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Resolved Question

Mounting PC dust. Will air purifiers help with smoke ?

Jan 18, 2015 10:04AM PST

I share a gaming PC with my roommate. Recently it started over heating and kept freezing after every restart. When we opened it we saw a lot of yellow glue like substance caked on the underside of the CPU and heat sink. It looked like cigarette smoke build up (both of us are smokers and smoke a lot inside our room). We cleaned it out using compressed air and rubbing alcohol but had to replace the fan and a lot of time and money was spent in the process.Now we are looking for ways to prevent smoke from entering the PC and on few forums people mentioned they use room air purifiers to prevent dust and smoke build up.My sister uses this small room air purifier for asthma and I am thinking of trying out the same. Maybe keep it running all the time next to the PC.

Will this suffice ? Is there any other easy DIY method to prevent smoke and dust from entering PC?

Discussion is locked

techknave has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Only if your Clair air purifier gets smoke first.
Jan 21, 2015 1:23PM PST

I think you didn't prior your concern in your question that's why people concern more about your pc case but indoor air in your room is what matters.

With the state of your heat sink, you can come easily to conclusion that no other than you guys smoking contributes to this problem. Air purifier is known for asthma and eliminating smoke so why not? Your sister's Clair is nice (I check the site and it has the testing video for smoke as well (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1djBOzppZmw).

Crucial thing is air flow circulation. If you smoke in front of PC and air purifier is hidden some corners then lol, no. But if you placed your Clair somewhere that would get smoke before your case inhale it, it would work.

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Yes Indoor air quality is a concern
Jan 22, 2015 3:06PM PST

I'm planning on keeping the air purifier and PC on an elevated platform close to the window at an angle where outside air first enters the air purifier before entering the PC. I have also watched the video which you mentioned. It was post that I gave this particular air purifier some thought. Prior to that I always presumed air purifiers are only meant for people with respiratory problems but the fact is its general indoor air quality which improves with air purifier usage.

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Don't you think the best solution is to give up smoking ?
Jan 25, 2015 3:07PM PST

Even I happen to use a Clair air purifier but purely for health reasons. Air purifiers may help in getting rid of the smoke but you should try and stop smoking indoors . Its no easy to quit but the least you can do is stop smoking inside your home.

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No more smoking in front of the PC
Jan 26, 2015 3:06PM PST

I cannot give up smoking altogether but I'm going to stop smoking in front of the PC. I just got new air filters for my casing. I ordered the TD1866 model since I felt it will be more powerful in comparison to the smaller one. I'll do this experiment and check how whether the PC still feels dusty or not after a prolonged use of the air purifier and air filter combination for a month or two.

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Answer
Such air purifier do exist, but not all...
Jan 18, 2015 2:47PM PST

can do that. But I suppose any filter would will do SOME collecting. The one that I am thinking of is a purifier which ionized the incoming air particles then an electrol/charged filter that collects the ionized air. Sorry I don't remember the name.

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Ionizers release ozone don't they ?
Jan 19, 2015 12:28PM PST

I'm not considering ionizers or air purifiers with ionizing action because when we were looking out for air purifiers for my sister we read online that ozone is a lung irritant and isn't advisable for people with respiratory problems so we opted for a small portable Clair BF2025 model. It's good for allergy and I was wondering maybe I could use it to get rid of smoke perhaps?

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Answer
think what it is doing to you
Jan 18, 2015 6:02PM PST

room air purifier will not stop it, may slow it down. a couple of things, 1. smoke rises, so if possible, place the computer closer to the floor. 2. maybe have a small desktop fan blowing across it to keep the smoke away from the computer. 3. to the extreme, you can get a small computer cabinet that have exhaust fans that are used in dusty or misty environments.

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No lecture here please, hehe.
Jan 19, 2015 12:58AM PST

I am pretty sure OP knows that but I found amazing OP worry more about the computer than the lung though. Maybe this discovery might be a good thing.

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Keeping computer close to floor ?
Jan 19, 2015 12:31PM PST

Don't you think it will attract more dust if I keep it closer to the floor? Desktop fans and air purifiers cost and with an air purifier I have the added advantage of getting rid of dust also.I have a very good casing for my PC but I find it difficult to believe that there was so much dust caked up everywhere .

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dust is better than tar
Jan 20, 2015 5:44AM PST

the computer is going to get dusty whether closer to the floor or in a cabinet. That is why you should regularly give it a good cleaning with a can of air.

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Answer
It's the tar found in
Jan 18, 2015 7:32PM PST

cigarette smoke that's coating your computer hardware. If you continue to smoke, plan on regular cleanings.

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Answer
thermal paste
Jan 19, 2015 3:32AM PST

Was this between the CPU and the HSF?

"we saw a lot of yellow glue like substance caked on the underside of the CPU and heat sink"

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Not thermal paste
Jan 19, 2015 12:34PM PST

I know about thermal paste it isn't that .Thermal paste is generally a pea sized amount but what I found is yellow sticky glue like consistency along with dust.

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Answer
May work
Jan 19, 2015 5:02AM PST

Having anything that cleans the air will help but to what degree. i suggest get the best you can afford and hope for the best. That said, better air cleaners or ionizer will do the job and if made for health reasons all the better. the more effort you put into it the better the results. The real answer, is "don't smoke" as you see the results. if it does that to your PC, what about your lungs the best air cleaner in the room. You figure it out...

tada -----Willy Happy

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Trying hard to quit but..
Jan 19, 2015 12:35PM PST

When it comes to quitting smoking its easier said than done. Factor in long working hours in front of PC, erratic eating habits and new found single status and you can picture yourself in my shoes bro.

