Most people realize that in order for their computer to run at its best it is important to keep it clean of viruses and other unwanted programs. However, it is equally important to keep your computer clean physically as well as its software.

To properly clean the inside of your tower (the main box that everything plugs into), Mobiz recommends using a can of compressed air to blow out any dust or pet dander that has built up inside your computer's case. The most important parts to blow out are your computer's fans. Sometimes these fans will get so clogged with dust that they can't keep your computer cool and when this happens it can cause parts in your computer to fail.

We recommend blowing your computer out once a month, although even if you only blow it out once or twice a year it is still a good idea. For people who smoke indoors by their computer it is even more important to blow your computer out as the tar from cigarette smoke will stick to those fans and clog them up even faster.

Aside from virus problems and other issues with programs, computers also have several parts that tend to fail more often than others. These parts fail for a number of reasons, sometimes because of a power surge or sometimes just from normal use. Much like a part in your car may fail after time, so do parts in a computer.

The two most common parts we see fail are the hard drive and the power supply. The power supply is what gives power to your whole computer so when this fails your computer won't even turn on. Many times we can install a new power supply and your computer will turn back on as if nothing happened. If your hard drive fails it is not so easy, however.

Your computers hard drive is where all your important data is saved. Pictures, programs, music and anything else you have on your computer is on the hard drive and if your hard drive fails you could potentially lose everything you have saved. This is why backing up your data is so important.

These two repairs are just the more common ones we see, but taking care of your computer by blowing it out with compressed air regularly can help to prevent these problems from happening.

It is normal for your computer to make some noise while it is powered on. There are a number of fans inside it that keep it cool and produce a soft hum. This soft hum is a good thing, it means your computer has air blowing through it and it won't overheat.

These fans do have a limited lifespan and after a few years of operation they can wear out. Usually the first sign of this is increased noise from your tower. If you notice a new noise coming from your computer you may want to have it checked out. Fans are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace, but if you ignore a dying fan and it stops spinning altogether you could be facing a much more serious problem than just a dead fan.

Occasionally, a failing hard drive (a part inside the computer) will make clicking noises also. However, if your hard drive is failing you will know it before you hear it, as your computer will stop working.