Do you want to know why your laptop heats up and how to avoid this problem?
The CPU is the main heat-producing component inside a laptop.
Laptops use high graphics to run programs. You will notice that your laptop heats up relatively quickly when you run a high graphic game rather than when you perform ordinary tasks.
It happens because the heat produced by the central processing unit is directly proportional to the graphics. That means the higher the graphics, the more heat it will produce.
Moreover, laptops nowadays have a lot of memory. It produces more heat to maintain this memory which is in gigabytes.
The Role of Laptop Fans
Laptops are not solely a travel buddy. They are compact mini computers. This sleek device now performs all the tasks of a regular computer.
The more functions and processes it has, the more it heats up.
A laptop’s component can be damaged if it is overheated. Therefore, built-in laptop fans are designed to dissipate heat from the CPU and hardware. These cooling fans help to reduce the operating temperature.
Laptops are compact, and you place them on a surface. They do not have a large surface area or a regular massive CPU with plenty of fans to dispose of the heat. This heat can cause extreme overheating of a component which may break the system.
So, the structure of your laptop makes it vital for them to have cooling fans to avoid prolonged heating. The internal fan connects to the CPU and GPU heat sink for better ventilation.
Is It Necessary to Clean Your Laptop Fan?
Fans, keyboards, and the inside of your CPU towers can accumulate a lot of dust. This dust can clog the vents.
It is easier to clean a CPU tower. However, if you’re a laptop user, then this may be a concern.
If you do not clean your laptop, it will have a build-up of dust particles. This dust will choke your fans, heat sinks, and vents. Your computer will not ventilate heat because of clogged heat sinks.
Furthermore, choked and clogged vents prevent the PC from cooling. It will cause overheating and ultimately lead to a malfunction of your device.
Your laptop’s performance will also significantly decrease if you do not clean clogged vents, heatsinks, and fans. Dust build-up can cause possible hardware damage if it prevents a PC from cooling efficiently.
How to Clean a Laptop Fan Without Compressed Air
The easiest way to clean your laptop fan is to disconnect its power source. Place it upside down.
You can loosen the screws at the bottom panel by using a screwdriver. Make sure you use the correct screwdriver for this, so you don’t damage the screw holders.
Some laptops have tiny screws. You can use tweezers or needles for this.
Once you take out all the screws, keep them in a box. Make sure that you don’t misplace any of the screws.
Carefully remove the bottom panel; your laptop’s internals, battery, and fan will be visible. You can gently blow on the fan in a direction opposite to the fans to remove dirt. You can also remove the battery.
Do not remove the fan; use a small brush with soft bristles to clean any excess dust balls accumulated between the fan blades.
You can also use a cloth to wipe on the fan’s blades. This process will unclog the fans.
Use a lint-free cloth to wipe the vents.
Please avoid the use of vacuum cleaners because they will make the fan rotate very quickly. Moreover, the static discharge will damage the hardware.
Once you have cleaned the fans, replace the bottom panel. Put the screws in position. Tighten them, and you are good to go.
How to Clean a Laptop Fan With Compressed Air
Compressed air cleans the inside as well as the outside of a laptop. These cans of air are dust-free. They are the perfect tool to clean dirt from the keyboards or fans.
Compressed air cans are cheap and are also readily available in local stores.
To clean a laptop using compressed air, follow these steps.
- Power off your device.
- Open the outer case of the laptop using screwdrivers.
- Blow your compressed air on the internals.
- Keep the nozzle of your compressed air can near the vents and blow.
- Use a stick to hold the fan blades in position.
- Blow compressed air on them.
You can also blow on the fan from outside without dismantling your laptop.
Blow compressed air to remove all dust and dirt. This process will not remove the dust thoroughly, but it will help to unclog the vents.
How to Clean the Fan of a Laptop That Doesn’t Open
Some users cannot disassemble their laptops. For example, if you own a Macbook, it is not recommended that you dismantle it. However, dirt can accumulate in the fan and elsewhere.
For such laptops, you can use compressed air. Aim it at the cooling vent. Use short bursts of air to remove some of the dust particles. Remember not to use a long blast of air at the fans.
This process may not clean up internal dust properly, but it can improve ventilation.
Things to Keep in Mind When You Clean a Laptop Fan
If you don’t know a lot about the laptop and dismantle it, it is not good to remove the bottom cover. However, these precautions can help you clean your fan safely.
- After you unscrew the bottom cover, keep the screws safely. They are tiny and can easily be misplaced. They are not always available to buy.
- If you use a brush to clean, make sure that the bristles are soft.
- When you use compressed air, do not blow at the fan blades directly.
- Never unassemble the hardware.
- Never use vacuum cleaners. They can damage the hardware.
- Use lint-free cloths
- Replace wipes frequently when you clean with dust balls.
Is It Ok to Replace the Fan in the Laptop?
If you break the internal fan’s blades, then it is best to get it replaced. The fans also have bearings that are breakable.
Your fan may create a loud noise if any of the parts break. You can replace them or take your laptop to an expert. There is no harm in replacing a fan.
Conclusion
Make sure that you don’t mess with the insides of your laptop when cleaning the fan. Now that you have read that it is very convenient to remove the dirt from the fans, get to it now and improve the ventilation of your laptop. We hope that it also solves the problem of overheating.
