Can you use canned air or compressor to clean your PC?

Yes, you can use canned air, it makes short work of what can be a messy task. Your PC is like a vacuum cleaner sucking in air and blowing it out all the time it is running. The dust and dirt in the air gets pulled through the PC depositing some of that material inside the machine. The accumulated dust, carpet fiber, hair and such can damage fans over time and can interfere with system cooling.

We routinely blow out desktop computers and even laptops. We use a compressor set to 100 PSI, the normal setting for many small compressors. By comparison, a blast from a can of compressed air, often called an air duster, is up to 145 PSI. No need to be afraid of using a compressor but, of course, you CAN DO DAMAGE if you are not cautious. The force of the air blast will move anything that is loose and could unplug a cable but that is about all.

We blow out machines by keeping the nozzle 10″ from the surfaces. We may also wipe down the surfaces and boards with dry or barely dampened paper towel to remove the film of dust often left behind.

While you are at it, use canned air or a compressor to test your fans. Blowing through the fan should cause it to spin but when you take the air away the fan should continue to spin for sometime. If it stops when you remove the air the fan is binding and needs replaced.

Need help with a dirty machine? Give us a call. or make an appointment.

More information on cleaning your PC from F1 Systems

Sanitizing your PC and equipment