How often should i flush my loop and replace my fluid?

[lancer420]

So, it's been roughly six months since i built my water cooled computer. Now, everyone says that you should clean out your loop once a year, but i have red fluid so i feel like i should do it sooner. So, when do you guys think i should do it? Should i go ahead and do it right now? Thanks!

 

[jossrik]

Depends on what you got in there. Colors and stuff, 1 year or sooner. Water and biocide, I've read of people running that mix without changing stuff for a couple years. Also depends on what your loop is made out of. Hard tubing you can go longer, soft tubing and some hard tubing can leech into your system. I've had my system for about 4 years, and I've changed out the coolant and tubes maybe 11 times cause I wasn't happy with the route or added more or better rads or sinks... Every year or less is just the rule of thumb, but ya.

 

[rubix_1011]

I think I've had my loop running about 2-2.5 years without flushing, but that is distilled water and anti-microbial solution.

Six months? You're probably OK unless you're seeing flocculation of solids floating and settling when the loop turns off.

 

[lancer420]

Depends on what you got in there. Colors and stuff, 1 year or sooner. Water and biocide, I've read of people running that mix without changing stuff for a couple years. Also depends on what your loop is made out of. Hard tubing you can go longer, soft tubing and some hard tubing can leech into your system. I've had my system for about 4 years, and I've changed out the coolant and tubes maybe 11 times cause I wasn't happy with the route or added more or better rads or sinks... Every year or less is just the rule of thumb, but ya.

I just have anti algae, a few drops of dish soap and obviously the red dye. So, i don't have a very complex setup.

 

[zebarjadi.raouf]

Generally recommended to do it every 6-12 months or when you see anything that was not there at first. Some have gone 2-3 years without changing it but I wouldn't gamble with it. Cleaning a gunked up loop is more troublesome than just flushing and replacing it.

 

[rubix_1011]

Shouldn't need the dish soap. That's one thing that bothers me...I have seen a lot of people in forums that do this and I think it comes from some YouTube build videos.

The bubbles are likely due to surface tension as a result of incomplete flushing of new components - oily residues from manufacturing.

Problem is, you wind up with some people that think adding 'a whole bunch' helps even better.

 

[lancer420]

Shouldn't need the dish soap. That's one thing that bothers me...I have seen a lot of people in forums that do this and I think it comes from some YouTube build videos.

The bubbles are likely due to surface tension as a result of incomplete flushing of new components - oily residues from manufacturing.

Problem is, you wind up with some people that think adding 'a whole bunch' helps even better.

I didn't add a lot, just two ore three drops. And i flushed the components until there was nothing left, and even a few more times after that just to be safe. And there was no bubbles, it was just a precaution.