If it's still running hot on a hard desk with the vents clear, that's a real fault, and it's almost always one of two things: dust built up inside blocking airflow, or the thermal paste between the processor and its heatsink has dried out and stopped doing its job.
What's actually happening inside
Every laptop's cooling system relies on a thin layer of thermal paste to transfer heat from the processor to the heatsink, which the fan then cools with airflow. Paste dries out over years and stops conducting heat properly. At the same time, the fan pulls in dust along with air, and that dust cakes onto the heatsink fins, blocking the airflow that's supposed to carry heat away. Both problems build up slowly, which is why it's rarely sudden, more a gradual creep toward the fan running louder and the shutdowns starting.
What it costs
$90 to $150 for a full clean and repaste, parts and labour together. Gaming laptops and machines with more complex cooling systems sit toward the top of that range.
How the service works
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Open it up
Full disassembly to reach the heatsink and fan properly, not just a surface clean.
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Clean out the dust
Compressed air and careful cleaning of the fan blades and heatsink fins.
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Fresh thermal paste
Old paste removed completely and replaced properly, not applied over the top.
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Test under load
We run it hard before handing it back, to confirm temperatures actually improved.
Common questions
How often should a laptop actually need this?
Roughly every three to five years for most laptops, more often for gaming laptops or anything run hard for long periods. Dust and dried paste build up gradually, so it's rarely a sudden failure.
Will a laptop cooling pad fix it?
A cooling pad can help if the vents are simply on a soft surface. If the fan is already loud and constant on a hard desk, a pad won't fix dust buildup or dried thermal paste underneath.
Is it safe to keep using it while it's overheating?
Short term, yes, since most laptops shut themselves down before real damage occurs. Long term, running hot constantly does shorten the life of the battery and other components.
How long does a clean and repaste take?
Usually same day. It's a straightforward job once the laptop is open.