Everybody is aware of the many myths about phones catching fire or blowing up. It is frightening to think that something we handle daily is such a threat.
Fortunately, the optimistic viewpoint is that, with some common sense precautions, the chances of it ever happening are slim.
This article outlines the best ways to prevent your mobile from overheating and bursting.
1. Avoid Overcharging Your Mobile
Everyone enjoys the comfort of waking up to a phone whose battery is fully charged.
It is easy to just plug in the phone at night and leave it, but such behavior can have quite negative consequences over the long term.
The smartphone’s battery suffers from overcharging, making the battery run hot and wear out more quickly.
Most modern mobile devices come with techniques that avoid overcharging the batteries. However, those techniques are not foolproof.
What to Do Instead
Whenever possible, plug in your mobile device during the day and disconnect it from the charger after it reaches full capacity.
If at all possible, do not leave your gadget charging overnight, however, if this cannot be avoided, consider purchasing a smart plug that will switch the power off after an allocated time or when the phone has fully charged.
2. Use the Right Charger and Cables
We have all lost or broken our mobile chargers and have come across the temptation of ordering a cheap charger, or of a cable that does not belong to that specific device.
However, counterfeit chargers or third-party ones do not meet the same quality standard as the original ones and thus may cause overheating or worse damage.
Stick to This Rule
Use only the charger that came with your phone or a certified replacement. If you have to buy a new one, or a different one, ensure to use one that is reputable and complies with safety standards.
3. Don’t Let Your Phone Overheat
It is something that we have all experienced: your phone getting uncomfortably warm after prolonged use or while it has been resting in the sun.
Heat is something that should be avoided as much as possible when it comes to a phone, particularly its battery.
Keeping a phone in a hot environment for quite some time can heat up the battery to the extent that it bulges and in some rare cases, bursts.
Practical Solutions
- During the summer months in particular, it is advisable to keep your mobile device away from sources of direct sunlight.
- If you’re playing games on your mobile or streaming for a long time, then you should take time outs for your device.
- Never leave your mobile devices inside a hot vehicle. Otherwise, you are guaranteed to overheat it.
4. Keep Your Phone Dry
It is well known that substances such as water and electronic devices do not go together.
Manufacturers often incorrectly ensure that a mobile or similar device is water resistant.
A device may sustain a bit of moisture, even if it is used under terrible conditions, however, it is not hermetically sealed from fluid infiltration.
Water interacts with electricity, but the results are often disastrous. The battery, in case of being wet, also leaks and creates an electrical short, heating up the device.
Quick Tip
It is good practice to avoid unnecessary exposure of the device to water. You may also want to consider getting a waterproof case if you are careless or if you are often surrounded by water.
And bear in mind, don’t test your boundaries, just because your device is IP rated does not necessarily mean it is water-resistant or even waterproof!
5. Replace Damaged Batteries Immediately
The battery is the most important component of the cellphone, and so it’s in working order only.
A malfunctioning gas or swollen cell in which the gas has already escaped is already a bomb.
For example, you might observe that the battery has swelled or that the phone tends to heat up more than normal with usage.
These are all warning signs that the battery is in urgent need of repair or replacement.
What to Do
In case there’s any doubt regarding the condition of the battery, do not hesitate—reach out to an expert to change it.
In addition, bear in mind that it is ill-advised to attempt any fixes on your own as they will be counterproductive rather than beneficial.
Sparing a few bucks for a new battery is a safer option than having to deal with a malfunctioning phone that is prone to exploding.
6. Be Mindful of Where You Charge
The surrounding space can greatly affect the degree of safety while charging your mobile.
For instance, charging your cell phone on soft surfaces such as beds and sofas can lead to overheating of the phone due to heat build-up.
This is why you should always pay attention to where and how you charge your devices.
What’s the Best Practice?
Keep the mobile phone while charging on a rigid and level surface such that heat can escape.
Do not let the mobile phone to be charging while it is covered or placed on a soft material such as a pillow that retains heat.
7. Remove The Phone Case While Charging
While phone cases can protect from falls and drops, they usually have their disadvantages too.
For instance, cases need to be removed when the phone is being charged as they tend to insulate and prevent heat dispersion.
Simple Fix
If the smartphone appears to heat up when it is plugged in for charging, it may be advisable to remove the casing of the phone while charging it.
This may, in turn, help in dissipating heat within the device more effectively.
8. Don’t Ignore Warning Signs
Today’s smartphones come with numerous safety measures and among the more essential features is a warning system.
If the mobile is issuing overheating signs, especially those in silence for other usage, heeding it should be a priority.
Otherwise, one may experience some extreme outcomes such as a battery getting ruined or in some cases, the phone bursting.
Pro Tip
If the mobile device gives you a temperature alert, please refrain from using it anymore. Allow it to cool down before carrying out other operations.
These warnings exist for a good cause, and there is always a risk of injury when one continues to abuse the phone. There is also a risk of doing more damage to the phone.
9. Avoid Charging in Extreme Temperatures
Both high and low temperatures are detrimental to the mobile device.
For instance, keeping your mobile at subzero temperatures while charging it can damage its internals.
Whereas charging your mobile in extremely high temperature regions subjects it to overheating and battery damage.
What You Can Do
If you’re in a very cold or scorching environment, avoid charging your mobile until it reaches a normal temperature.
Wait until indoors or at least out of direct sunlight before plugging it in.
10. Update Phone’s Software
Updating software is more than just adding new features or eliminating bugs.
Battery management and general protection of your device typically receive crucial upgrades in such updates as well.
If you do not do so, your phone may become less resistant to overheating among other threats.
Stay Updated
Keep the smartphone’s OS and all the applications installed on it up to date at all times.
If an update is published by your phone’s manufacturer, such as an update that enhances the battery’s performance or improves aspects relating to safety, install the update without delay.
11. Know When to Upgrade
Let’s be honest, mobile are not designed to last a lifetime. With time, batteries tend to degrade and become less effective or even problematic and cause issues such as overheating.
Chances are, you have owned your smartphone for more than two or three years and you look at it each day even if it’s a bit worn out.
It’s understandable if you would like to get a newer smartphone.
Why It Matters
It is more problematic to keep an old device with a worn-out battery, as chances of excessive deactivation risks and even damages are high.
Upgrading is not only to enhance performance; enhanced battery safety measures in newer phones warrant an upgrade too.
12. Use Battery-Saving Features
Mobile phones today come with energy-efficient modes that help in reducing battery consumption.
For example, such features commonly restrict the processes operating in the background, and reduce the display brightness, hence minimizing the amount of heat generated from the phone.
How It Helps
When you enable battery saving modes on your phone, you not only conserve battery life, but you also limit the phone’s workload and avoid overheating. It’s a win-win situation!
13. Don’t Use Cheap Power Banks
Power banks are very helpful, however, there are differences between them.
One of the drawbacks of using a cheap power bank is that it may cause irregular charging and overheating, or even worse overcharge and ruin the phone’s battery.
Choose Wisely
Power banks must be competently manufactured and designed by renowned companies.
Choose power banks that have built-in protection against overcharging and overheating among other features.
Final Thought For phone safety and tips
Your mobile device can be called an asset, but, like any other useful thing, it poses some dangers when used improperly or carelessly.
To avoid the risk of your device overheating, catching on fire, or even bursting, stick to the following safety guidelines.
Remain cautious employ appropriate equipment, and most importantly, heed your device’s alerts. Safety, being effective, need not be difficult; it only requires a few appropriate actions.
