Cleaning your system on a somewhat regular basis can easily help extend the life of components and reduce noise.

The blades of the fan, as well as the walls of the fan’s frame, can grab hold of dust which creates a thin film that can eventually grow in thickness. As it does, the fan’s performance and more than likely the noise produced by the fan will increase. In addition, as the fan motor has to work harder to overcome the extra load and resistance created by the all of the dust, the life of the fan can be expected to be cut short. A healthy blast of canned air will knock a good deal of this dust and debris away, and if the fans are running while the blast is administered, they will hopefully eject all the dust out of the case. If not, it should settle to the bottom of the case, and a cloth can be used to wipe it clean.

In addition to coating the fans, dust can also cover the fan grills. Keeping these clear will allow the maximum airflow for efficiently cooling the components, as well as cutting down on noise created by the air trying to flow past a restricted opening.

Overheating power supplies can be a major cause of system instability and failure, but it seems like they receive the least attention when it comes to preventive maintenance. A good blast of air through the fan openings and vents on the side can help keep this critical component operating well.

A can of air won’t take care of all of your computer maintenance needs but it is an important and easy step that all users can take. A can of air is well worth the price to help maintain the large investment you have in your computer.