Wiz Kid's Spellbook
Laptop care that actually extends its life
Matt Davis
Owner, Wiz Kid Tech Repair
MaintenanceJul 6, 20263 min read
Two problems account for most of the laptop damage on our bench, and both are largely preventable with habits that cost nothing.
Heat is the slow killer
Laptops pull cooling air from underneath. On a bed, couch, or lap, that airflow is blocked, and the machine runs hot for hours at a time. Sustained heat shortens the life of the battery, the drive, and eventually the board.
Use a hard surface or a simple stand, and have the vents cleared of dust once a year.
Liquid is the fast one
A spilled drink can end a laptop in seconds. Keep cups on a separate surface, not beside the keyboard.
If it does happen: shut the machine down immediately, unplug it, turn it upside down, and bring it in. Do not try to power it on to see if it survived — that is what causes the permanent damage.
The rest of the list
Small habits, meaningful difference.
- Carry it closed, and never by the screen
- Unplug the charger by the plug, not the cable
- Keep 10 percent of the drive free so the system can breathe
- Restart weekly instead of only closing the lid
“Vents packed with dust or a machine running hot? A cleaning appointment is quick and far cheaper than a board repair.”
— The bottom line
