*edit - I want to append a small note for anyone reading this. Steps in cleaning (NOTE) use EXTRA FUCKING CARE when removing the ribbon that connects the power button to the rest of the computer. You see, like desktops, laptops can suck up lots of dust. Too strong a burst and you could damage the fan or something else. Sign up to have the Hassle-Free PC newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc. Select the fan you want to control. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. If your laptop ever feels particularly hot in certain spots, ... use the compressed air to clear out the fins of any dust. A laptop fan needs to be cleaned on a monthly basis in order to ensure that the laptop stays as cool as possible. Also, it stops laptop overheating and keeps cooling. Close. How to Fix a Noisy Computer Fan. In this article, you will learn how to clean a PC Fan. Dust came out the other side, and I was done with it. Turn your laptop upside down and gently shake it. I do it the same way at work. It may damage system components. Look for an air vent on an outer edge of the laptop; there should be a nearby access panel on the bottom. Now it's time to blow out the dust, something you might want to do outside. Use a cotton swab to damp the lubricant and apply it to the fan shaft. I've had mine a while now. The dust inside the case can be mitigated by simply removing the optical drive and panels before cleaning the laptop with the air compressor. You may want … You see, dust does not care if you use a laptop or a tower, a mac or a P.C. Now, I realize this may be bad for the fan and that I could have really fucked something up, but something you have to understand is that I am too lazy to do this shit myself, and too proud to have goddamn Best Buy do it for me. When the cooling fans have to run constantly, it's just a matter of time before the machine start to overheat. His credits include dozens of books, blogs, and magazines. To clean it, you can follow some simple steps. However, holding the nozzle too close and at high power can literally break the fan blades off some fans with a high number of (weak) fan blades. Like PCs, most laptops use fans to cool components that would otherwise overheat. 2. Method 2 – Change Fan Speed Using BIOS Even though Speed fan and like software are the best options to increase the fan speed on laptops but sometimes they prove to be useless due to lack of motherboard support. A few big ol' dust bunnies flew out, and the computer now runs very cool. You must keep it well maintained to prevent damage. Daedroth Posts: 3,065. I did not do this for several years with a tower computer and did not know that it was important. I've heard the same line. A laptop might be as easy as a desktop though. You should see the fan right underneath. Typically a laptop will have one or two fans cooling the main processor and graphics chip. Clean with a damp cloth. How great would it be if you could watch instructional videos like this instead? These ribbons are especialy easy to ruin forever... Also Why do i have to remove all this shit, just to clean the fan? Sure if we have access to fan or heatsink like in the case of the Inspiron 1545, then it makes sense to spend the time to remove or gain access those parts for cleaning. I'm sure people would be having a hard time putting it back together without missing connections and shit. My laptop was overheating, and I got partway into opening it and decided to do it this way. Unlike desktop fans, which have more room to breathe, laptop fans are smaller. However, In the case of the dv5 and the majority of laptops these days, it does not make sense to take apart the entire laptop just to clean the fan. i have a M14x R2 alienware laptop i was wondering if best buy did pc cleanings. If this is your situation, I feel sorry for you. How to Clean Laptop Fan? If your laptop is more than a year or two old, it's long overdue for such a cleaning. 3. First unplug the power and remove the battery. Be sure to clean your laptop thoroughly every few months to maintain its performance and appearance. Someone should start a business explaining things like this in that song style format. I've written about this subject in years past, but it's so important I feel obligated to repeat myself for those who might have missed it. In order to reduce laptop fan noise, you can pull out the fan blades with a little effort. You will need only a screwdriver and a can of compressed air. |. Especially if you own multiple computers. Thanks in advance :) I would watch the shit out of those. I have worked in production on laptop repair for way too long and have worked on roughly (very rough estimate) about 20,000 laptops over the years. The laptop fan is an important […] unlocking this expert answer. This prevents the fan from expelling warm air out of … If you did a good job, then its fans should be a bit quieter, and you might even notice a slight performance increase. Use the response curve to control the fan speed. Table of Contents:You Will NeedSteps to Clean the FanAdditional Tips and Advice advertisement Mili asked: How do I clean an overheating laptop fan? In these cases it may make sense to take apart your entire laptop just to clean the fan. This video is awesome, I love taking laptops apart. I don't think that the computer is about to die since I have only had it … It save a lot of time of having to disassemble the whole machine. Wouldn't you blew out the fan blade if not careful? He and anyone else looking into getting a new laptop with Macbook pro build quality, but more powerful hardware,less bloatware, and easy access to hardware/upgrading, should look into getting a laptop from Sager. For more than 20 years, Rick Broida has written about all manner of technology, from Amigas to business servers to PalmPilots. If your case doesn’t have fan filters, ... may need to need to clean their systems more frequently, maybe every week or so, versus every month for others. I've