What causes a laptop to run hot
Nine times out of ten, it comes down to one of three things: dust clogging the vents and fan, a fan that is wearing out and can't spin fast enough, or the thermal paste between the processor and its cooling parts drying out over the years.
Laptops pull air in from underneath and push hot air out a vent, usually on the side or back. Dust and pet hair build up inside that path over time, especially in a home with carpet or pets, and eventually the laptop can't cool itself the way it was designed to.
Why it matters more than people think
A hot laptop is not just uncomfortable on your lap. Heat is one of the main things that shortens the life of a computer's internal parts. Left unchecked, it can lead to a laptop that shuts down randomly to protect itself, or in worse cases, permanent damage to the processor or graphics chip.
- Feels hot on the bottom or near the keyboard
- Fan runs loud and constant, even for simple tasks
- Shuts off without warning, especially during video calls or streaming
- Runs noticeably slower once it warms up
How we diagnose and clean it
We open the laptop, clean out the dust from the fan and vents, check whether the fan itself is still healthy, and replace the thermal paste if it has dried out. We also check the internal temperatures with the laptop running to confirm the fix actually worked, not just guess and hope.
This is done in your home, and we will show you what we found before doing any work that requires opening the case.
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