I accidentally burned a chopping board on my stove tonight, and my partner is worried that the smoke may have gotten into our $5,000 PC and caused damage. I aired it out right away and wiped it down with a microfiber cloth. It doesn't smell like smoke anymore, but I'm looking for some reassurance here! Is it possible for smoke to harm a computer like that?
5 Answers
I really wouldn’t worry about it unless there was massive smoke or soot. Smoke from cooking is unlikely to damage anything in your PC. What’s the issue you’re noticing now?
Unless your PC was surrounded by a lot of smoke, it shouldn’t have any damage. Maybe some dust buildup, but that’s about it. Just check if it’s still running properly.
Check the fans and make sure nothing is stuck in there. A little exposure to smoke won’t hurt it. The real risk is consistent smoking over time, which can cause buildup, but one incident like this? Should be fine.
Honestly, unless the inside of your PC looks caked in soot or something wild, I wouldn’t stress. Wiping it down was probably more than needed, but you did right by airing it out. Just keep an eye on it!
I smoke near my computer every day, and it’s still fine! As long as there wasn’t a huge fire, your PC should be okay. It might just have some dust buildup over time, but it’s probably nothing serious.
Right? It sounds like an overreaction to me.
Well, the temperatures went up about 20 degrees. Is that bad?