A carpet might give a safe, cozy, and aesthetic look to your house, but what is safe for others might not be safe for all the things in your house. And especially if you are thinking of building a PC on the carpet, then you should ponder on the thought more. But don’t worry, it’s not only you, but many people often have this question: Can you build a PC on a carpet?
Keep on reading to find it is really safe to build a PC on the carpet and what steps you should follow to build your PC on the carpet safely.
Can You Build A PC On A Carpet?
It might be super easy to build your PC on a carpet, as you don’t have to stress about clearing the office for space, but generally, it’s not safe to build a PC on a carpet.
Doing so will suffocate the internal hardware of your PC and will lead to electric damage, which is unrepairable.
Additionally, carpets tend to build up and transfer static energy- which is the last thing you want your PC to intake since the electrostatic discharge can damage your components.
Another important thing to consider is that the carpet is home to many organisms and accumulates dust and debris that can stop the ventilation fans from working properly.
What Surface Is Safe To Build Your PC?
The best placement for your PC is on a desk. It will ensure the proper airflow intake and will keep it safe from static energy.
However, if you don’t have the option of a desk to place your PC, then you can place it on the carpet until and unless it is elevated from the surface.
The simplest option is to elevate it using a PC tower stand on the carpet. It will not only elevate the PC, but some PC towers come with extra-desk height storage, which gives you space to keep anything and everything, such as Eureka Ergonomic Height Adjustable Computer Tower Stand.
Besides making carpets safer with wood, you can also place your PC on floors like marble, hardwood, or even tile.
Some other surfaces on which you can place your PC are as follows:
- A nightstand
- A folding metal
- A clothes dresser
- A Desk
- A sturdy shelf on the wall
Can High Levels Of Dust Harm The Computer?
If you have placed your PC on the carpet, then every time you walk or create enough movement to activate the dust particles on the carpet, the particles rise slightly enough to get absorbed into the cooling system of your PC.
However, this dust in the short-term won’t do much harm. If your system has intake filters, then the dust will start settling on it, and if your system is without intake filters, then the dust will follow along the path of the airflow, and everything will be inside the case.
1. For Systems With Intake Filters
As time passes, the dust will start to settle in the fan’s filter. This will make the fan work harder to draw more air and more current from the power supply.
Then, it will draw air from other openings, bringing in more dust. In turn, it will become harder for the fan to draw in cool air, eventually increasing the temperature of inside the system.
And with this increased temperature, it will become harder to keep the components cool.
2. For Systems Without Intake Filters
If your system is without an intake filter, then the dust will start settling inside the PC. This will lead to the fan blowing more air from inside the system onto the CPU heatsink, making the CPU cooler worse.
And, when too much dust settles inside the computer, it will eventually overheat. That’s when corrosion will set in and will start eating the PCB and other components.
Linus Tech Tips For Safe PC Handling
It is crucial to keep yourself grounded while building a PC. The most common way people keep themselves grounded when handling electronics is by touching the computer case or the plugged-in power supply.
This is actually important because you never know how charged up you or the person who is helping you is.
Nowadays, many modern PC cases are constructed in a way that naturally grounds them to whatever surface you are on, but still, there is an old saying that goes like this- ‘Precaution is better than cure.’
Here are some tips by Linus Tech:
- Touch the case after installing every component
- Wear an anti-static wrist strap
- Touch a radiator or a gas pipe to keep yourself grounded
- Don’t rub your socks while you are building the PC
What Are The Other Ways To Ensure Safe PC Handling?
After doing a lot of research, we came across some other last-minute things that will help you keep yourself grounded while building your PC.
1. Turn Off The Power Supply But Keep It Plugged In
It’s a safe practice to turn off the power supply while keeping it plugged in. Doing this will keep it completely grounded.
You can also flip the power switch on the PSU when you first turn it on instead of using the power button on the case.
2. Place Your PC On a Hard Surface
Most people build their PC on desks or hard surfaces, but if you are a person building your PC on a carpet, then protect it by putting a wooden surface between the PC and the carpet.
3. Avoid Building Your PC On Any Floor
It will be a hassle to build your PC on a carpet, let alone a fluffy, soft carpet. You’ll lose a ton of screws and bolts if you try to build it this way.
For this reason, it is recommended to build your PC on a desk and save yourself from the hassle of finding bolts and screws on the carpet.
How To Build A PC Without Damaging Any Parts?
Building a PC is easier said than done. It requires you to follow every step carefully. So, if all the parts of your PC have arrived, don’t rush to build it yet if you don’t have any idea how and where to start.
Here’s a video showing how to build your PC in a safe way:
Conclusion
So, can you build a PC on the carpet?
The simple answer to this question is YES! You can build a PC on the carpet, but it’s not safe to either build it on the carpet or keep it directly on the carpet.
This is because carpets are well-known for their notorious feature of storing everything in them, which means dust, debris, your pet hair, pet danders, everything gets deeply ingrained inside the carpet, and when you vacuum it or simply just walk, it triggers those particles which settle inside the PC.
This, in turn, overheats the system, making it difficult for the system to cool the components.
For this reason, it is better to keep or assemble your PC on a hard surface like a desk, hardwood, or if on a carpet, then place it on PC power specially made to protect your PC from the static energy of the carpet.
FAQs
How do I prevent thermal throttling?
To ensure your PC isn’t thermal throttling, have a proper positive pressure configuration for the cooling setup. This means having 2 intake fans and 1 exhaust fan and always maintaining more air coming in than being pushed out.
Is it safe to put PC on the carpet?
It’s fine as long as the carpet is not thick and fluffy. Generally, you want the inner components of your PC to breathe to get through the bottom.
What other things do I need to be careful about?
The first and most important concern is the proper airflow in your PC, and the second one is the cable management or routing, especially if you have toddlers or pets.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!