Ideally, a computer will go many years without needing physical maintenance, but that’s not always the case. Moving components like hard drives, printers and cooling fans can break down over time, like any mechanical parts, and when they do, they’ll need to be repaired or replaced. Batteries on laptops and tablets don’t last forever and need to be replaced over time when they cease to hold a charge. Other parts of a computer can fail as well, including microchips like the central processing unit, the graphics card or memory chips. Screens and monitors can deteriorate over time, and any part of a computer can be physically damaged by an accident or vandalism, necessitating repair or replacement.

Like anything else in a home or office, computers can also become dirty or dusty. Keyboards, mice and printers can be clogged with dust or grime, which can often be removed with a cotton swab or a puff of canned compressed air. Damage from spilled liquids can be harder to repair, though experts often know how to salvage as much as possible from a liquid-damaged machine. In general, hardware servicing is often best left to experts, although ambitious users can upgrade components in many computers including hard drives, memory and more.

Other parts of a computer can fail as well, including microchips like the central processing unit, the graphics card or memory chips. Screens and monitors can deteriorate over time, and any part of a computer can be physically damaged by an accident or vandalism, necessitating repair or replacement.

Smart phones can require maintenance as well, especially to repair broken screens and other physical damage. Some businesses provide service for computers and for phones that are in need of physical hardware service, including repair and maintenance.