The power supply fan is one of the most crucial components inside the PSU, and if it stops working, then it can lead to different PC problems.
When the Power Supply fan fails, the PSU overheats, which can shut down the PC, damage capacitors inside PSU, and in the worst case scenarios can melt the PSU or damage other components.
However, whether these things will happen with your Power Supply that depends on the PSU quality.
Some PSUs have over-temperature protection; therefore, they keep running without any major damage, but it’s always better to take prevention so the PSU fan won’t fail.
I will explain the symptoms of PSU fan failure, the reasons behind the PSU fan failure, and what you can do if the PSU fan fails in the text below.
Causes Of PSU Fan Faliure
There are several reasons why ower Supply fan fails, and here I have mentioned some of those reasons-
- Dust: The accumulation of dust on the Power Supply fan slow down its speed; therefore, the fan stops working, and heat increases inside the PSU which leads the PSU fan to fail.
- Age: Like any other components, the small components inside PSU can wear out over time, such as the capacitors, fan, etc.
- Power Surging: The term power surging refers to the fluctuations of voltage in an electrical circuit. There are several reasons why these power surges occur, which can damage the PSU components like the PSU fan.
- Unbranded PSU: The unbranded PSU doesnt have any protections like- Over current, undercurrent, or short-circuit protections, and because of this, the fan inside the PSU often gets damaged.
Symptoms Of PSU Fan Faliure
There are a couple of signs that could be an indication that the Power Supply fan failed, such as-
PSU Fan Not Spinning: The PSU fan dissipates the heat from the Power Supply, and when there is heat inside PSU, the fan starts to spin; if the fan is not spinning, then it means that the fan is not functioning.
However, in some cases, the PSU fan may not function properly due to other reasons like dust or any loose connection that can bring this same issue.
So, check the fan to see whether there is any dust or any loose connection of the PSU fan connector.
Excessive Heat:
If the PSU becomes too hot, then it indicates that the fan is not functioning correctly.
Whether there is too much heat generated inside PSU can only be checked by touching it physically.
Loud Noise:
The fan inside the PSU spins quietly, and if you hear a loud noise from the PSU or any unusual noise from the PSU, it could indicate that your PSU fan has failed.
Burning Smells:
In some cases, you will get burning smells inside from the PSU; this situation occurs when the Power Supply overheats too much.
If you are getting burning smells from the PSU, that means the fan is not working.
Random Shut Down:
If your PC is randomly shut down, there could be different reasons behind this, like CPU fan failure or hardware damage.
However, a failed PSU fan could also lead your PC to unexpected shutdown or system instability.
BSoD Issue:
BSOD stands for Blue Screen of Death, and this is a problem where your entire computer screen becomes blue.
A failed power supply fan can cause this problem, although there could be other reasons too.
Ways Of Preventing PSU Fan Failure
There are a couple of ways through which we can prevent the Power Supply fan failure-
Clean The PSU:
To prevent the PSU fan failure, it’s essential to clean the PSU regularly so that any dust doesnt accumulate inside it.
Avoid Power Surging:
As explained earlier, Power Surging can disfunction the PSU fan, and therefore it’s essential to avoid this power surging issue.
To avoid this power surging issue, you can use a surge protector or a UPS to avoid any electrical problems.
Buy PSU from a reputed Brand:
Good Power Supplies come with all the necessary protections, such as over-current protection, power surge protection, and short circuit protection.
These protections will expand the lifespan of your PSU fan, so always buy a PSU from a reputed brand like- Corsair, Seasonic, Cooler Master, etc.
I have reviewed the Corsair PSU brand so you can read- Whether Corsair PSUs are good or bad.
Should You Replace The PSU Fan Or The PSU?
If you identified that your PSU fan is not working properly, then there are two options in front of you- replacing the fan or replacing the entire PSU.
If you have any prior experience opening the PSU cabinet, I would recommend replacing the PSU fan instead of the PSU because this will save a lot of money.
To replace the PSU fan, you need to buy the proper size fan with a good RPM that is compatible with your Power Supply.
To know which PSU fan will be compatible with your PSU and how you can replace the fan, you can read this- PSU fan replacement guide.
Final Thoughts
If the Power Supply fan fails, it can reduce the lifespan of your PSU and other components, and in some cases, there can also be a risk of fire.
That’s why it’s advised to take prevention so that the PSU fan doesnt fail, and if anyhow it fails, then you need to replace it with a new fan.
If you have any other queries, you can ask me in the comment; I will get back to you.
