As the days go by, an intruder sneaks into all your electronic devices, causing breakdowns and sometimes even fires. Act before it is too late, especially since this element is very easy to eliminate.
Computers, televisions, game consoles, Internet boxes, hi-fi amplifiers… All these beautiful high-tech devices that now populate our homes have one thing in common: they don’t like heat. More precisely, it is the electronic components they contain which do not appreciate high temperatures. Because the hotter it is, the more difficult it is for the electric current that passes through them, which harms their functioning. And the worst part is that the components themselves emit heat when they work! This is why they must be kept in an environment at a reasonable temperature, and if possible controlled.
And in the absence of real air conditioning, as is the case in rooms specially designed to accommodate electronic equipment operating permanently, they are equipped with various cooling devices, with fans or, at a minimum, ventilation ensuring natural ventilation. This is why they are all equipped with various slots allowing both to introduce fresh air and to evacuate the heat they produce.
But these vents constitute so many doors to let in their worst enemy: dust. An invisible, pernicious enemy, naturally present everywhere, even in the cleanest places, and which, day after day, is deposited in their bowels, on their components and their cooling devices. As a result, over time, dust accumulates everywhere inside, forming a sticky film on circuits, fans and vents, and preventing air from circulating normally. And without being properly cooled by their essential ventilation, the components heat up.
Nothing too annoying at first, because the consequences are imperceptible. But as dust builds up and air has trouble circulating inside, things get worse. Components start to malfunction leading to performance drops and unexplained bugs. Then come untimely shutdowns, triggered by devices that detect abnormal temperatures… when they exist. But in many cases, components burn out when they overheat for too long, causing complete device failure. And in the worst situations, the dust surrounding them ignites due to the heat, causing a fire to start. An accident that happens more often than you think.
Fortunately, there is a very simple solution to avoid bugs, breakdowns and other disasters: clean regularly! It is enough to clean the vents of all these devices to remove the dust that obstructs them. A simple dry cloth most often does the trick for this task, especially on televisions, Internet boxes and amplifiers. But it is even more effective to vacuum the cracks, to attract the dust that has seeped inside.
Although it remains essential, this simple exterior cleaning is not sufficient on computers and game consoles. And to truly eliminate the dust that has settled on their precious components, they must be opened. Nothing too complicated, you generally just need to remove a few screws to dismantle a panel, after unplugging them from the electrical outlet, of course. This time, rather than a cloth, the best is to use a small dry brush or a can of compressed air, to loosen the stuck dust, taking care in particular to clean all the ventilation grilles and fan blades. , which are often very dirty. And finally, you have to vacuum again, using a fine nozzle if necessary, to remove all the residue.
Oddly enough, smartphones and tablets don’t need as much maintenance. These devices have very few openings allowing dust to enter. But a little vacuuming in their various sockets (USB, headphones, etc.) doesn’t hurt, especially to remove lint.