PC filters

provide dust and dirt protection for your PC. A common concern is that adding a PC filter to the air inlet port near the power supply fan may do little to block dust and dirt from entering the PC unit. Modern computers have numerous internal fans and it is often difficult to differentiate between the air intake and exhaust. Some fans are used just to circulate internal air. A simple PC filter on the back of a PC is not going to work for the long term.

A better computer filter solution is a breathable filter bag that covers all inlet and outlet ports of a PC unit but still allows the PC to be cooled properly. Modern dust bag style PC filters protect the entire unit from dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants. They are designed in sizes to fit virtually any PC tower

and can be installed in minutes. They work well for monitors and printers as well, both of which need clean filtered air to assure proper long-term operation.

PC filters used on PC cabinets also do a poor job protecting your PC from dust and dirt in the long term. One reason is because most PC cabinets require you to open the cabinet to operate the PC, for instance to access the CDROM or floppy drive. These operational requirements allow dust to bypass the cabinet dust filter and traps dust within the cabinet which eventually will be pulled inside the PC and settle there. This is completely preventable with a dust bag filter.

It is very important to use PC filters with PCs used in industrial or workshop situations where dust and dirt can very rapidly reduce the reliability and lifespan of the computer. Critical PC components exposed to dust and dirt, particularly the mechanical components like the keyboard and CD-ROM, can cease to operate without warning, and plenty times cannot be repaired once damaged by these contaminants. Studies have shown that dust can fill an unprotected PC in a matter of days, causing it to overheat. And metal dust can cause circuits to short-out, introducing a new workshop hazard. Dust bag style PC filters can do a lot to minimize these issues.

A problem with traditional PC filters is that they are designed to capture dust without impacting the amount of air that can enter the PC for cooling. This requires them to be fairly porous with the filter designed to capture the larger dust particles and allowing smaller dust particles and other airborne particles to pass through. The small surface area of the standard filter means that the air-flow must be relatively high, and dust and dirt collecting in the filter material quickly begins to restrict air flow. This problem is ameliorated by the larger dust bag, where the huge surface area of the filter translates into lower air-flow speed and a larger area to spread the dust trying to enter the PC. The lower air-flow speed also ensures less dust makes it through the filter material, especially smaller dust particles and airborne mists.

A small investment in a dust filter can provide a level of insurance that your PC equipment will operate when you need it to, and not wear out before its time. Dust bag style PC filters are especially effective, easy to install and inexpensive.