Loop maintenance question

[x509]

This is my first post in this forum, but I have spent lots of time in several other boards reading up on watercooling. I think I know what components to use (mostly ) but I'm really concerned about maintenance.

I've read a bunch of posts where they say that you need to do a complete teardown of your loop at least once a year, soak/clean all the blocks, clean or replace the tubing, etc. And be prepared to spend several days doing all this work. My question: Is this really necessary? Obviously I don't have any hands-on experience or I probably wouldn't be asking this question.

I tend to do major system upgrades (not just disk drive adds) about every three years, and it would be nice if this kind of maintenance is really necessary only every three years or so.

Thanks.

 

[aigomorla]

This is my first post in this forum, but I have spent lots of time in several other boards reading up on watercooling. I think I know what components to use (mostly ) but I'm really concerned about maintenance.

I've read a bunch of posts where they say that you need to do a complete teardown of your loop at least once a year, soak/clean all the blocks, clean or replace the tubing, etc. And be prepared to spend several days doing all this work. My question: Is this really necessary? Obviously I don't have any hands-on experience or I probably wouldn't be asking this question.

I tend to do major system upgrades (not just disk drive adds) about every three years, and it would be nice if this kind of maintenance is really necessary only every three years or so.

Thanks.

Depends on how bad your loop has gotten over the year.

If you use aftermarket coolants, like a premix, you will have to tear down your system after 1 year to clean it out.

They leave dye residue on your blocks, and the etyhl glycol can solidify into gelly like substances and clog stuff.

If you use straight distilled with silver, and follow a routine flush. The only time u need to do a complete tear down would be in a rebuild, or if you wanted new tubing.

i will flush my system at least once every 4-6mo.

Flushing means drain your reservoir and filling it back up.
Ie.. replacing only the water to new.

BTW welcome to AT.

 

[x509]

Depends on how bad your loop has gotten over the year.

If you use aftermarket coolants, like a premix, you will have to tear down your system after 1 year to clean it out.

Aigomorla:

Thanks for the quick and complete response.

I'm not interested in "bling," so I would use distilled water with some recommended add-in like petranuke (spelling?). Heck, in my next system, I'm not going to pay extra for the side-window for my case. Specifically, I will probably get a Corsair 700D, rather than an 800D, because only the latter has a window.

They leave dye residue on your blocks, and the etyhl glycol can solidify into gelly like substances and clog stuff.

I'm aware of the fact that colored dyes can and will break down and leave gunk on your blocks.

If you use straight distilled with silver, and follow a routine flush. The only time u need to do a complete tear down would be in a rebuild, or if you wanted new tubing.

i will flush my system at least once every 4-6mo.

Flushing means drain your reservoir and filling it back up.
Ie.. replacing only the water to new.

BTW welcome to AT.

A routine flush every 6 months, I can deal with that. That sounds easy (if you mean that tipping over a large case, including 5-6 hard drives, lots of fans, etc., is "easy" ]

I really appreciate this perspective. I didn't like the idea of 2-3 days of downtime every year.

 

[aigomorla]

Aigomorla:

Thanks for the quick and complete response.

I'm not interested in "bling," so I would use distilled water with some recommended add-in like petranuke (spelling?). Heck, in my next system, I'm not going to pay extra for the side-window for my case. Specifically, I will probably get a Corsair 700D, rather than an 800D, because only the latter has a window.

I'm aware of the fact that colored dyes can and will break down and leave gunk on your blocks.


A routine flush every 6 months, I can deal with that. That sounds easy (if you mean that tipping over a large case, including 5-6 hard drives, lots of fans, etc., is "easy" ]

I really appreciate this perspective. I didn't like the idea of 2-3 days of downtime every year.

i highly recommend u throw in some silver.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/sikibyia.html
its reusable.. and its a set and forget feature.

And yes a flush just means u empty out your res and put in new coolant.
If you have a drain, it makes the flush even faster.

But i wont reloop or take apart unless something is broken, or unless i need to redue the entire loop.

 

[x509]

i highly recommend u throw in some silver.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/sikibyia.html
its reusable.. and its a set and forget feature.

And yes a flush just means u empty out your res and put in new coolant.
If you have a drain, it makes the flush even faster.

But i wont reloop or take apart unless something is broken, or unless i need to redue the entire loop.

Much, much appreciated. Before this, I was honestly on the fence about water-cooling. Seemed nice, but almost not worth the effort. Now I feel that I should definitely go for it.:biggrin: