How to Protect Your Phone from Cold Weather Damage

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, filled with joyful holidays and quality time spent with friends and family. Unfortunately, it’s also the coldest time of the year, when temperatures drop quickly across the country, and many begin to prepare for snow storms and icy conditions.

In frigid environments like these, smartphones like iPhones, Google Pixels and Androids can start experiencing a myriad of problems. Symptoms of a device affected by cold weather include: shortened battery life, display problems, unexpected shutdowns, and cracked screens. Thus, knowing how to protect your phone and prevent any mishaps are crucial and will allow you to focus on enjoying winter (as much as you can).

The local Riverton Batteries Plus Bulbs, the nation’s only battery, light bulb and phone repair franchise, has product experts – including store owner Rusty Isakson – and a wide array of specialized options for fixing phones and tablets damaged by the cold, through their We Fix It® Repair Centers. Here are some of Rusty’s top tips to winterproof your phone, and keep it in pristine shape despite the glacial elements.

• When in doubt, keep your phone in your pocket. Easier said than done in today’s always-on society, but keeping your phone in your coat pocket or backpack can safeguard it from the cold. Furthermore, the phone can stay warmer by picking up some of your body heat to regulate its own prime temperature. Cold weather can crack your screen unknowingly. Similar to how your phone reacts or shuts down in extreme heat, the same can happen in dangerously cold environments, ultimately impacting your phone’s battery life.
• Turn it off. Are you in a position to turn your phone off altogether while you’re outside? If so, try it. Extremely low temperatures cause the chemical reactions in cell phone batteries to perform more slowly. Batteries that would provide 100 percent capacity at 80°F will typically deliver only 50 percent at 0°F. All Apple products including iPhones and iPads have a working temperature ranging from 32°F to 95°F.
• Accessorize. If you must be on your phone outside in below zero temperatures, you should consider getting a special thermal case made for this type of atmosphere. For example, Climate Case offers a variety of covers and accessories to keep your beloved device toasty. Additionally, consider bringing an external charger with you, just in case your phone battery dies.

If the winter weather prevailed and you find yourself in a position with a cracked screen or dead battery, quickly consider where you should head to have your phone repaired. Batteries Plus Bulbs recently surveyed 1,000 Americans on phone usage habits, care and repair. Some of its most interesting findings include that 31% of Americans have broken their phone in the past year, 79% of respondents have never replaced their phone battery and 24% did not know a battery could be replaced.

First, do your research and ask an expert how long they’ve been in the business. Once you find someone you’re comfortable with, receive a proper diagnosis and never leave a store without testing your device and ensuring that it’s working properly. Finally, look for speed and quality, especially when you’re in a pinch. You likely don’t have time to send in your phone and wait a week before it makes its way back to you. Batteries Plus Bulbs has over 725 locations nationwide and experts can fix a device in little as one hour.

Locals can visit the Riverton store located and 12575 Rhetski Lane and is open Monday through Friday from 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-7pm and Sunday 10am-5pm. The store’s phone number is 801-878-4329. To learn more, visit batteriesplus.com.