Dust does not follow one South African calendar. A PC beside an open window in a dry inland area, gravel road or building site can load its filters in weeks. A closed room with good housekeeping may go much longer. Start with a two-to-three-week inspection and let the filter tell you the real interval.

Quick Answer

Check removable intake filters every two to three weeks for the first two months. Hold them against a light, photograph the result and note fan noise during the same game. Clean when a visible layer forms or airflow changes. Extend the interval only after several checks remain clear.

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Your Room Sets the Schedule

Dry wind, open windows, pets, smoking, cooking residue and nearby construction all change what enters the case. Floor placement exposes a bottom intake to settled dirt and carpet fibres.

Season can change the answer. Compare the filter after a windy week with a calm period. There is no honest national rule that every inland home needs the same cleaning date.

Separate Filter Checks From Full Cleaning

A filter inspection takes minutes and prevents much of the build-up. A full internal clean should follow what you see on heatsinks, fan blades and the case floor, not happen every two weeks by default.

If filters load fast while internals stay clean, the case is doing its job. Clean the filters and preserve the positive-pressure layout. If dust enters through gaps, inspect fan direction and missing filters.

Improve the PC's Position

Raise the tower from carpet on a stable stand. Leave clearance around front and bottom intakes. Moving it away from an open doorway or renovation dust can stretch the interval more than adding another fan.

Clean the desk and floor around the system. Do not drape a cover over a running or sleeping PC. Any cover must come off before power-on.

Use the Temperature Trend

Run the same warm game every few checks. Record CPU and GPU temperature and fan speed. A filter can restrict airflow before it looks dramatic, while a hotter room can also raise the result.

If a clean filter does not restore the baseline, inspect internal dust and fan operation. Do not keep shortening the schedule for a fault elsewhere.

FAQ

Is a two-week check necessary everywhere in SA?

No. It is a useful starting point for dusty rooms. Extend it when repeated inspections stay clear.

Does a gravel road or construction site matter?

Yes. Open windows and foot traffic can bring more fine dust into the room and onto the intake filters.

Does frequent filter cleaning mean frequent repasting?

No. Filter care and thermal-interface service are separate. Repaste from measured cooling decline, not dust-calendar anxiety.

Inspect filters every two to three weeks at first, record what the room deposits and build the cleaning schedule from that local evidence.