Smoke Damage - help 2

Caligula · Joined: May 29, 2008 Posts: 2

I recently got a computer for free from a family friend whose house caught fire(they had to demolish it due to extensive damage). The computer works perfectly fine, but gives off the faint smell of smoke(same as the smell from the fireburnt house, just to a much lesser degree) when it runs(the smell is coming from air out of the exhaust/cooling fans). I've cleaned up the outside casing and much of the inside, the power supply unit(to a degree), and still the smell comes out. Is this computer scrap? What can I do to get this odor out?

A little more info, the computer was tucked away between a wall and desk on the floor, in a room a good distance from the origin of the fire. Several things in the room still had smoke damage, but mostly seemed to be a layering on top of items. The casing is pretty sweet, the computer wasn't used too much and I could use an extra computer to play around with, which is why I'm so reluctant to give up on this baby.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Don't have any info to give you on the smoke clean up but am surprised the HD isn't trashed as I been told in classes that even a puff of cigarette smoke can send them to computer heaven. - if it crashes, don't be surprised.

If I find anything on cleanup, I'll GLADLY pass it on... Very Happy

mommabear · Joined: Feb 20, 2003 Posts: 6325

My first instinct was to suggest that if you had room inside the case to put a small bowl of baking powder in it, but that wouldn't do. The air blowing around would probably blow the baking powder around inside. But hey, what about a couple of charcoal briquettes? Charcoal absorbs odors.

Or check with a paint store or hardware store. There might be something there that absorbs odors, like smoke. Something in a liquid form that you could just put a drop or two in the corners of the case; reapplying as needed.

Edit: You could also try just letting it run with the side cover off and letting the air do it's thing naturally. As long as the case is in a secure place it won't hurt anything. I've got the side off of mine now because summer is almost here and my office faces the west sun. So it gets pretty warm in here.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

Smoke smell is actually made up of small particles of smoke that linger.

I'd be blowing that rig out with High Pressure compressed air.
Just don't let a fan turn if you hit it with compressed air.
The blades can fly off and the bearings can be damaged.

Hard drives are protected against smoke. I'd not worry about that.
I might remove the logic board from the HD and wash it with Denatured Alcohol, if it looks dark and smokey.

Any ram chips, plug in cards, etc., can be washed with Denatured Alcohol to remove the smoke particles from them.
Smoke contains carbon particles, which are electrically conductive.

If it's still running, your lucky!

Cheers mate!
The Doctor Cool