How to clean a radiator?

[TheSTS]

Over the next day or two I will rebuilding my system in a new case with a couple of new components.

This seems to me like a good time to give everything a good clean, and, as I will be swapping out the stock fan on my H60 for an NF-F12 I'll be needing to clean the radiator.

 

So, what are the best methods for cleaning a radiator? 1 limitation - I don't have any compressed air.

[79wjd]

Blow on it. 

[MegaDave91]

Blow through it or buy compressed air.

[Altecice]

cleaning the dust = hoover it

clean the inside = near boiling water run though it.

[W-L]

Over the next day or two I will rebuilding my system in a new case with a couple of new components.

This seems to me like a good time to give everything a good clean, and, as I will be swapping out the stock fan on my H60 for an NF-F12 I'll be needing to clean the radiator.

 

So, what are the best methods for cleaning a radiator? 1 limitation - I don't have any compressed air.

 

You could use a very soft long bristle paint bush to gently knock off the dust from the fins, I'm not sure if everyone will agree but as long as you don't get the pump wet you could rise out the fins of the radiator with some water and dry it off completely before re install.

[TheSTS]

cleaning the dust = hoover it

clean the inside = near boiling water run though it.

 

There is no chance of me damaging it by hoovering? The idea of hoovering a computer component fills me with dread

[TheSTS]

You could use a very soft long bristle paint bush to gently knock off the dust from the fins, I'm not sure if everyone will agree but as long as you don't get the pump wet you could rise out the fins of the radiator with some water and dry it off completely before re install.

 

The idea of running water through it did cross my mind. I guess it has to be waterproof right? :]

[W-L]

The idea of running water through it did cross my mind. I guess it has to be waterproof right? :]

 

Just remove the fans and as long as you don't get the water onto the water block end where the pump is it will be fine, also the hoover idea would work well too, didn't occur to me.

[Benji_w]

I use a soft paint brush for cleaning pretty much everything in my system, compressed air is good I hear but a hoover will do the same, just don't touch the rad with it as you'll damage the metal chambers or fins. 

[Altecice]

There is no chance of me damaging it by hoovering? The idea of hoovering a computer component fills me with dread

 

Its a RAD.. solid bit of metal there is 0% chance of anything bad happening haha

[Benji_w]

Its a RAD.. solid bit of metal there is 0% chance of anything bad happening haha

 Get a bit too excitable with it and hit metal on metal? There's still a chance of damaging it lol, but generally speaking it will be fine.

[TheSTS]

Its a RAD.. solid bit of metal there is 0% chance of anything bad happening haha

 Get a bit too excitable with it and hit metal on metal? There's still a chance of damaging it lol, but generally speaking it will be fine.

 

I wasn't under the impression that my previous thought was rational ;]

 

Hoover it is, I'll be sure to keep the excitement to a minimum.

 

Thanks for the help!

[Leonard]

Over the next day or two I will rebuilding my system in a new case with a couple of new components.

This seems to me like a good time to give everything a good clean, and, as I will be swapping out the stock fan on my H60 for an NF-F12 I'll be needing to clean the radiator.

 

So, what are the best methods for cleaning a radiator? 1 limitation - I don't have any compressed air.

You can use a clean paint brush to brush the fins and loosen the dust, fi you don't have a paint brush you can use your sister's hair brush but not mom's....respect the mom's..... then you can just block the port holes and run it under an open faucet with a strong water pressure till clean, for the inside you can make a mixture of warm distilled water, not boiled and vinegar and run it through your loop...yes through the loop because you need to clean the waterblocks, pump and reservoir too. Then after about half an hour you can check it and repeat if necessary. When you find it is clean enough you can just run just plain distilled water for another half of an hour to clean the vinegar from the components.

 

Connect back everything and fill with normal coolant and you should be good.  

 

Blow on it. 

this made me laugh. So many jokes came to my mind......

 

Blow through it or buy compressed air.

He said he doesn't have any compressed air.

 

cleaning the dust = hoover it

clean the inside = near boiling water run though it.

hoover it.....lol you have to be joking and you are almost about the near boiling water.

[Spev]

I would say compressed air. You said you don't have any, I mean it's like $7 at probably a ton of stores close to you. If you're buying a new case & new components, I think you can afford some compressed air. It's going to work the best for you.