoid overheating or damaging it during the summer.
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Allow Ventilation
Your laptop needs a little space between its bottom and the surface it is resting on to keep the hot air moving. When you rest the laptop on a soft surface like your lap, soft bed, mattress, couch, or pillow, there is little to no space for the air to travel out and escape. So, heat blown out will go back inside the compact space which may cause the laptop to disrupt. When it is on a flat surface, like a table, it will keep consistent space between its bottom and the flat surface. Despite the device being called a laptop, you should not use it on your lap to prevent heating.
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Use Your Laptop In An Air-Conditioned Room
As much as possible, use your laptop in a very cool room. Here is a tip for you to know your laptop is comfortable and not heated. If you are comfortable, then your laptop probably is as well. Keep your work area cool and your laptop will thank you.
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Use A Laptop Cooling Pad
These are USB powered cooling pads with fans. It is also a raised surface allowing better airflow underneath your laptop to disperse the heat. If you use your laptop for a lot of processor-intensive activities such as gaming or graphic design like I do, and you notice that your laptop tends to heat up a lot, use a laptop cooling pad. This will cool your laptop from the outside and will keep it from heating up.
If you cannot find or buy a laptop cooling pad, with a few simple materials, you can create your own custom cooling pad to keep your laptop cool and safe. However, if you cannot buy or make a cooling pad, place a standing fan near your laptop and turn it on.
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Work In A Shade
Over-heating of your laptops may occur due to extreme exposure to direct sunlight, especially during summer. High temperature can cause a laptop to over-heat causing an expansion of hard drive and battery damage. Going out of direct sunlight is enough to keep your computer noticeably cooler. If you are a nature lover like I am, my guess is you would love working outside. Choose a place that is cooler than other parts of your open space.
I usually go under a tree or work from my balcony. I love working outside but I also love it when my laptop is in good condition. There is a mini fan in your laptop to keep it cool but it only helps blow out the hot air inside it but cannot help blow out external heat from the environment, or the sun.
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Shut Down Your Computer
Rigorously working on your laptop may affect its functioning. If you know you will be away from your laptop for a while, shut it down, or put it in sleep mode. This is because when your laptop is turned on, whether in use or not, it generates heat. By doing this alone, it helps in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the laptop.
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Laptop Stand
Laptop stands or desks are like tables, but smaller, like the size of your laptops. Using a laptop stand is great when you want to get comfortable on the couch or bed. This will work effectively by increasing the flow of the internal heat out of the laptop. This will enable your laptop to run effectively.
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Spring Cleaning
Although it is summertime, cleaning the inside of the laptop thoroughly once in a while is much needed as dust can damage it. If dust gathers inside your laptop’s vents and fans, it can block the airflow. Hence, make sure to clean your laptop once in a while.
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Overclocking Is A No
Overclocking[1] is when you increase the multiplier on the CPU. This allows your laptop to run faster. The higher you clock your laptop, the higher voltage the CPU will require. This produces heat for the laptop combined with the heat from the hot weather. I know how most of us want our laptops to work faster but this will only make your laptop heat up more and can cause serious damages.
Bonus Tips
Do not keep your laptop in a hot car. If you have no other option, keep your laptop completely turned off to reduce further damages to it. Or better yet, park your car under a shade. If your car is running, turn on the air conditioner.
Also, heating problems often lead to unexpected shutting down of your laptops. This may lead to the formatting of the laptop or your data. Always save your work immediately. It is also safe to keep your data backed up.
You can also lower your screen brightness, close software that is not in use or use up the Computer Processing Unit (CPU), and unplug unnecessary USB devices. Doing all these will help to reduce the workload on your laptop and also lower the temperature. Changing your power plan to balanced or power saver decreases the performance of your laptop which can also reduce heating.
If you have had your laptop for a long period of time, say 3 years and more, you should consider replacing the thermal compounds that are under the heat pipes in your laptops where the components like CPU and GPU are located.
Conclusion
Laptops are powerful but they can be very fragile. Carelessly handling a laptop can cause it to get damaged sooner than it should. Overheating can cause your laptop to develop faults that can cause permanent damage or minimal faults.
Following the tips we have listed out can help keep your laptop cool when it begins to overheat or prevent it from overheating in the first place. I believe you will enjoy using your laptop more, now that you have stumbled on this knowledge.
Glossary
[1] Overclocking – Link
