Standard shelf life of a good video tape is 7 years or 200 to 300 passes. Using the same tape over and over on one VHS recorder may load up the head, causing a snowy picture. If a damaged video tape is played on VHS recorder, the record head can be permanently damaged. Pulling a jammed video tape out of a VHS recorder can bend the guide pins. Video recorders, camcorders, and video tapes should not be subjected to extreme cold.
Tapes can jam due to condensation.
Video tape should not be stored on top of TV sets.