How Long Liquid Coolers Last

How Long Do Liquid Coolers Last (Is Water CPU Cooling Durable)

If you are planning to build a new PC and you are looking at the prices for liquid coolers, you are bound to wonder, “how long do liquid coolers last?” to justify the cost to service ratio in your mind. That is a great way to think because liquid coolers can be expensive, and knowing how durable your water CPU cooling is, can help you make the best purchase possible.

Looking for a quick answer about the most durable liquid coolers on the market in? Here are our recommendations. You can go for the NZXT Kraken Z53 for the most durable water CPU cooling or the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2 for quality and durable CPU cooling on a budget.

How Long Do Liquid CPU Coolers Last?

On average liquid coolers are built to provide optimum cooling between 2-6 years even after working 24/7.

Liquid coolers are really well-engineered products that are built to last. However, with any electronic peripheral, they too have a lifespan beyond which they might not function at optimum levels and can even fail altogether.

For some, liquid coolers work way beyond their expected lifespan; for some, they fail even before the product has worked for a year.

The variety in the performance of liquid coolers can be because of various factors. 

So, how can you make a sound investment in a product that is built to last? First, we need to look at the problems that liquid coolers face; then, we can recommend the types of liquid coolers you can buy to avoid the discussed problems.

Types Of Problems That Come With Liquid Coolers

Dust

Dust is probably the number one problem for coolers, be it liquid or air coolers. If you are not mindful of the dust that accumulates on the radiator and the fans of your liquid cooler, it can seriously hamper its lifespan. If you are getting a liquid cooler, you must know a bit about the maintenance that is required to ensure the long lifespan of your cooler.

Dust can seep into the functioning parts of the cooler and cause an overall malfunction if it continues for a long time. To ensure the optimum lifespan of your cooler, you must do manual maintenance regularly, which means cleaning/dusting the radiator and fans. Just keep an eye on your fans and radiators to ensure dust is not accumulating on those parts.

Fluid Drying Up

Liquid coolers have a liquid coolant/fluid inside the system. The fluid acts as the coolant and the lubricant for the system, so when the fluid eventually dries up, the pump fails due to a lack of lubrication. This problem comes when a liquid cooler has been working for a very long time.

To tackle this problem, you need to buy a cooler that allows you to change the fluid inside the loop. There are AIOs that offer coolant replacing features, or you can buy/create a custom liquid cooling system where you can very easily change the coolant whenever you need it.

Generally, it is a good idea to change the fluid of your system based on how much you use your computer, the number of lights you have in your system, and general knowledge of the amount of heat generated by your other components.

On average, change the coolant every year or two years to ensure the long-term performance of your CPU liquid cooler.

Types Of Liquid Coolers That Can Help You Tackle The Problems Of Liquid Coolers

All-In-One Cooling Systems (AIO)

All-In-One Cooling Systems or AIOs are excellent against dust accumulation. You can very easily remove the dust from the AIOs even if they accumulate on the fans or radiator. The problem for AIOs is that they don’t always allow coolant replacement inside the system. 

This is because they are engineered in a way that nothing can get into the system and nothing can come out of the system. If they allow you to replace the coolant in every model, it might be so that the system might leak and damage your computer in a significant way.

Custom Water Cooling Systems

Custom cooling loops allow you to change your coolant without any problems whenever you need it. They are, however, harder to clean and can accumulate dust easily. Since the system can be opened, there is always a possibility for leakage if you are not careful with what you are doing.

Is Water CPU Cooling Durable

Liquid Cooling Durability FAQ

Do Liquid Coolers Go Bad?

No, liquid coolers don’t get bad generally. Liquid coolers fail due to malfunctions in the pump or the fan. If you keep your fan clean from dust and don’t overwork your liquid cooler. You can get excellent cooling performance for up to 7 years or more from a good liquid cooler such as the NZXT Kraken Z53 or the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2.

How Often Should You Replace Liquid Cooling?

Considering, you are referring to the liquid and not the entire system. You do not have to change the fluid inside a closed-loop system like an AIO. For custom liquid cooling systems, you have to change the liquid every year for optimum performance and durability of the cooler.

How Do I Know If My CPU Water Cooler Is Bad?

There are many ways you can check if your CPU water cooler is working or not. For starters, a cooler makes sound when they are working, so if your cooler is absolutely silent, it can be dead. You can also go to your BIOS settings and check if your cooler is working or not. If you hear gurgling or humming sounds from your water cooler, they can be dead or about to be dead.

Final Words On How Long Do CPU Water Coolers Last

Water Cooling your CPU is one of the most durable cooling options available. Liquid coolers last for a long time, but it does matter how you maintain them as well.

If you do your part maintaining the system, it will provide optimum cooling performance upwards of five years. It also helps if you have a quality and reliable liquid cooler such as the NZXT Kraken Z53 or the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2.