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You need a reason you care about
Jan 19, 2015 1:15PM PST

I quit when I was 30-31, shortly after birth of first child. I didn't want her to grow up around it. Wife didn't smoke. Daughter became a star runner for her high school, as did her sister who came next. Neither are smokers to this day.

After she was born, it was winter, so I'd only smoke outside, which meant I really wanted to face the cold for a smoke or delayed it and smoked less.

You need a method

Mine was getting everything I used associated with smoking out of the house including ash trays. Next was keeping it from first place in my mind. That was done by 3 day fast with just water and some fruit juice. You think about food more than smoking. Afterwards I avoided foods or eating habits I associated with smoking, like that cup of coffee after the meal with the relaxing smoke, or for some might be glass of tea. I worked where many smoked, so couldn't get away from it completely, but the next year they outlawed smoking at the workplace too. A smoke free workplace helps one quit.

Substitution

Some use gum. I used glass of water each time I was strongly tempted. I don' t like just water by itself usually, but tea and coffee were my "smoking" drinks. Avoid bar and alcoholic drinks, especially if smoking allowed in it. Not always easy for a single person, easier for married. The association of water consumption with the smoking desire sort of dampened it down a lot. Crave one thing, get something else, craving becomes disappointment, eventually craving leaves, for most part. Extra bathroom visits, but helps wash the body out.

Recognize difference between physical craving and mental craving.

The physical actually leaves in a few weeks or couple months, it's the mental part that hangs in there a longer time. I actually think that's the worst part. If you can hold on long enough, second hand smoke actually begins to bother you more, objecting to it than most who never smoked. Try not to be an ex-smoker nazi about it though.

Avoid smokers.

It's like any addiction, avoid others who still use. It's not easy to see someone else pull out a cigarette, especially if it was your brand, watch them light it up, take that deep drag, let out a cloud of that beautiful white smoke and see that look of contentment, relaxation on their face, you can almost taste it, even before their smoke reaches you. It would be so easy.....to borrow.....just one.

I did keep a box of cigars at home, hav-a-tampa jewels or swisher sweets, just in case I gave in during some time of mental stress, nerves, to weakness. Waking up next day to that "left over taste" from a cigar, the dry throat, gives one new incentive to keep winning.

Thirty years later I keep winning and you can too.

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Very Inspiring
Jan 21, 2015 10:43AM PST

Your story is very inspiring. I know how hard it is to give up smoking and how much of will power it would have taken for you to stick to your no smoking agenda. I think the fact that you are a Dad would have had a small role to play as well because with it comes responsibility. It helps to a certain degree when you have a support system as well as a reason to quit smoking but I know it still takes a lot of effort on the part of the individual.

Like you rightly put it my itch to smoke is more mental craving than a physical one. As I'm typing this reply I feel like taking my coffee break . The combination of nicotine and caffeine just lures and ensnares me . There are times I feel I cannot function without smoking a cigarette.

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Habits
Jan 20, 2015 2:13AM PST

My suggestions wasn't meant to be a super-duper lifestyle change, but it should provide some insight in what your body is dealing with. If the PC is getting so covered what are your lungs like? Heck, you do what you want, but the pearly gates takes all comers, regardless of excuses. Wink

Now for that PC, it seems a regular cleaning cycle is required even when you have some air cleaner present to cover all bases. good luck

tada -----Willy Happy

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I'll probably have to clean the air filter as well
Jan 21, 2015 10:46AM PST

I guess using an air purifier helps with smoke but then like you said I'll have to put in place a regular cleaning cycle this time round not for the PC but the air purifier but I feel cleaning the air purifier is a lot easier as compared to cleaning the PC because I just need to remove the air filter and vacuum it. The job gets done in 5 minutes whereas cleaning the PC is such a tedious task on which I'd like to embark just twice in a year.

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Answer
I think you can go ahead with the Clair TD1866
Jan 20, 2015 4:55PM PST

The yellow sticky thing you found appears to be smoke residue which got into your PC. There is no substitute for cleaning the PC. Sounds like you'll have to clean your PC every three weeks if you want to save the components from failing from dust accumulation.

Just checked the room air purifier which you are considering. It looks good enough to get rid of smoke time . You can opt for the air purifier model Clair TD1866 . It looks better at eliminating smoke. You may have to place it close to the casing and make sure there is air circulation around it. Using a room air purifier alone will not solve the problem.

You'll have to stop smoking in front of the PC.

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I'm thinking on the same lines
Jan 21, 2015 10:50AM PST

My sister uses the smaller of the two but I think since I need to get rid of smoke as well I'll need to order the bigger one . I don't want a substitute for PC cleaning but just a way to prevent smoke from entering the PC and wrecking havoc. Getting hold of a room air purifier seems to be the only practical and easy solution to me at the moment.

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Maybe a fresh air input
Jan 22, 2015 7:44AM PST

direct to the computer where ONLY outside air enters it? Near a window? Reverse a fan, hook a collapsible tube like dryers have on them, to the back of fan, only fresh air goes in.

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This is exactly what air purifiers do right ?
Jan 22, 2015 2:43PM PST

I think the reverse fan and collapsible tube DIY method is good but if you took a look at my room you'll know what I'm talking about. We reside on the 22nd floor and there is no obstruction to our view. We have large windows and the residential area is quite dusty. So I guess I'll have to use an air purifier instead so that both smoke and dust is trapped before it sneaks into all my electronic equipment. I might have to clean the air purifier filters more often than not but it is an easy task so it shouldn't be a problem right?