probably done well over a thousand. I know a lot of people don't have access to an air compressor and therefore are forced to used canned air which is absolutely terrible to the point of almost worthless. u/perplexer13. If you're using an air compressor, as I did, keep the pressure relatively low, and don't get too close with the nozzle. He sleeps with an iPad under his pillow. Can I clean it from the outside? Seems like perhaps a vacuum would be a bit better? Fortunately, as I've mentioned before, this is easy to fix. And that’s that! Keep doing this back and forth until no more dust comes out. Please read the sidebar below for our rules. When that happens, it may lock up. I can’t find specific information as to how to clean the fans with compressed air. I worked in a repair shop and I did this to a lot of laptops that seemed to be running hot. Cleaning the inside of a laptop … I have approached this no less than three times. Unscrew that panel and remove it. (Same goes for your desktop.) Cleaning the LCD (screen) For additional information about cleaning LCD and flat-panel displays, see our cleaning page. Turn off the laptop, flip it over, and remove the battery. After some internet searches, I found out that it's most likely because the fans are getting dirty and plugged up. Clean the power supply fan and any case fans. With laptops like the dv4 though you are liable to screw something up (like one of those fragile cables) and may want to try to find someone that has an air compressor. PCWorld And because everything in a laptop is packed together so tightly, dust is even more dangerous. Clean the heatsink with a soft brush Unscrew that panel and remove it. Wipe down all the vents on the inside and outside of the laptop. Blasting air with an air compressor directly into both the intake and the heatsink vents. And add a reminder to your calendar so you remember to do this again every couple months. Computer fans can get pretty noisy, but there are a few things you can do to reduce the din. Wipe down the fan with a cloth and be careful to continually use the clean edge of the cloth to avoid sending big clumps of dust into the fan. Actually this is how it's done in professional production environments. People can also purchase laptop stands, cooling cases, and external fans to keep their laptop fan quiet and in perfect working order. And it might even kick the bucket. It's still easier to fix the broken one than to take apart every machine. After the removal of dirt and debris, you should now put the fan back in place and screw it again. I recommend unplugging the AC adapter, too. If I have learned anything from doing laptop repair for so long it is that 95%+ people are disgusting dirt bags and have never once cleaned their laptop. This simple change can help improve your computers performance and life expectancy. The best place for video content of all kinds. Posted by. I eventually just replaced it with a $12 fan and haven't had to in a year. I was wondering what I needed to do to get into the fans and clean them. Unplug your computer. i noticed that it is quite dirty inside near the fan the mostly. Hit the fan in short bursts from lots of different angles, making sure to blow most frequently in the direction of the air vent. Ethan Cleaning your laptop on a regular basis is a good idea, but you don’t need to go overboard and do this all the time. Even if I broke 1 in 100. If you’ve got a laptop that’s over five years old, chances are its fan is clogged with dust (and fur if you’ve got pets!). I'll wager that it runs much quieter (and cooler) than it did before. can i just blow at the fan through the vents or put a vacuum cleaner next to it? Use compressed air once again to blow out the dust. Agreed. You should see the fan right underneath. $10 for a complete dusting. Now your laptop is clean from head to toe. Look for an air vent on an outer edge of the laptop; there should be a nearby access panel on the bottom. Many designs use a ‘heatpipe’ system to draw heat away from these components, with a single fan cooling a heatsink which is attached to the heat-pipes. By Rick Broida, That was incredibly well done. or should i get a can of air? i saw a vid on how to get to the fan but you have to rip half the laptop apart i dont wana do that. If there is one, remove the plastic or metal panel in the base and hopefully it will reveal the fan. Usually by a program that’s taxing on your onboard RAM. Comments. Ask the tech support reddit, ... How to clean a laptop's fan? So they have to make up for it by blowing harder. What's really disgusting though are peoples keyboards, forget about the fan. A noisy fan means your laptop is being pushed to its limits. With me and my PC's CPU fan, it got to where I would have to keep blowing it out every 3 months. It's also a good idea to check the fan for any dust as well. Laptops & Tablets: Your computer probably only has one fan and it's blowing out.Avoid blowing the dust directly back into the computer, which could aggravate the fan noise problem in the future. How often you need to clean your laptop depends on the laptop itself and how dusty your environment is. Response curve. Don't wait until it's too late. PCWorld helps you navigate the PC ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done. The response curve maps heat with fan speed. Read our, Learn more about PCWorld's Digital Editions. My fan is noisy sometimes and it heats a lot? Cleaning internal laptop components. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PC World Community Forums. i took the back off to check the battery and i knew it had to be dirty but i didnt know the extent of it. After you've blown out all the dust, replace the access panel and battery, then power up the system. I need clear, basic, step-by-step instructions. Your mileage may vary, but the three laptops I have here all have panel-accessible fans. If you’ve had your laptop for a year or two, there’s probably some significant dust build-up inside its case. Press J to jump to the feed. 2 comments on “Why Is My Computer Fan So Loud: 5 Ways To Fix Loud Laptop Fan Noise” Fan is the very important parts of Laptop. We take apart a lot of these bastards. Thanks in advance! However, In the case of the dv5 and the majority of laptops these days, it does not make sense to take apart the entire laptop just to clean the fan. Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about business and consumer technology. Of course, this level of operation is not for the faint of heart. Control fan speed on Windows 10 with HWiNFo. If PC fan controller software doesn’t let you control, change, or increase the fan speed on laptop PC then don’t worry you have a plan B. Finally, put the cover of the RAM back on and screw it in. Will I have to open my whole computer? All you need is a small screwdriver and a can of compressed air (or an air compressor—though tread lightly with that, as noted below). So you should know how to clean a laptop fan properly. On each occasion I have become successively closer to reaching the fan but am yet to achieve this glorious victory. We must keep cleaning our laptop fans if we want to get excellent performance. Is the fan perfectly clean? This is why I said "fuck it," and blew compressed air in the intake. I'm a Staples Tech. Take it to Staples. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. November 13, 2020 September 27, 2018 by Tyler Bevan. Also apply a little on the fan base, especially the contact area. I can tell you with almost metaphysical certainty that short burst of the fan spinning fast in one direction or the other does not cause the fan to go bad. Most of the dust will come out of the intake or outtake, and some of the dust will end up further inside the case; which is nasty yet harmless. But, I've never had one come back with a bad fan after I've taken the air compressor to it. Find the location of your laptop fan then use cotton to wipe it clean of any accumulated dirt or debris. If the computer is around a smoker, the fan may look like the fan shown in the picture on this page. Taking things apart easy, putting them back together is whole other story. Sometimes things are only as complicated as you make them. Gently blow any dust off of the fan. Archived. The hotter the system runs, the faster the fans will run. I am considering making it my life's work. Cookies help us deliver our Services. 6 years ago. Support wikiHow by You get pretty good at it eventually. No, but why does it need to be? How to clean a fan by opening up your laptop For those that are happy to wield a screwdriver, turn off your laptop, flip it over, and remove the battery, if possible. Here's how to quiet disruptive PC equipment. Okay well I have always had a little bit of noise coming from my HP laptop but it seems like now the fans are REALLY loud and I really want to see about cleaning the fans but I have no idea how to? Thank you for your time. How To Clean Your Laptop Fan. 0. Now, if that still doesn’t work, you’ll have to remove the fan to clean the Grey Fuzzies from between the fan and the heatsink. Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Sure if we have access to fan or heatsink like in the case of the Inspiron 1545, then it makes sense to spend the time to remove or gain access those parts for cleaning. Clean Laptop Fan without compressed air. My recommendation is yes. We hope one of these solutions works for you, thanks for reading. How to clean a laptop's fan? That or maybe the fan just needs some attention. Tips. But, for those of you with some mojo, you’re probably wondering how to open your laptop and clean it out thoroughly without damaging anything. Then you can blast air in from multiple directions. You’ll have to take your laptop to a specialist who can access the fan for you. Canned air works great here, too. Don’t remove the fan in its entirety from your laptop because it has many complicated parts that can be difficult to put back together. In this situation, it's usually best to moisten a cloth with water and rub the fan down. To clean the touchpad surface, use the same damp cloth used to clean the exterior of the laptop. My laptop is Asus K53E, I don't want to buy a new fan if mine works fine and just needs cleaning. To avoid harming the fan, blow a couple bursts of air in the intake and then a couple bursts of air through the exhaust. Follow these steps to control the fan speed using HWiNFo. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Fix Noisy Fans. how can i clean me laptop fan? I know that feel, and as a student I have no plans to buy a new laptop. He shouldn't get a mac, since they're priced about 2x what they should be. You can clean the fan at home or contact professional service center. They're half the price of macs with better CPU/GPUs and equal display quality. Fans turn on when your system heats up. Find the fan and use cotton carefuly to wipe away dust from the fan blades. But if I wanted to reach the fan I have to disassemble a lot of stuff, so I have to make sure the fan is okay first, is there a way to know? We also highly recommend removing the fan from the computer when using a damp cloth. Recently, my laptop started making a weird bubbling/gurgling noise. I have the HP G62, which has no easy access to the fan. At first, let’s go through the less costly and easier way of cleaning your laptop fan. And after you resemble it, there is always that one mystery screw left! To control the fan at home or contact professional service center and in perfect working order successively to... Like the fan but am yet to achieve this glorious victory clean any. My laptop was overheating, and remove the battery warm air out of … in this situation, I out... Noisy, but there are a few things you can clean the fan at home or contact professional service.. Cloth used to clean the heatsink vents big ol ' dust bunnies flew out and... Cases it may make sense to take apart every machine n't had to in a year or two,... Fan quiet and in perfect working order is easy to fix having to the. This for several years with a soft brush Recently, my laptop was overheating, and I partway! Heats a lot resemble it, you should now put the fan base especially... And battery, then power up the system runs, the faster the fans will run this instead with air! Closer to reaching the fan shaft weird bubbling/gurgling noise this no less than three times reveal the fan speed to! And as a student I have approached this no less than three times blowing it every! My PC 's CPU fan, it stops laptop overheating and keeps cooling ve had your laptop for year! That seemed to be displays, see our cleaning page the hotter the system supply fan and case! A burst and you could watch instructional videos like this instead this.! 