Cleaning the PC.

[NotFestiveOwl]

Hi, I didn’t know where to put this, so...

My dad says it’s ok to clean PCs from the inside with a vacuum cleaner, and I’m saying no, the static and bla bla bla, am I right or he is? Just want to prove my point haha.

[WkdPaul]

Static electricity COULD be a problem, but I've done it often and never had any problems.

 

It really depends more on your environment and clothing than the vacuum cleaner.

[Jaminahat]

Blowers maybe? They sell them on Amazon so i cant see why not? I would be against hoovers though just in case, you dont want small pieces of your pc being sucked up

[Prox1ma]

5 minutes ago, ericmeyer said:

Hi, I didn’t know where to put this, so...

My dad says it’s ok to clean PCs from the inside with a vacuum cleaner, and I’m saying no, the static and bla bla bla, am I right or he is? Just want to prove my point haha.

have done the opposite (blowing out air instead of vaccuming) but haven't faced any issues when I did use vaccum. Maybe it depends on how powerful the vaccum is ?

[Xander Cousins]

@Jaminahat

time to clean out my PC 

*Takes out vacuum, removes all parts and starts cleaning* 

Time for  the motherboard 

*Sucks up CPU chip*

Huh my pc won't work anymore.... what happened?

 

more sad to think this has most likely happened......

[Bsmith]

cleaningl with a vacuum cleaner wouldn't do any harm, atleast considering you don't please the electro engine close to it, the magnetic field from the vacuum cleaner's engine is most likely to be the bigger issue since it creates a potentially damaging electromagnetic field

[Lady Fitzgerald]

4 minutes ago, Bsmith said:

cleaningl with a vacuum cleaner wouldn't do any harm, atleast considering you don't please the electro engine close to it, the magnetic field from the vacuum cleaner's engine is most likely to be the bigger issue since it creates a potentially damaging electromagnetic field

A vacuum cleaner can create an ESD that can damage components since the nozzle usually comes into contact with the components. Use a vacuum cleaner in reverse is usually safe as long as the nozzle doesn't come too close to any components. What you said about at vacuum cleaner having a potentially damaging electromagnetic field is pure nonsense.

 

A good blower, such as the DataVac, is far superior and safer for removing dust.

[NotFestiveOwl]

11 minutes ago, Lady Fitzgerald said:

A vacuum cleaner can create an ESD that can damage components since the nozzle usually comes into contact with the components. Use a vacuum cleaner in reverse is usually safe as long as the nozzle doesn't come too close to any components. What you said about at vacuum cleaner having a potentially damaging electromagnetic field is pure nonsense.

 

A good blower, such as the DataVac, is far superior and safer for removing dust.

well i have a vacuum cleaner from like ussr times some, old one

[Syntaxvgm]

Pay attention to humidity levels. Make sure you're above about 50% and you're probably good.

Typically it's compressed air that causes more of a static problem.

And like compressed air, make sure to not let fans spin really fast when blowing/sucking them.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

10 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

Pay attention to humidity levels. Make sure you're above about 50% and you're probably good.

Typically it's compressed air that causes more of a static problem.

And like compressed air, make sure to not let fans spin really fast when blowing/sucking them.

Compressed air doesn't cause a static problem as long as the nozzle doesn't touch anything. Moisture in compressed air is more of a problem although a good dryer in the output of the tank will take care of that.

 

Not everyone has the luxury of living where humidity levels routinely are over 50%. Where i live, 50% is rare; single digits are more common.

 

True about not spinning fans. In fact, it's easier and safer to just block them from spinning at all.

[Syntaxvgm]

5 hours ago, Lady Fitzgerald said:

Compressed air doesn't cause a static problem as long as the nozzle doesn't touch anything. Moisture in compressed air is more of a problem although a good dryer in the output of the tank will take care of that.

 

Not everyone has the luxury of living where humidity levels routinely are over 50%. Where i live, 50% is rare; single digits are more common.

 

True about not spinning fans. In fact, it's easier and safer to just block them from spinning at all.

I've had ESD from compressed air happen. It was winter in my area and humidity was around 20% or less. Only happened to me once, though I live in a high humidity area. 

TBH, if you live in an area single digits are common, I'd recommend an ESD strap or at least double checking you are grounded, touch the case side, etc. That's like crazy high chance of ESD in the first place, air compressor or not. 

Office I work at had a problem with hvac this winter and humidity was around 10% (much lower than outside air). We were getting shocked by everything. I put my hand about 6 inches away from a 1080 on a mining rig to see if it changed when I was messing with the fan curve (tons of the same card, loud, trying to identify cards lol) 

Anyway never touched it, still shocked it from very far away and knocked it offline, thankfully didn't permanently kill it. Really gave me a new perspective on low humidity areas. 

 

[Jaminahat]

On 4/30/2018 at 2:12 PM, Alex Colson said:

@Jaminahat

time to clean out my PC 

*Takes out vacuum, removes all parts and starts cleaning* 

Time for  the motherboard 

*Sucks up CPU chip*

Huh my pc won't work anymore.... what happened?

 

more sad to think this has most likely happened......

 I meant things such as loose screws etc, Would just be a ballache