Heat is not a friend to computers. A simple step in computer maintenance is cleaning the computer vents, improving airflow and reducing internal heat buildup. Clogged vents can raise the operating temperature inside your computer, increase the wear and tear on your computer’s components and shorten a system’s lifespan.
Computers have evolved a long way from the highly air conditioned, raised floor environments of mainframe and mini computers (remember those?), but good ventilation for a computer is still important. Warm summertime weather can make problems from poor ventilation and heat buildup more pronounced. It is not uncommon for computers to experience problems from excess heat buildup due to lack of proper ventilation and cleaning.
Vent-clogging dust and lint are not just an issue for desktop/tower/floor standing computers. Many laptops also have small vents. If you hear a fan go on in your laptop computer you can be sure that it’s pulling air in through one or more vents. Here is what you can do.
Cleaning Computer Vents
The best method for removing dust, lint and pet hair that can clog vents is with your vacuum cleaner. Use one of the attachments that are standard on most vacuum cleaners. The smaller the nozzle opening on the attachment, the better.
A couple steps before cleaning the computer vents are: make certain your computer is fully powered off; and unplug the power cord from the computer. Then move the vacuum cleaner nozzle slowly over the external vents and openings. If there are any sliding panels or doors be sure to open them and clean behind them.
Laptop Computer Cleaning
Laptop computers generally don’t have as many problems with items clogging the vents, but it does happen. This is especially true if the laptop is used mainly as a desktop replacement and does not get moved very often.
As with most other items on a laptop computer the vents are smaller and sometimes not as obvious. Most laptop vents are on the sides towards the back, on the very back of the computer or on the bottom of the computer.
The process for cleaning laptop vents is similar to a desktop or tower computer. You should have the computer turned off – not just in sleep or standby mode. Be sure to check the bottom of the computer for any vents and make sure they are vacuumed.
Periodic Computer Maintenance
Cleaning dust from ventilation openings on computers can help keep them running cool and prevent damage to the system and the internal components from heat. Be sure to periodic computer maintenance to keep your computer running its best. Remember: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Also be sure to see another summertime computer tip: “After Vacation – Update Antivirus Software Before Checking Email”.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I do computer repair and I can’t tell you how overlooked cleaning the inside of the computer is. Frankly it can often be fairly disgusting how bad some people, especially those with animals, let their computers get. I rarely come across a computer that isn’t filled with dust.
Most of the times it is something you can see just by looking at it too, without even cracking the case, but it is important to check inside too.
I find that it also helps to re-coat the processor with silver thermal paste once a year or so. This helps divert heat from the processor, but it’s not something I recommend doing unless you really know your way around the inside of your computer. If you apply too much paste you could actually do more harm then good, so you have to be careful.
I enjoy all of your info. Have a lot to learn. Thanks !
I just bought a 27″ screen and wireless keyboard and put my laptop on the cold floor. I live in Norway but the summer came and there is much warmer so the laptop begun to be very hot. I live on the 1. floor so the floor is quite cold. This helped a lot.