[SOLVED] How to effectively deal with moisture?

[Fire-Wire]

Hi all, I don't know if this is the correct section for this question, but here's the thing:

I live in Brazil, and if that's not hot and humid enough, I also live very close to the beach - so add more humidity and a (literal) grain of salt in the air. Recently, I discovered droplets of water forming inside my PC case, particularly on the walls and around the fans (both case fans, gpu e cpu fans). I have been living here for 9 years and never have I seen that much water inside my case (which I tend to clean twice a year). Now, I have built a new PC entirely, and have been checking for humidity signs everyday. Within 3 weeks I have already spotted some very micro moisty spots around the internal rim of the CPU fan and back case fan.

I have some packets and little tubular cases of silica gel leftover from medicine and other stuff lying around. Is it of any real use in this situation?
Does turning the AC on aggravates the situation?
Does covering my case with a plastic case (to protect it from the salty air while turned off) aggravates the situation?
Is there anything I can do to stop my case from flooding and ending up with a water-busted component in my specific circunstance?

 

[DSzymborski]

Little packets designed for tiny bottles and packages does nothing for you.

You need a proper room dehumidifier.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Covering with plastic is likely to make it worse, since the heat in the case versus the moisture in the air is what is causing the condensation, and you'd just be trapping it in there.

If it is really that bad, try this. Forget those silica packets, and use rice. Seems odd, I know, putting rice inside your PC but I have seen another user who also lived near the beach in a humid area and it worked for them.

Get a bundle of cheesecloth or any kind of mesh material that has holes too small for the rice to fall out, and make a sachet about the size of half your fist. Put that in the bottom of the case or someplace where it doesn't interfere with anything, and change it every couple of weeks or when you see it begin to soften. It works, or so I've been told by another who had that same problem.

That's the easy, band aid fix. A proper room dehumidifier is the better solution, but air dryers are expensive. I know, I own one that I use for apartments that get flooded occasionally and nobody can afford one of those that doesn't already have conditioned air quality.

You might also consider simply creating a better air transfer environment in your case so that there is little heat accumulation to begin with.

 

[Fire-Wire]

Covering with plastic is likely to make it worse, since the heat in the case versus the moisture in the air is what is causing the condensation, and you'd just be trapping it in there.

I'd love to discard the plastic cover, but I fear that the salty air would just eat through everything as I dont keep it on 24/7. I'll try to build one of these rice contraptions, though, and see what is does. Thank you very very much.

 

[Darkbreeze]

By plastic cover, what are we talking about? Like, part of the case, or a sheet of plastic film?

As Dszymborski recommended, a dehumidifier might be a really good idea and while, as I said, a professional type air dryer is generally out of the question for most people, he's right in that there are mini-dehumidifiers that are intended for single room use that can make a difference.

Other things that can help are having plants in the room, as they take moisture from the air, as does a plant's soil. There are specific plants that do this well, and others that might have an opposite effect so some investigation first would be recommended.

Opening windows so that there is airflow, and not stagnant unmoving air. Might seem counterintuitive, but it's a common recommendation in humid regions.

Rice is generally cheap, and is a very good dehumidifier, so even keeping one or more coffee can or buckets filled with rice in the room might also be beneficial to removing some moisture in addition to a sachet in the bottom of the case.