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The cold isn’t just bad news for your energy bills; You may also have to pay cash to cover damage to your technology.

Experts at Uswitch are warning Britons to check their technology as falling temperatures could cause problems with mobile phones and broadband devices.

The company’s tech expert, Richard Dowden, offers the following tips to help your devices cope with the cold…

Don’t leave your phone in the car

This means that when you bring it in from the cold, it can cause permanent water damage to your phone due to chemical reactions inside your device.

If you leave your phone in the cold for a long time, let it come to room temperature before charging it again.

If you’re cold, your technology is cold too

Do not leave your router in an unheated area, such as a garage or by a window, and be careful of condensation that may form around the device and leak into the unit.

If you need to place your router in a colder area, try placing it in an insulating box with holes for airflow.

Charge before you go

Cold weather shortens the battery life of many technological devices.

Lithium-ion batteries found in smartphones are known to struggle in cold temperatures, so be aware of this and fully charge the battery before taking it outside, as you may find that the battery will drain faster than usual.

Put a jacket on

One of the best ways to keep your phone warm and prevent its battery from dying is to keep it in a protective case insulated from the elements.

Storing it in a safe pocket may also help as it will utilize your body heat.

power off

If you’ll be exposed to subzero temperatures, help preserve your phone’s battery by turning on low power mode, turning off location services, and closing apps running in the background.

You can also use airplane mode, which will allow you to access applications that do not require an internet connection.

back them up

Most consumer technology is designed to operate at temperatures between 0C and 35C.

Therefore, if your devices are exposed to temperatures lower than this, make sure your data is backed up to avoid any loss or damage to battery life.