Computers are a big part of most of our lives these days. How many times have you been inconvenienced by a company who says, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you right now, the computer is down. You can help keep your computer system running smoothly by performing preventive maintenance. In this article, you will learn about ways to protect your hardware and later we will cover software maintenance.

Enemy number one: dirt is not your computer’s friend. Neither is heat (enemy number two) and one usually accompanies the other. Dust clogs up the cpu fan, making it stop turning. If you hear “music box” sounds coming from your computer, it may be your cpu fan singing to alert you of this. A non-working fan will cause the cpu to overheat. This can lead to errors and corrupted data and eventually burn out the cpu chip altogether. Other chips in the system can accumulate dirt and overheat as well. It is recommended you keep them all clean including the cpu, case fan, even some video cards have fans on them now. Use a handheld brush or vacuum cleaner attachment with brushes to gently remove the dirt. Do not allow the metal part of the wand to touch anything inside the system. Be sure to unplug the system first, and don’t knock anything loose but the dirt while you are cleaning.

It is a good idea to try to keep your system from becoming dirty rather than waiting on the dirt to cake up then trying to remove it. Don’t locate the system near an entrance door if possible. That is where most dirt enters your home. If you smoke or love to burn scented candles, the particles in the air act as contaminants as well. Some people have a smoke-free room just for the computer. Ventless gas heaters, kerosene heaters, and wood stoves also expel small particles, which can settle inside your computer. Air purifiers will help tremendously. Pet dander is yet another problem so vacuum the house frequently. Since a small amount of dust is bound to get through your protective measures, you’ll want to clean floppy drives, CD ROM drives and tape backup drives with proper cleaning media. Every so often, blow the dust out of your keyboard with compressed air. Turn it upside down and lightly tap the back to loosen any particles trapped under the keys. To keep your monitor clean, vacuum air vents with a sweeper. While you’re at it, remember to keep the screen clean and adjust the brightness to the proper level to help save your eyesight. Use tuner cleaner on any manual adjustment knobs. Consider a dust cover to protect your system when it is not in use. Some keyboard covers are flexible and allow you to use the system while they are in place.

Dampness is not good for electronics (and is enemy number three). In the summer months, air conditioning helps keep moisture out of the air, reduces heat (obviously), as well as filtering particulates. Aerosol sprays should not be used close to your system. Do not locate your computer in the laundry room! Moisture in the air from the washer and dryer exist there, as well as lint from the dryer, not to mention the vibrations from the spin cycle (yes, we have actually seen a damaged hard drive from a washing machine bumping against the wall opposite the computer). Do not set drinks near the keyboard, especially carbonated beverages. The acid in the soda will render a circuit board useless very quickly. Just as changing the oil on your car will make it last longer, you can help extend the life of your computer by using these tips.