Author Topic: Is it dangerous to clean your computer with compressed air or vacuum?  (Read 22829 times)

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Offline janoc

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The forum has gotten plaged with silly questions beyond explanation, and people keep falling for them.
No pun intended, but guess what most computers use for cooling? Air 24/7!
The only possible damage is ripping something off due the pressure or by rubbing.

What causes so much overthinking? Lvl 99 boredom?

Sorry but stuff like overspeeding fans and damage due to EMF from spun-up fans are totally possible and real. That you can't think about possible consequences (or don't really understand the problem) doesn't make the OP's question neither silly nor overthinking.

ESD is dangerous if you have naked, unsoldered parts. Components mounted on a board are reasonably safe because the circuitry will dissipate any charge build up before it could break something. The chances you will ESD fry something by blasting dust out from your computer are negligible.
This. Keep it plugged in but switched off, and static charge won't even accumulate.

That doesn't help you at all if you zap something with your charged finger or a charged vacuum cleaner nozzle (those are almost universally made of plastic and not conductive/grounded). You have only created a lower impedance path to earth, so possibly a higher current will flow from that zap.

Again, the same applies as to DavidAlfa above ...

 :palm:
« Last Edit: May 01, 2023, 06:32:13 pm by janoc »
 

Offline mendip_discovery

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I have taken mine outside to the shed and blasted the dust out as it got really dusty. It was fine.

I have also killed a PC, using a vacuum as the static for to some parts. I was already getting issues hence I was cleaning it. But it finished it off.

These days I keep a few of the air cans about and use them to clear out the dust on a regular basis. Makes it easy to keep on top of it. Just have to be careful as some will spray out the propellant if not careful so stuff get IPA on it. Also if you blast fans stop them spinning fast and if they do spin, dont let the straw touch them as you will brake the fan blades.
Motorcyclist, Nerd, and I work in a Calibration Lab :-)
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So everyone is clear, Calibration = Taking Measurement against a known source, Verification = Checking Calibration against Specification, Adjustment = Adjusting the unit to be within specifications.
 

Offline .RC.

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I have been blowing my PC's for years.  They never suffer any ill effects.

When younger the motherboard of the PC I had at the time turned out to be that filthy not having anything available as a solvent I washed it with petrol via a engine degreaser gun.   It still worked again when dry.   I would not recommend doing that though, only the stupid do that. ;D
 

Online SiliconWizard

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I have been blowing my PC's for years.

They must be happy.
 :-DD
 

Offline CatalinaWOW

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I have never had a failure definitively caused by using compressed air or a vacuum by either of the stated mechanisms.  But these failures have been reported.

The message is that it can happen, but is somewhat uncommon.  How uncommon?  I have never seen any solid answers to this.  My own experience suggests that it is less than one in fifty, but there are some uncontrolled variables here.  I may be more careful than average.  For example I mechanically restrain fans so they don't spin when cleaned with compressed air. The climate I operate in my not be representative.  And there is a real possibility that latent ESD damage was caused, but not detected by me.

So the question becomes one of risk vs reward with bad data to inform the decision.  The reward is that compressed air and vacuums are easier and more effective than brushes and paper towels.  The risk is an unknown probability of a potentially very costly repair bill.

Those following this thread will all have to make their own decision.  Until someone finds a way to collect a significant amount of data with appropriate identification of the variables it will be more of an emotional personal decision than a rational one.  My personal decision is easily detected in the form of my answer.
 

Offline helius

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A company called Atrix makes ESD service vacuums with conductive hoses made of carbon-impregnated rubber.
 

Offline .RC.

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They must be happy.
 :-DD

A happy PC is a productive PC.  :D
 


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