Maintaining Your Water-Cooled PC: A 12-Month Checklist

A well-built water loop is nearly maintenance-free — nearly. The one component that ages is the fluid. Biocide degrades, corrosion inhibitors deplete, and dye fades. Twelve months is the right interval for a full service: drain, clean, inspect, refill. Here is the checklist we use, and the one we recommend to every CGP owner.

Every 12 Months: Change the Coolant

Drain the loop completely, then flush it with deionized water until the outflow runs clear. Refill with fresh coolant — a quality premixed fluid or deionized water with biocide and corrosion inhibitor. Do not top up old coolant; the additives are spent, and topping up only dilutes what is left. If you use a transparent dye, expect to refresh it at the same interval.

Clean the Blocks

Disassemble the CPU and GPU blocks and clean the cold plates and micro-fins with a soft brush and warm water. Never use abrasives — they scratch the plate and destroy the surface that makes contact with the die. For acrylic parts, including distro plates, avoid alcohol-based cleaners: they cause crazing, the fine cracking that turns clear acrylic cloudy. A soft cloth and mild soap is all acrylic needs.

Inspect Fittings and O-Rings

While the loop is empty, check every fitting for signs of weeping — dried residue around the collar is the tell. Inspect O-rings for flattening or cracks and replace any that look compressed. Re-torque fittings gently; hardline fittings should be snug, not forced. This is also the moment to check the pump: listen for cavitation noise and confirm flow is steady.

When to Call CGP

Most owners can handle the 12-month service themselves with the right fluid and a little patience. But if the loop has not been serviced in over a year, if you see staining inside the blocks, or if temperatures have crept up, bring it to us. We service our own builds and any loop we can identify — contact us and we will take it from there. The shop carries the coolant, fittings, and O-rings you need for the DIY route.

The 12-Month Checklist

• Drain and flush the loop with deionized water.
• Refill with fresh coolant (premixed or water + biocide + inhibitor).
• Clean CPU and GPU block cold plates — soft brush, no abrasives.
• Wipe acrylic and distro plates — no alcohol.
• Inspect every fitting and O-ring; replace anything compressed.
• Check pump noise and flow; log coolant temperature under load.

Twelve months of quiet, cool operation is the reward for one afternoon of maintenance. Do it on schedule, and the loop will outlast every other component in the machine.