Desktop placed on thick carpet suffocating power supply intake
Placing a computer case directly on thick carpet blocks the bottom-facing air intake, trapping heat and burning out the power supply.
Internal desktop parts run on harmless 12V DC voltage and cannot shock you. Simply unplug the wall power cable first, then touch the unpainted metal case frame to ground static electricity.
Common Symptoms & Tells
- Case bottom is excessively hot
- Power supply fan makes strained whirring sound
- Random PC reboots under gaming load
Interactive Fix Checklist
0 of 4 steps completedElevate the PC off the carpet
Place a rigid wooden board, computer riser stand, or ceramic tile underneath the PC feet to provide at least 1-2 inches of clear clearance below the bottom intake.
Remove and wash bottom PSU dust filter
Pull out the sliding mesh filter at the bottom rear of the case and wash out carpet fibers and accumulated dust.
Flip PSU orientation if carpet placement is unavoidable (Safety First)
If you must place the PC on carpet and lack a riser, first power off the PC, switch off the (O), disconnect the AC power cord, and hold the chassis power button for 15 seconds to discharge residual capacitor energy. Then carefully unscrew and reinstall the with its intake fan facing upward into the chassis to pull air from within the case.
Inspect PSU bottom intake fan with a flashlight
Ensure carpet fibers have not wrapped around the fan motor axle.
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