As the weather fluctuates, IT asset management strategies should also change, and it is essential to know how to prevent damage during severe weather. Severe weather consists of anything that can damage IT assets, such as freezing temperatures, triple-digit heat, or thunderstorms that could cause a power surge.
Freezing Temperatures
During freezing weather, there are multiple ways electronics can be damaged if not properly stored or protected, including condensation, battery damage, and freezing. When the temperature fluctuates, condensation builds on surfaces like windowsills, glass, and inside potted plants. This also happens to electronics and can lead to corrosion if not addressed. LCD screens contain fluid that can freeze in extreme temperatures and cause devices to malfunction. Batteries can also be negatively affected by freezing temperatures. When a battery gets cold, it discharges more rapidly in a “rundown,” which will gradually lessen the charge potential. This will eventually affect the battery’s ability to charge at all. Many electronics are now made with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which cannot be charged below 32ºF (0ºC) without causing damage.
Electronics that rely on movement, such as motors, disk drives, and servo valves, can also experience performance failure due to the cold. Metal contracts as the temperature drops, causing moving parts to run under higher load stress.
Overheating & Battery Fires
Heat can be just as damaging to electronics as the cold and potentially cause a fire. The longer devices are used, the warmer they get, especially with no ventilation to keep the air circulating. Laptops are designed with vents, usually located on the sides and the bottom, that allow heat to escape to keep the device cool. Airflow is essential, and blocking any of these vents for an extended period will prevent the heat from being released and cause the laptop to overheat. This makes storage extremely important, especially during the summer. Leaving IT assets in warm places for too long, such as a car or an attic, or even by an open window during warmer months can cause them to overheat. One obvious sign of overheating is if the keyboard seems swollen or bowed. Most electronics contain Lithium-Ion batteries, and if an LIB is damaged due to swelling from overheating, it may trigger a thermal runaway and spark a chemical fire. Keeping ports and vents clean of hair, dust, and other materials and storing devices outside direct sunlight will help prevent overheating.
Power Surges
Storms often occur during seasonal changes, leading to power surges that damage IT assets. Most of the business world has gone digital within the last decade, and knowing how to protect assets from electrical damage can help prevent data loss and damage to data centers. Power surges are typically caused by electrical overloads, such as faulty wiring or lighting strikes, but can also occur during power restoration after an outage or blackout. Electronics cannot handle too much power at once, or it will damage the device and, in extreme cases, cause battery fires that can take days or even weeks to fully extinguish. Large amounts of data are now being stored digitally in data centers, and preventing damage is critical in keeping enterprise data safe.
There are many ways electronics can be damaged during severe weather. Still, there are precautions to take, such as keeping your house’s temperature at a comfortable middle ground, charging electronics above 32ºF (0ºC), keeping vents and ports clean, and using surge protectors like power strips and surge protector outlets.