To cool his computer more effectively, a user hangs the radiator of his water cooling system out of the window. Parts of the community fear that his system might be damaged by incoming moisture.
Powerful PC systems require effective cooling to dissipate their high operating temperatures. Some users utilize water cooling in their computers for this purpose. When configured correctly, depending on the situation, it can achieve lower temperatures compared to a standard air cooling.
For one user, using water cooling was not enough. For this reason, he laid part of his water cooling system out of the window to take advantage of the low outside temperatures. Parts of the community consider this a bad idea due to the impending moisture in his system.
Moisture in a PC can become a serious problem
What did the tinkerer do? User Hux2448 shared a photo on Reddit with the community that sparked considerable discussion. The picture shows the radiator of a water cooling system that has been extended out of a window along with the fan.
The user did not add any extra security for the radiator. The whole construction is only supported by the power cables of the fans and the two hoses of the water circuit, which lead back into the house to the computer. He does not provide technical details about the actual PC.
Why is this considered a bad idea? Some users on Reddit believe that moisture could enter the PC. Their main argument is the different temperatures inside the house and outside where part of the water cooling system is located.
They argue that this way, condensation would form on the hoses of the water cooling system inside the PC. If this water then drips onto the hardware, it could cause a short circuit and thus damage the computer.
How realistic is this scenario? The conditions for water to condense in the computer are definitely present. A good example of this is a beverage bottle taken out of the refrigerator and then placed on a table in a warm room.
After a short time, condensation forms on the surface because the bottle is initially much colder than the room air. The warm room air cools at the surface of the bottle. This cooled air can hold less moisture and releases water molecules, which collect and become visible as condensate.
If the bottle is left out in the room for a longer period instead of being returned to the refrigerator, it will slowly warm up. Its temperature will approach that of the room, condensation will decrease and eventually stop altogether.
What does this mean for the PC? Cold air from outside enhances heat dissipation through the radiator, which is exposed to cooler outside temperatures. This way, the coolant in the radiator is cooled down more than usual and gets circulated back into the building through the hose system to the internal part of the water cooling in the computer.
The liquid cooled down by the outside air in the hose also lowers its temperature. It is questionable whether the surface of the hose will get cold enough for condensation to actually occur. The generally higher temperatures present in a computer, which are generally above room temperature, contradict this possibility.
At an air temperature of 22 degrees and a humidity level of 70%, water molecules will begin to condense in the air if the air temperature is lowered to 16.3 degrees (via luftdicht.de). If the hose in the water cooling system reaches these values, moisture in the computer cannot be ruled out.
How can you protect yourself from this? If you cannot directly influence the temperatures or they need to remain this low, there are ways to catch or prevent the condensation.
One solution would be to wrap the affected hoses with felt strips, as installers do on a larger scale with pipes in buildings. The felt absorbs any condensation that occurs and gradually releases it back to the air.
Another option would be insulating covers that are placed over the actual hoses of the water cooling system. However, this is more complicated than the felt method, and if not sealed airtight, condensation can still form and leak out at the ends.
A water cooling system can be a good addition to your gaming PC as long as there is no risk of moisture from condensation, as in the case above. An engineer did not place his water cooling system outside for lower temperatures, but designed it completely himself: Engineer builds his gaming PC into a desk, taking a whole year – The community is impressed
