Washington, D.C., is under a heat emergency until Friday, and officials have warned residents to take extra precautions while going about their day outside.
The district only implements a heat emergency when the forecast of the temperature or heat index is 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
In anticipation of the heat wave, Washington has established cooling zones throughout the district.
Some cities in the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast may see temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature hasn’t reached above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Washington since 2016.
The district advises residents to stay cool by drinking plenty of water and to stay indoors as much as possible. However, one important detail that it did not mention to residents is how to keep their phone safe from overheating.
The optimal temperature for your phone is between 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Your phone remains safe between 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
Phones may get warm when you restore a backup, charge it wirelessly, or stream high-quality videos. However, your phone is at risk of overheating when it experiences direct sunlight exposure for an extended period or if it is left in a hot environment (such as the inside of a car).
When a phone overheats, you’ll notice that the display will dim or go black, and some camera features may be disabled. With iPhones, you’ll receive an alert that says, “Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down.”
While there have been cases of phones exploding, it is very unlikely for your phone to explode. The cause behind the phone’s explosion is due to the battery being overworked. Over time, the battery will degrade, leading the internal components to fade and causing swelling and overheating.
If your phone overheats, the first thing to do is take it out of direct sunlight and take it to a cooler environment. However, it is not recommended to take your phone to an environment with a drastic temperature change. For instance, do not put your phone in the fridge or freezer, as this extreme change could cause your phone to collect moisture, which could break your device. If it’s not possible to take your phone to a cooler climate, you should blow on your phone or fan it.
Your phone should also be removed from its case if it is overheating. Cases can hold the heat in, so it’s best to remove it if the phone is overheating.
If you want to save yourself from the trouble of dealing with an overheated phone, it is best to close all apps that are running in the background. By having these apps running, you are causing your phone’s battery to work harder.
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You should also turn off your phone’s Bluetooth. If your device isn’t connected to another device, your phone will constantly be scanning to find a device to connect to, which will cause it to warm up.
Lower your screen brightness so your battery isn’t forced to work harder. If you need to, purchase an anti-glare screen protector so you’re able to see your phone’s screen in the sun.