Preventive & Regular Maintenance General Article Last Reviewed April 2006 Create a Dust-Free Environment No matter how careful you are, there’s a chance you’ll wind up with a PC interior like this. Carefully remove this kind of dust buildup to increase your computer’s lifespan. As computers become faster, they get hotter, too, meaning that manufacturers have to install more powerful fans to keep your CPU and other components cool. High-powered fans push a lot of air, but they also suck in a lot more dust, lint, and other particulates hovering in your computing environment. That’s a problem because dirt and high-tech just don’t mix. You can minimize the chances of dust-related meltdown by keeping your home as dust-free as possible and following some simple tips for combating dust around your PC. Straight To The Source Some computer rooms are veritable dust traps, and although climate and home age play a role in dust accumulation, your personal habits also dictate exactly how many particulates wind up inside your PC. Review dust sources in your home and plan strategies for reducing the problem. If you often leave your windows open for fresh air, keep in mind that those gentle breezes blow in dirt, pollen, and other such contaminants. In a very dusty climate, you may want to leave your computer room window closed at all times. But no matter where you live, replace the filter in your home’s cooling and heating system often and use a high-quality anti-allergen filter that will catch most of the minute bits of dust flowing through your ducts. If you still have problems with dust build-up in your computing environment, you may want to invest in an air purifier that you can run continuously to filter the air in the room. Vacuum your floors and drapes regularly. Wipe all surfaces with a damp or oiled cloth to prevent dust build-up. If you have pets that shed a lot, consider banning them from your computer room. You should also think twice about smoking around your PC, as smoke particles can wreak havoc on electronics. Your PC’s Needs There are a lot of tactics you can employ to clean your PC and keep it clean. One major tip: Don’t place your computer near heating or cooling vents, as these will blow dust straight into your case. Also, place your PC and your computer chair on a plastic mat. This will help reduce the amount of carpet fibers stirred up and then sucked into your case. You can also install filters over your case fans. These filters cost only a dollar or two, take only a few minutes to install, and do a decent job of keeping dirt out of your case. As with any filter, you’ll have to check and clean them occasionally to make sure you’re not blocking the delivery of cool air to your PC’s interior, but this is a small hassle compared to the task of cleaning dust bunnies off of your motherboard. Should you decide to clean the inside of your PC, be sure to take the proper precautions. Work in a carpet-free area and touch the frame of the PC to discharge excess static electricity before touching any components. Use a new paintbrush to gently wipe away dust bunnies and catch those bunnies with a vacuum before they have a chance to float away. Although some people use compressed air to clean their PC components, the air is expensive and may blow dirt into drive motors or other delicate parts that are easily damaged. Use fan CFM (cubic feet per minute) ratings to keep your case clean. Use fans with higher CFM ratings for your intake and lower CFM for outtake; the idea is to create positive pressure inside your case to repel dust. In contrast, a case with negative pressure sucks in a lot more air, along with just about every piece of lint and dust in the whole room. Dirty Lowdown Basic but thorough cleaning is your best weapon against dust-related PC problems. Regularly replacing your ventilation system’s filter is another great way to keep dust at a minimum. Just be sure to take a peek inside your case every few months to make sure your efforts are succeeding; that way you can take action in the event those dust bunnies are still breeding in spite of your hard work.