Cleaning a computer.

[moonedunk]

I've read a lot of mixed stuff so i'd like to ask you guys. Can I clean my computer with an air compressor or do I have to buy a 10$ bottle of air lol. 

[79wjd]

I've read a lot of mixed stuff so i'd like to ask you guys. Can I clean my computer with an air compressor or do I have to buy a 10$ bottle of air lol. 

air compressor is fine

 

Just keep in mind an air compressor is usually more powerful 

[Volbet]

You can do it with an air compressor. Just keep a safe distance. You don't want to blow anything lose.

[i_build_nanosuits]

hold the fan blades so that they wont spin at crazy speed while dusting them...other than that it should be fine.

[hueylax70790]

Hold the fans and keep a safe distance. An air compressor has a lot of power and can really hurt some of your hardware if you use it too close. Honestly, i would recommend an air canister, but that's only because i woudnt trust myself with a compressor haha

[BenD]

I've always used a compressor, just hold the fans and don't use it at full power, you're removing dust, not boats

[simtransporter]

I think air compressors are really good for cleaning computers,  just bare in mind that they can easily be very powerful, so just be careful and use common sense.

[anzonix]

While you are at it clean any consoles you might have.

[DigitalHermit]

How clean do you want it to be?

 

Personally I disassemble the unit before blasting it with compressed air... This gets rid of the dust that's in the tighter spots...

Wipe any remaining dust off using a soft cloth...

[Leonard]

buy a 10$ bottle of air lol. 

^ this statement always make me think of a traveling sales man selling things to people that they already have or don't need. Step right up for the Elixir or Life(some honey in a glass bottle)

 

On topic

You can use the air compressor but don't hold the nozzle too close to PCBs, you don't want any parts like non-soldered BIOS chips popping of or any capacitors bending.

[carolkarine]

I've used an air compressor definitely.

[Trik'Stari]

I've actually been wondering about my air compressor lately. Last time I went to clean with it, it kept occasionally sending out some kind of liquid with the air, I couldn't tell if it was water or oil, I'm thinking it might have just been condensation or something. Didn't seem to have an effect though.

[Vivilacqua1]

I would deffinitley recommend an air compressor rather than a can of air. just do it at a safe distance (4-5) feet. As for the landfill and waste, you are helping the enviornment by not having to throw-away a metal and plastic can.

[b45op]

If you have a compressor then use it! don't hold it to close to anything sensitive and be careful. a brush to loosen any hard grime between bursts of air can also be a good plan. Be careful of moisture build up though, most compressors will have a small water trap but bear it in mind that the air leaving the compressor will have a high humidity. 

 

To put your mind more at ease as to how much punishment a computer can take I have dusted out some bad systems using a leaf blower before, actually worked ok.

 

 

I've actually been wondering about my air compressor lately. Last time I went to clean with it, it kept occasionally sending out some kind of liquid with the air, I couldn't tell if it was water or oil, I'm thinking it might have just been condensation or something. Didn't seem to have an effect though.

 

 

This is the moisture I am talking about ^ above, it is quite normal and in specialist shops and so on the air system will have a dryer unit on the line to minimise the build up of water in the tank and the lines. the best thing you can do is regularly clean your compressor as you seem to.

[My pet tree101]

If you have a compressor then use it! don't hold it to close to anything sensitive and be careful. a brush to loosen any hard grime between bursts of air can also be a good plan. Be careful of moisture build up though, most compressors will have a small water trap but bear it in mind that the air leaving the compressor will have a high humidity. 

 

To put your mind more at ease as to how much punishment a computer can take I have dusted out some bad systems using a leaf blower before, actually worked ok.

 

 

 

 

This is the moisture I am talking about ^ above, it is quite normal and in specialist shops and so on the air system will have a dryer unit on the line to minimise the build up of water in the tank and the lines. the best thing you can do is regularly clean your compressor as you seem to.

 

I would suggest a decent air brush compressor. they deliver consistent air flow with minimum moisture build up