Bringing the Heat

Although, we are experiencing a period of reprieve from the heat, if you can call 95 degrees a reprieve, it will return. Extreme heat can wreak havoc on a computer like a toddler with a pen works wreaks havoc on a bedroom wall, fast and consistently. There are a few measures that you can take to prevent the heat from dropping your computer for the count.
An obstructed airflow could cause you to experience computer problems in warm weather such as error messages, sudden shut downs, or even damage to the CPU. Airflow restriction probably sounds more like a medical problem than a computer problem, but poor ventilation is at the center of heat related computer problems. One of the primary sources of poor ventilation is the location of the computer. Many computer users’ place their computer under a computer desk that has a panel directly behind the computer. Placing a computer in desks like this, against the wall, or in corners all contribute to poor air circulation. Heat may be trapped by the wall and integrated with the heat produced by your computer. Situations such as this can make your computer overheat.
Another factor is the design of your computer. Most computers come with a fan on the CPU and another on the power supply. Both of these are necessary to have, but a case fan is also needed. Many users mistake the power supply fan for the case fan. The power supply fan is located on the rear of the computer and the case fan is usually located on the side of the computer. The case fan removes hot air from the inside of the computer while the other two fans only serve to cool the objects that they are attached to, the cpu and power supply respectively. If you have a mini tower then you may find that you do not have a case fan. This is due in large part to their design, and it is also due to their compact design that they retain more heat than a full tower.
Other environmental factors are smokers furry animals, and dust. Cigarette smoke can trap dust inside of your computer. The fur from house pets can also find its’ way into your computer. All of these items act as an insulator for heat. If you combine the natural heat created by a computer with the artificial insulation created by household elements, and the heat of the day, you have the makings of a computer failure.
Solving this problem can be a breeze or a vacuum to be more accurate. Remove the panels from your computer, after unplugging it of course, and vacuum the inside and all of the fans. Next, make sure that you have the swamp cooler or AC on while using, and place your computer where there is plenty of ventilation, but not near windows that are frequently opened. These things should keep your computer from getting hot from the heat, even a dry heat.