IT asset management isn’t just for disposition. ITAM tracks, maintains, and stores IT assets, including ensuring they are protected against severe weather. As the weather gets a little colder, ensuring IT assets are adequately stored is essential to prevent them from freezing. While overheating can cause battery fires, freezing temperatures can also severely damage electronics and cause them to malfunction. Below are some tips for protecting your IT assets during colder seasons.
Negative Impacts of Severe Weather on IT Assets
Extreme temperatures of any kind can be harmful to electronics. Packaged electronics should also never be left outside on the porch. Hard drives are especially susceptible to complications. For example, when the lubricants that keep the platters spinning freely thicken, the platter cannot spin at the intended speeds, resulting in improper booting and corrupted data.
If a device has been sitting outside in freezing temperatures, it is best not to expose it to a sudden rise in temperature, as this will create a layer of fog, which will later turn into a thin layer of condensation. Moisture of any kind can cause electrical shortages in circuitry. If the device is inside a box, leave it in the box or package and let it warm up t before removing it. Or, give the device time to thaw before turning it on.
It’s important to note that many smartphones and laptops are now made with Lithium Ion batteries, which cannot be charged below 32ºF (0ºC) without causing damage. Though the device will appear to charge normally, this will cause metallic lithium plating on the battery anode, and the battery will become more apt to fail in the future. Instead, ensure all devices are charged before leaving the house or office, or charge them inside the car while it is warm before heading out into the cold.
Dispose of IT Assets with an ITAD Provider
IT assets such as computers, phones, tablets, and laptops are susceptible to damage during severe weather and should be appropriately managed, whether in the office or at home. Accidents happen, and sometimes damage occurs even with proper IT asset management. In this case, electronics should be responsibly disposed of. IT asset disposition providers like HOBI partner with other companies to collect old, unwanted, retired, or damaged IT assets for proper disposition. With more than 30 years of industry experience, HOBI offers a range of end-of-use services, including onsite data erasure, repair and remarketing services, reverse logistics, and data center solutions.
If disaster strikes before you are properly prepared, consider ITAD facilities for safe, eco-friendly IT asset disposal. For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.