7 Ways to Protect Your Computer From Humidity
Computers are electronic devices, and water is one thing that kills electronics. While it’s a no-brainer to keep liquids from your PC, like keeping drinks and other liquids secure from your laptop, how do you protect it from water floating in the air?
Although most devices can withstand typical moisture levels, moisture can still damage your computer in the long run. So if you want to increase the longevity of your device, check out these ways to protect your computer from humidity.
1. Keep Your PC in a Climate Controlled Room
One of the best ways of keeping your computer safe from humidity is to keep humidity away from it. That’s why keeping your computer in a climate-controlled room is highly recommended. If you work or game in a specific space—like a home office or your bedroom—you should install an air-conditioner or a heat pump to control the ambient temperature.
Keeping the room within a specific temperature range and relatively sealed from the outside can help ensure moisture in the air is pumped out of your space. As a second benefit, these appliances can also cool you down during the summer and make the room more comfortable.
Of course, aircon and heat pumps cost money to acquire, use, and maintain. So, to help you save money, you shouldavoid these aircon blunders, especially during hot days.
2. Use a Dehumidifier
The dehumidifier is another appliance that will help remove moisture from the air. While this machine won’t affect the ambient temperature in your room, the reduced humidity will allow water to evaporate faster and prevent it from forming on surfaces.
A good side-effect of faster evaporation is that it will help you stay cooler. So, even though dehumidifiers don’t affect the environmental temperature, the evaporating effect on your skin will make it feel cooler by a few degrees.
However, you should knowwhat to consider before buying a dehumidifier, as this appliance has several types and sizes. And if you’re looking for the best recommendations, you should check out our list ofthe best smart dehumidifiers.
3. Avoid Changing Your Computer’s Environmental Temperature Quickly
If you’ve ever worn glasses in a cold vehicle and stepped out in the hot afternoon sun, you would’ve instantly seen your vision fog up. This fog is made of tiny droplets of water, and if it forms on your glasses, it can form on other surfaces, too, like your laptop.
So, if you can avoid it, avoid moving your PC between areas with a sizeable temperature difference. But if you must do so, you should at least put your laptop in a bag or a sleeve to help the device adjust to the temperature more gradually.
4. Add Silica Gel Packs to Your Laptop Bag
No attribution is required; sourced from Pixabay
URL: https://pixabay.com/photos/silica-gel-danger-desiccant-3855752/Used by Shan Abdul from emaki library.
Another way to protect your laptop from high humidity is to add a silica gel pack to your laptop bag. These little silica packets absorb moisture in small, enclosed places, like your backpack, to prevent moisture from forming inside.
They’re also called desiccants and are affordable at less than $10 for a pack of fifty. You can checkAmazon for silica gel packs; one bag should last well over a year.
5. Wipe Away Moisture From Your PC
Of course, there are times moisture on your laptop, smartphone, or computer is unavoidable. So, if that happens, you should wipe it away immediately. While most modern electronic devices are resistant to moisture from humidity, keeping your gear clear of water is still prudent.
URL:Glass Window Moisture - Free photo on Pixabay - Pixabay
Furthermore, if you let too much moisture build up on the surface of your computer, the water could eventually clump together and start making a tiny puddle near its ports, especially when the temperature difference between the laptop and the environment is massive.
It’s similar to a cold jug of water sitting on your porch in the summer—moisture appears on its surface when you remove it from the fridge. And if you leave it long enough outside, you’ll eventually see a puddle on the bottom.
While it’s not going to be as bad as that with a laptop (unless you keep your laptop in the fridge), it’s still best to keep your computer in the best state to increase its longevity.
6. Don’t Place Your Computer Near Humid Rooms
No attribution is required; sourced from Pexels
URL:Male and Female Signage on Wall · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)
It’s unavoidable for some rooms to have high humidity. For example, spaces with poor air circulation, like bathrooms and basements, are typically humid.
So, if you can avoid it, don’t place your computer in an enclosed room unless you have an air-conditioner or a dehumidifier. Furthermore, avoid putting your computer in front of your bathroom, as the humid air from it can spill over to your PC and build moisture inside it.
Furthermore, humid air usually stays closer to the floor. That’s because although warm air rises, moisture-rich air is heavier and tends to remain near the ground. So, don’t place your CPU on the floor if you’re already in a high-humidity room. Place it on your desk so that your movement will help air flow and avoid moisture build-up.
7. Invest in a Laptop Cooling Pad
If you’re using a laptop, a cooling pad could also help keep away moisture from your computer. The cooling pad will blow air inside and around your laptop, thus keeping air flowing continuously.
When air flows, it takes the moisture-laden air surrounding your computer away, thus making it easier for any moisture that built up inside your laptop to evaporate. This cooling air also helps your computer’s performance, so it’ll help your PC perform better, especially if you’re gaming.
So, to help increase your laptop’s longevity while improving its performance, you should check out thebest laptop cooling matsour Buyer’s Guides team picked out for you.
Keep Your Computer Clean, Safe, and Dry
Moisture and humidity are unavoidable, especially if you live near the coast or don’t get good airflow in your home. However, by following our tips above, you can at least mitigate its effects and help your computer last longer.
Furthermore, you should avoid myths and legends that purportedly help you take care of your gadgets but actually harm them. By knowing what works and what doesn’t, you can avoid damaging your computer and other devices.
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