I recommend keeping your PC directly off the floor, especially the carpet. Proper airflow is vital to the survival of your computer. Placing your PC directly on the carpet will limit airflow, constricting and suffocating it.
Hello, my name is Ty Robinson. I have been in the professional IT field for years and in my personal life for even longer. It is imperative to create a safe environment for your PC for it to thrive and garner the best performance it is capable of, as well as keep all of your components safe.
Putting your PC directly against the carpet does not provide enough airflow to your computer.
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The Danger of Putting Your PC on the Carpet
Airflow in your PC is vital to its survival, and limiting this in any way can have detrimental effects. Putting your PC directly on the carpet is an ill-informed idea because it not only restricts airflow but also because the carpet can transfer static electricity, which can short out your hardware.
Limited Airflow
Your PC needs a balance of intake fans and outtake fans to create an environment in which cold air is pulled in to help regulate the temperature while the hot air produced by your hardware blows out the back of the case.
Constricting the airflow of this can suffocate the device. It will not be able to expel hot air correctly, causing your hardware to overheat and hindering performance. It could even lead to damage.
Placing your PC directly on your carpet will not give ample room for the PSU exhaust to expel enough heat, trapping it and throwing off the balance of airflow.
Electrostatic Mishaps
While not entirely likely, carpet is known for harboring electrostatic charges when friction occurs. Like when you shock someone or something after walking around with socks on carpeted flooring.
Electronics are in danger of being damaged when exposed to electrostatic discharge, which could destroy hardware components.
This is especially dangerous when building, fixing, or upgrading components within your computer. You should do this in an electrically safe environment and keep it far from your carpet.
Best Environments to Keep Your PC in
Ensuring your PC has a safe, cool environment is imperative to running its best and being out of harm’s way. Computers are no small purchase, so losing one due to something very avoidable could be disheartening and put a dent in your bank account.
Proper and ample ventilation to promote good airflow within your computer is a great way to ensure its safety. Making sure each hardware component is properly cooled and working its best. As stated before, A balance of intake and outtake fans is required to achieve this.
Keep your PC Elevated, there are a few options on how to do this, and it is entirely up to your preference, but keeping it directly off the floor is an excellent practice in creating a good environment for your PC.
- Desk: Put your computer up on your desk next to your monitors! Your desk might even have a small section dedicated to your PC.
- 10 inches of space: Make sure you have roughly 10 inches of space between your wall and your PC to give it enough room to intake cool air and push out that hot air without it being blocked by curtains or bouncing from a wall back to the fan.
- Computer Tower Stand: If there is no space on your desk, you can put your Computer on the floor, as long as you don’t put it directly on the floor. A computer tower stand provides ample room between the floor and exhaust fans.
Final Thoughts
You should not put your PC on your carpet for a few reasons, but overall, you want your device to be as safe as possible and work at its best. Putting your PC directly on the carpet will hinder these things and possibly be dangerous for your computer.
