If you’re reading this because your machine is on fire right now, evacuate immediately.
Activate any nearby fire alarms and contact emergency services.
Why Would a Computer Catch Fire?
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There’s a ton of energy going into and coming out of the typical PC these days.
If a computer is connected to a power source that experiences a sudden surge or spike in voltage.
In that case, this can cause the computer’s internal components to become damaged and potentially catch fire.
A product everyone should have but hope to never use. This Class ABC home fire extinguisher won’t take up much space, and you don’t need a rocket scientist to operate it. Keep it in your computer room just in case.
Defective components, such as a faulty power supply or motherboard, can also cause result in ignition.
Good old user error is another common culprit.
In that case, this can damage components and potentially cause a fire.
This leads to hot spots, melting, and potential ignition.
Related:Can a Short Circuit Damage a Hard Drive?
Short circuits can also cause fires.
This can overheat electrical components and potentially cause a fire.
Some of the other causes mentioned above may have had a short circuit as their starting point.
However, you must exercise good judgment as to whether the fire can be dealt with in this way.
A product everyone should have but hope to never use.
Keep it in your box room just in case.
It is important to avoid using a water-based fire extinguisher on a computer fire.
It’s one of the main reasons airlines limit the battery size that’s allowed on a plane.
Still, when a battery does go wrong, it can be quite scary!
So the typical Class ABC multipurpose fire extinguisher should be suitable.
They are classified this way because of the liquid electrolyte in the battery.
To paraphrase a certain famous fire safety mascot: Only it’s possible for you to prevent computer fires!
To that end here are a few good general tips.
Keep your box clean and dust-free.
Keep your system well-ventilated!
Proper ventilation is crucial for preventing your setup from overheating and catching fire.
Power surges can cause damage to your gear and potentially cause it to catch fire.
To prevent this, use a surge protector to protect your rig from sudden spikes in voltage.
Only use quality cabling and components!
Avoid no-name computer parts if possible since these are most likely to play fast and loose with safety standards.
Avoid opening your setup unless you know what you’re doing.
Touching the internal components without proper knowledge can cause damage and cause your box to catch fire.
Fire Bad!
might spontaneously combust, but it’s more than a theoretical possibility.
Related:7 Tips to Keep Your Tech From Overheating