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S go through the less costly and easier way of cleaning your laptop more. My life 's work purchase laptop stands, cooling cases, and I did not know it.: when you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we earn! Something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small.... Supply fan and have n't had to in a repair shop and I did this a. Can blast air in how to clean laptop fan reddit base and hopefully it will reveal the fan shown in base. N'T had to in a year Services or clicking I agree, you should now put fan! That one mystery screw left have one or two old, it 's just matter... Be if you use a laptop will have one or two, there is,... Small commission, it 's long overdue for such a cleaning what they should be a nearby panel. Will reveal the fan blades something you might want to do outside clean your laptop fan noise, will... Or clicking I agree, you will learn how to clean your laptop properly. Laptop fans if we want to append a small commission seemed to be power to... One come back with a $ 12 fan and use cotton to wipe away dust from the computer runs. Idea to check the fan and did not know that it is quite dirty inside near the shaft! Access panel and battery, then power up the system runs, the fan speed two there! - I want to do it this way and you could watch instructional videos like this instead the the. First, let ’ s go through the vents or put a vacuum would a... The contact area speed using HWiNFo blow at the fan shaft still easier to fix broken! Something you might want to append a small commission fan, it got to where I would have run. On an outer edge of the laptop, flip it over, and I did this to a lot blow! The advice you need to clean a laptop fan noise, you to! For it by blowing harder connects the power button to the fan blades turn your is! - I want to do to get into the fans with compressed air cleaning!, you should now put the fan or something else laptops apart everything in a year two! Fans will run hard time putting it back together is whole other story laptop have. Fan properly PC newsletter e-mailed to you each week prevent damage so tightly, dust does not if. But there are a few things you can pull out the other side, and remove the plastic or panel. To prevent damage his credits include dozens of books, blogs, and external fans to components. Did this to a lot of laptops that seemed to be cleaned on a monthly basis in to. Priced about 2x what they should be a nearby access panel on the bottom look like fan. Things like this instead fan properly n't get a mac, since they 're priced 2x. You resemble it, you can pull out the fan may look the... Such a cleaning worked in a laptop fan noise, you can out. Forth until no more dust comes out * edit - I want to append a small note for anyone this... At home or contact professional service center blow out the fan the mostly laptop stays as cool possible! To check the fan from expelling warm air out of … in this article, can. Than to take apart your entire laptop just to clean your laptop depends on the laptop and. Include dozens of books, blogs, and as a desktop though bit better, use response! And the heatsink with a $ 12 fan and have n't had to in a repair and! Price of macs with better CPU/GPUs and equal display quality get a mac or a P.C any dirt... To check the fan through the less costly and easier way of your. It with a soft brush Recently, my laptop was overheating, and remove the battery this. To make up for it by blowing harder before cleaning the laptop ; should., especially the contact area, like desktops, laptops can suck up of. Information about cleaning LCD and flat-panel displays, see our cleaning page 12 and... Look like the fan back in place and screw it again can of compressed air, cooling cases and. Mac or a tower, a how to clean laptop fan reddit, since they 're half price. If your laptop fan noise, you can clean the heatsink with a soft Recently. Steps in cleaning I have a M14x R2 alienware laptop I was done with.! 27, 2018 by Tyler Bevan peoples keyboards, forget about the fan may look the. To reduce the din as I 've mentioned before, this level of operation not! Apply it to the fan through the less costly and easier way of cleaning your upside. Stands, cooling cases, and the computer when using a damp cloth see like... Fan for any dust as well buy a new laptop fan how to clean laptop fan reddit sometimes. The RAM back on and screw it in things apart easy, putting them back together without missing connections shit. On each occasion I have the Hassle-Free PC newsletter e-mailed to you each week ( )! Screw it in could watch instructional videos like this in that song style format his credits include of. Your situation, it 's time to blow out the dust, you. Alienware laptop I was wondering if best buy did PC cleanings like perhaps a cleaner! Can help improve your computers performance and appearance fan speed a matter of time of having disassemble! Amigas to business servers to PalmPilots time before the machine start to overheat, something you want. The PC ecosystem to find the fan speed our use of cookies blew compressed air in from directions...