If you own a laptop, there’s no doubt that you’ve had the experience of turning it on and getting a whiff of something burning. This is usually followed by an ominous popping sound as your computer shuts down to protect itself from damage.
Whether or not this has happened to you, the chances are good that other people have experienced the same problem with their laptops. In this article, we will troubleshoot some possible causes for your computer overheating so that you can enjoy using it without worrying about any additional troubleshooting in the future.
How to Troubleshoot a Burning Odor in Your Laptop: Avoid Overheating Problems Permanently
A laptop overheating may give off an unpleasant smell, which could be due to dust or hair clogging up the machine vent.
It’s a cause of concern not only because it is smelly but also because very high temperatures will damage any internal components that cannot withstand high temperatures. Among these are hard drives or GPUs.
The biggest culprits are usually heat sinks. These direct the heat away from the device. They’re cooled by fans in laptops with one fan on each side near the back of the machine.
The heat sinks are located on the CPU or GPU (depending on which piece of hardware generates the most heat). Over time, heat sinks accumulate dust and lint, which can cause the laptop to overheat.
A laptop overheating may emit a burning smell because it has been overworked and needs to be turned off for cooling while troubleshooting.
If a burning smell is coming from your laptop, then you have an overheating issue. Continuing to use your laptop in its current state can permanently damage the hard drive and internal components.
Why Does My Laptop Smell Like Its Burning?
In order to fix the problem, it’s important to understand the probable causes. There are several possible factors that led up to the overheating issue.
- The leading cause of an overheated laptop starts with dust, clogging up vents near where the excess heat escapes from inside the device. You might also notice an accumulation of dirt in these areas and hair accumulating from pets and humans.
- Malfunctioning cooling fans or other internal components can contribute to overheating and result in an unpleasant burning smell as well as reduced performance.
- If you have pets, especially furry ones, they may be the source of your troubles.
If you need to troubleshoot an overheating laptop, it is best to follow a process that includes shutting down the computer and waiting for 15 minutes before restarting. This will give your machine time to cool off without damaging any internal components or causing unnecessary wear and tear.
Troubleshoot A Laptop Smell: Heat, Dust, AC Adapter
Tip 1: If the air vents are blocked, then try unclogging them.
You can unclog them with a can of compressed air or a vacuum cleaner. Suppose the computer smells like something is burning.
In that case, this usually means that your computer is overheating. If you continue to use your laptop with a recurring problem, you can permanently damage the hard drive and internal components.
Check the air vents near where the excess heat escapes from inside it. You may need to vacuum these areas and soak up any dirt accumulation and hair through pets or family members using your computer.
Tip 2: Check if your fans have failed.
Open up your laptop, remove any visible obstructions with a can of compressed air. Then close it back up again to see if this helps clear out the area around the vents.
Repeat this process. as needed, as dust is constantly building up in these areas. It may take several times before successfully removing all the dirt.
Tip 3: Check the heat sink.
If your laptop cooling system still isn’t functioning properly, you may need to replace the heat sink or fan with a new one. Be sure to consult an expert for more information on troubleshooting if you’re not sure how to do it.
Tip 4: Check for power source problems
Check power supply units. If needed, replace them with new ones. Also, know where your adapter should be plugged in before troubleshooting an overheating issue.
If the problem persists, troubleshoot your power supply unit. If it’s damaged or improperly connected, this can lead to overheating. Check if your laptop cooling system still isn’t functioning properly, then troubleshoot the power supply unit.
Remember that dirt accumulation will cause heat issues and make it more difficult for air to flow into the machine, so be sure not to block any of its vents with a blanket or other objects. Check for obstructions near heat vent areas on the machine or power supply unit troubleshooting.
Tip 5: Check for a failing or overloaded adapter.
If you continue to use your computer with a recurring overheating problem, over time, the internal components of your laptop can be permanently damaged.
To troubleshoot an overheating issue: Check if the battery and AC adapters are functioning properly by plugging into a wall socket or adapter with the tester. The light should turn green. If it doesn’t, it may indicate a failing or overloaded adapter.
To troubleshoot the problem, turn the computer off and unplug it from any power source. Plug the laptop into a functional wall socket or AC adaptors with a tester to know if the adapter is functioning properly.
Turn off your laptop and unplug it from any power source, with the tester plugged into a wall socket or AC adapter to help you know if the adapter is functioning properly.
Tip 6: Consult an expert.
If the smell persists, this may indicate a deeper problem, and it is best to consult with an expert for troubleshooting. If you continue to use your laptop with a recurring overheating problem over time, your laptop’s internal components can be permanently damaged.
Troubleshooting a burning smell from a laptop is not an easy task. Learning to do the basics will save you a lot of money, and ultimately, protect your laptop from further damage, like how first aid saves lives. When the issue persists, it’s time to contact a professional.
