Why Can Keeping the PS3 Cool Prevent the PS3 Yellow Light of Death?
The yellow light indicates a general hardware failure. Many times the PS3 yellow light of death is caused by excessive heat. As the PS3 it generates a lot of heat. Over time this heat can damage connections and other components in the PS3, giving you the yellow light.
Tips that will keep your PS3 Cool:
1) Use the PS3 in an open area. If you have it in a small space, take it out when you want to use it
2) If the room itself is too hot then your PS3 is more likely to overheat; even if it is in an open space. What some people do is on hot days they turn on their A/C's set to 76 degrees and that keeps the fan from going into over drive (meaning the cooling system isn't struggling to keep the heat down).
3) Place the PS3 on a smooth, flat, hard surface when you are using it. Never use it on a carpet since they trap heat and block the vents
4) Make sure the vents on the PS3 are not blocked by dust or lint. This can greatly obstruct the airflow. As a result the PS3 cooling system will not work effectively and it will get very hot. If there is dust in the vents using a vacuum (not a too powerful one though!) should clean it.
If you use these tips when you play your PS3 then your chances for the PS3 yellow light of death will be cut down dramatically