Many know that computers, not just desktops, can accumulate dust that can shorten the life of the internal components. When these bunnies move in they can put a coating on parts within the machine that are designed to dispurse heat. The coating of dust acts like insulation keeping the heat in and also preventing fans from lowering the temperature of these important parts that generate their own heat as they function. Most systems have a automatic shutoff that will shut down the computer before heat can cause serious damage, but running hot will often shorten the life of components. This could cause the machine to crash, operate slowly, or in some cases stop working all together.
Maintaining a bunny free zone is easy and I will give you some money saving tips. First I need to remind you that one of your computers’ worst enemys is static electricity. Do not touch internal components unless you are properly grounded. Also it is a best practice to have no power connected to the machine while removing any internal parts.
The main expense for dust removal is compressed air. These canisters can become quite pricey if you want to bust bunnies on the regular. To use less air you can use a vacum either with the hose or the crevice attachment. You can directly touch fans and metal heat sinks with the attachments, but hover over the electronic components to avoid transferring a static charge. This can eliminate many of the heftier bunnies that will waste your air. Then you can finish off with a lite dusting with the air to flush out the residue or buildup that the vaccum couldn’t remove. Don’t forget the outside of the case. There is usually some sort of intake on the front bottom of the case that could have a constricted air flow.
So the next time you crack open your case and notice a small civilization of fuzzy critters forming, don’t wait. Get out the Hoover and go to town!

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