Why Your Laptop Overheats (And the 15-Minute Fix)
Overheating kills laptops slowly. Here is exactly what causes it, how to check your temps, and the cheap fix that adds years of life.
The Silent Killer
Overheating does not just make your laptop uncomfortable to use -- it is actively shortening its lifespan. Every degree above safe operating temps degrades components faster. The fix is usually simple and cheap.
What Temperature Is Too Hot?
Most people have no idea their laptop is overheating until it starts shutting down randomly. Here is what the numbers actually mean:
You can check your temps for free using HWMonitor (Windows) or Intel Power Gadget (Mac). If you are seeing high temps at idle, your laptop needs attention.
The 3 Causes (and What They Cost to Fix)
Cause #1: Dust Buildup (80% of cases)
Dust clogs the cooling fans and heatsink fins, blocking airflow. This is the most common cause by far. A thorough internal cleaning at our shop costs about $49 and solves the problem immediately. We see laptops drop 20-30 degrees after a proper cleaning. This is part of our general repair services.
Cause #2: Dried Thermal Paste (15% of cases)
The thermal compound between your CPU and heatsink dries out after 3-4 years. When it does, heat cannot transfer efficiently to the cooling system. Replacing thermal paste costs about $59-79 and requires partial disassembly -- something we do daily. Combined with cleaning, this is the most effective treatment for an aging laptop.
Cause #3: Fan Failure (5% of cases)
If your fan is making grinding noises, running constantly at full speed, or not spinning at all, it needs replacement. Fan replacements run $49-89 depending on the model. Ignoring a failed fan leads to thermal damage that requires motherboard-level repair -- much more expensive.
Can I Fix Overheating Myself?
You can try compressed air through the vents, but this often just pushes dust deeper into the machine. For a proper fix, the laptop needs to be opened, the fan and heatsink removed, cleaned thoroughly, and reassembled with fresh thermal paste. If you are not comfortable doing this, bring it in -- we do it while you wait.
Preventing Future Overheating
Use your laptop on hard, flat surfaces (not beds or couches that block vents). Consider a laptop cooling pad for heavy use. Have it professionally cleaned every 12-18 months, especially if you have pets. And if your laptop is also getting slow alongside the overheating, an SSD upgrade reduces the workload on your CPU, which means less heat generation. Read our SSD upgrade guide for more on that.
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Laptop running hot?
Bring it in for a cleaning and thermal checkup. Usually done within an hour.
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Book an appointment or call us at (775) 203-1085