(WWJ) - Some of the coldest air of the winter season came blowing in over the weekend, dropping wind chill factors in Metro Detroit at near 25 below zero in some areas.
And while residents have been mindful of protecting their pets, plants and pipes from extreme cold weather, AT&T warned not to forget about your electronic devices.
"We use our phones for everything, and have them with us when we’re shoveling snow, snowboarding/skiing or sledding, and exercising outside," officials with the phone provider said.
Exposing your electronic devices to frigid weather for too long can cause a multiple of problems, including battery damage, condensation, brittle hardware and cracked screens.
AT&T offered the following tips to keep electronic devices protected and working properly in plunging temperatures:
1. The biggest and most obvious – avoid direct cold exposure.
a. If you have to go outside in weather like this, keep it in your purse, bag or pocket to keep it protected.
b. Use earbuds if you need to be on your phone so you can keep it in a pocket or purse and not out in the elements.
c. Use a smartwatch so you can see and respond to alerts without taking your phone out of your pocket.
2. Cover your phone.
a. It’s always a good idea to keep your phone in a protective case, especially in extreme weather.
i. We recommend something like the (choose rugged case to share and demo) that protects from water, dirt, snow and drops.
3. Turn on battery-saving mode
a. One of the best ways to get a longer-lasting battery is to turn on your phone’s battery savings mode.
4. Turn phone off when coming out of the cold
a. If you do have your phone out in the cold for a bit, turn it off before going inside and wait about 30 minutes to turn it on again until it has warmed up. That can stop dangerous condensation from occurring behind the screen. Nobody wants a foggy phone.
5. Your phone probably isn’t going to stop ringing just because it’s cold out
If you expect to be out in the cold for a while, but need to make and take calls, you might want to invest in a Bluetooth device or some wireless earbuds. This will allow you to keep your phone in your pocket while chatting.