Noises are one sign that a computer may be experiencing issues. Computer fans are a component that can make noises, sometimes during normal operation but sometimes in unusual ways.
PC Laptops is happy to help clients with their computer repair and laptop repair needs. What is the normal role of a computer fan and what causes a fan to become louder than usual? These are the ones that require only minor tweaks or fixes, as well as those that may need to be replaced or repaired.
Role of the Computer Fan
Let’s first look at what fans do in a computer. They serve a simple purpose: To cool down various components, even those that are susceptible to heat during normal operation. This is done by capturing air from the environment and allowing it to flow through your computer.
The fan circulates air around and away from any computer components that are susceptible to heat, like the CPU. This is particularly important for laptops as heat can damage sensitive internal components if the laptop overheats. However, it is equally important for desktops. The computer may overheat, causing problems in the future.
Most computers will have a fan that operates loud enough to be heard by the user. This is usually a low whirring sound or hum. If the noise becomes unusually loud or if it is being replaced by other sounds that sound more jagged you will need to fix it. We will be discussing some possible causes in the next sections.
Contaminants found inside
Sometimes, noise from the computer fan can be caused by contaminants such as dirt and dust. These contaminants can build up over time on fan blades, especially if they are in a dirty or dusty environment. They can cause fan failure if they are not removed.
If contaminants are found on your computer fan they can cause problems with the fan’s ability to circulate air and even cause blade warping. You might hear your computer rattling inside if the fan is louder than normal.
This is often a problem you can solve by using compressed air to spray around your computer fan. You can also use canned air to accomplish this task if you don’t have compressed air. These can be purchased at most computer retailers.
This cleaning may be more difficult for smaller laptops. Most cases you’ll need to open the laptop and remove the fan. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, bring your machine to one of our laptop repair specialists.
Improper Airflow
Other situations could indicate that your fan is not distributing enough air to your computer. There could be more than one fan in your computer. If any of them are having problems, it could affect the computer’s ability to function properly.
A general increase in noise from the entire computer is often the first sign that you may be experiencing this problem. The noise could sound like it’s coming from the inside of the computer, or it could be hot to your touch if you are using a laptop.
Sometimes, especially for laptops, you can simply move the machine off of your lap or any other surface that blocks airflow to fix the problem. If the airflow is blocked for a prolonged period of time, such as by a blanket or pillow, it can cause serious problems, including overheating and hardware failure.
This issue may be apparent if you contact your local computer repair shop.
Too Many Software Programs
The most common reason fans become too loud when using computers is because the device tries to do too many things at once. Operating systems can be quite demanding, especially for laptops which have fewer components and are more complex than desktop computers.
This can be caused by too many programs running at once on your computer, or in the background. Sometimes, the problem may be caused by a faulty program installed that is trying too many things at once. This can lead to your CPU overheating.
This is a simple problem to fix! It is easy to reduce the number tasks that your computer is currently performing. Close all open applications until the fan stops blaring.
Need a new fan?
If none of the areas discussed here are applicable to your problem, you may need to replace your computer’s fan. Although it might seem complicated, most people can just walk into a store to pick up a replacement fan.
If you don’t feel confident performing this task, you can bring your machine to our computer repair experts, who will take care of it.