What to do if a laptop gets wet

Spilled water, wine, coffee, tea, or any other liquid on your laptop? Don’t panic! Although it’s a stressful situation, with a quick and proper response, it’s possible to minimize the damage to the laptop. Here, we will explain step by step how to act in case of liquid spills on your laptop.

1. Disconnect the laptop from the power and immediately remove the battery. If your laptop is connected to a power source when liquids are spilled on it, you must disconnect it from the power immediately and remove the battery (if possible). This step is crucial because liquids conduct electricity, and if the laptop remains connected to the power, an electrical short could occur, causing significant damage to internal components.

In laptops with an internal non-removable battery, it’s important not to attempt opening the laptop without professional experience, as incorrect handling could cause more serious damage. In such a case, it’s better to bring the laptop as quickly as possible to a professional lab like CompMaster, which specializes in repairing corrosion issues in laptops.

2. Turn the laptop over to allow liquids to flow out. After disconnecting the laptop from the power and removing the battery, turn the laptop over so that the spilled liquids can flow out as quickly as possible. You can place the laptop at an angle with the keyboard facing down to help the liquids drain. Do not shake the laptop forcefully to avoid spreading the liquids deeper into sensitive components.
3. Do not try to turn on the laptop! Many people try to turn on the laptop to check if it still works, but this is a critical mistake! Turning on the laptop when there are still liquids inside can cause irreversible damage to the internal electrical components. After liquid spills, the laptop must undergo a thorough cleaning in a professional lab before any attempt to turn it on again.
4. Bring the laptop to a lab for corrosion cleaning as soon as possible. Corrosion begins to form almost immediately after liquids come into contact with the laptop’s internal components, so it’s important to act quickly. The sooner you bring the laptop to a professional lab, the more you can prevent serious damage, save on repair costs, and avoid the need to replace expensive components like the motherboard or keyboard.

What not to do in case of liquid spills on a laptop

In cases of liquid spills, it’s also important to know what not to do in order to avoid further damage to the laptop:

1. Do not try to turn on the laptop before a thorough cleaning. Even if the laptop appears dry on the outside, there may still be liquids inside. Turning it on too early can cause a short circuit or worsen the existing damage. Cleaning in a lab will ensure that all liquids are removed and the damage is professionally addressed.
2. Do not attempt to clean the laptop yourself. Disassembling the laptop without proper experience can cause serious damage, such as breaking connectors, the casing, or causing a short circuit on the motherboard. The CompMaster lab team does not recommend disassembling the laptop and trying to clean it on your own, especially if you lack the necessary tools and knowledge.
3. Do not use a hair dryer to dry the laptop. Drying the laptop with a hair dryer can cause serious damage. The hot air may warp the casing, damage the keyboard, and melt sensitive components.
4. Do not try to put the laptop in rice. This method is common for phones, but with laptops, it not only doesn’t help, it can actually cause additional damage. Rice won’t be able to dry all the liquids inside the laptop, and in some cases, it may even damage the keyboard or get inside and interfere with sensitive components.
5. Do not attempt to open the laptop without experience. If your battery is non-removable and you lack professional knowledge in disassembling laptops, it’s important not to try opening the laptop yourself. Incorrect disassembly can cause further damage to the laptop, such as breaking components or damaging electrical circuits.

What happens if cleaning is not performed in time?

One of the most important reasons to act quickly after spilling liquids on a laptop is corrosion, a chemical reaction that occurs when liquids come into contact with electronic components. Corrosion can begin within hours and cause irreversible damage to the internal parts of the laptop, especially the motherboard. If the laptop is not cleaned in time, you may need to replace many expensive parts, leading to higher repair costs. A professional lab like CompMaster can treat corrosion in its early stages and prevent the damage from spreading. If you bring the laptop to the lab on the same day as the liquid spill, you can save yourself significant costs and avoid the need to buy a new laptop.

How much will it cost to repair a water-damaged laptop?

The cost of repairing a water-damaged laptop depends on the extent of the damage and how quickly you brought it to the lab after the incident. If you acted quickly, removed the battery immediately, and did not connect the laptop to power, you may only need thorough corrosion cleaning, and the repair cost will be relatively low. However, if you did not act quickly or continued using the laptop after it got wet, you may need to replace damaged components like the motherboard or keyboard, which will result in higher repair costs. In cases where the laptop suffers from severe liquid damage, the CompMaster team will provide you with a detailed price estimate based on the damage found. Prices vary depending on the type of damage and the complexity of the repair.

Comp-Master computer lab services price list