Laptop Water Damage: What to Do Right Away?

Imagine working on your laptop with complete concentration, with a cup of coffee by your side, and suddenly you spill it over. Result: Now, the coffee is all over your laptop’s keyboard and even your screen.

Anybody’s natural reaction would be to panic. However, that can cause more problems. Instead, go through this blog post to understand what you should do.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Water Spill

Follow the steps below to avoid further damage to your laptop, and then contact a laptop repair Nice service.

Step 1: Turn Off the Laptop Immediately

Wear rubber gloves if handy, or at least rubber slippers, and power off your laptop immediately. Whether your laptop is still working or not, it doesn’t matter.

Electricity and water don’t go together. To reduce the chances of electrocution, separate both. This prevents short-circuiting, minimizing further damage.

Step 2: Unplug All Cables and Peripherals

The next step is to unplug every peripheral from your laptop. This includes:

  • Mouse
  • Keyboard
  • External hard drive
  • Charger
  • And so on.

Disconnect all these as soon as possible. This limits the damage to the laptop itself rather than any peripherals.

Step 3: Remove the Battery (if Applicable)

If the battery is removable, remove it as soon as possible. Battery replacement can be a bit expensive, so it’s important to save the battery. Skip this step if your laptop has an integrated battery.

Drain and Dry the Laptop Safely

Now that immediate steps have been taken to avoid further damage, it’s time to drain the water out.

1. Position It Correctly

It’s time to limit internal damage by keeping it in an inverted “V” or tent shape. It should be upside down like an open book. Keep it on a clean and dry surface lined with a towel.

You’re trying to use gravity to pull liquid away from the internal components.

Note:

Avoid laying the laptop flat or closed. This will likely trap the liquid inside, causing it to seep deeper. Even if you contact any laptop computer repair service in Nice, they will advise you on the same.

2. Dab the Laptop

After you have kept it in this position, carefully dab the laptop’s wet surface with paper towels or a microfiber cloth.

The aim is to do so without putting excessive pressure or force.

3. Don’t Use a Hair Dryer

Many people use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. However, using a hair dryer as a layman is not wise since it can turn minor water damage into major hardware failure if not done right. The heat produced by most hairdryers can damage components that are heat-sensitive, like the battery, motherboard, or display cables.

A better option is to let it remain in the tent position in a ventilated space for a couple of hours before searching for a Quick repair laptop computer in Nice to assess the damage.

Signs Your Laptop Needs Professional Repair

A laptop damaged by water needs professional inspection, but a few tell-tale signs make it more urgent. These include:

1. Port Corrosion

While corrosion doesn’t happen right away after a liquid spill, if you notice it a few days later, contact a professional laptop repair Nice service. The corrosion might impact the ports, making them unusable, and even the associated circuits. That’s why professional intervention is required.

2. Blue Screen

In case the internal circuitry of the laptop has been damaged, you might frequently experience your laptop crashing and the blue screen with white text, also known as the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). BSOD is a clear indication that your laptop has experienced either of the following:

  • RAM damage
  • Hard disk damage
  • Motherboard damage
  • Connector damage

While BSOD does provide an error code, it’s best to let a professional handle the repair. 

The professional can fix the problem permanently.

3. Random Shutdowns

If anything inside the laptop has been affected by the liquid spills, your laptop might start shutting down randomly. This can arise from liquid damage to one or multiple systems of your laptop, like:

  • Battery
  • Motherboard
  • Connectors
  • RAM
  • And so on

Only a laptop professional can diagnose the exact problem and fix it. As per this study, a laptop’s lifespan depends on the maintenance and repair, which is why it’s best to let a professional handle it.

4. Keyboard or Screen Malfunction

Any problem with the screen or the keyboard warrants assistance from a professional. Without either, the laptop cannot be operated.

Tips to Avoid Water Damage in the Future

A professional can certainly salvage your laptop if it can be salvaged, but it’s essential to understand how to avoid water damage in the future.

1. Avoid Drinks Near Electronics

One of the most common occurrences is when you keep a drink near your laptop while sipping it, and it spills over. A good rule of thumb is to avoid drinking anything near your laptop.

2. Get a Waterproof Laptop Sleeve

It’s always better to buy a waterproof laptop sleeve to prevent future water damage. It will shield your device from unexpected spills, rain, and humidity. According to this market research report, the protection offered by laptop sleeves is the reason why the demand for laptop sleeves is consistently going up.

Such sleeves are usually made from neoprene, coated nylon, or polyurethane. All these materials effectively keep water at bay.

Note:

A waterproof sleeve doesn’t make your laptop submersible.

3. Invest in an Extended Warranty

Always invest in laptop insurance or extend its warranty. Either of these options can shield your laptop from liquid damage and various other issues.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Standard warranties don’t cover such accidental damage. That’s why you need to get an extended warranty.
  • If the laptop is a few years old, get insurance since a warranty extension might not be available.
  • Read the terms and conditions to determine if you will be paid the repair charges or if you’ll receive a replacement in case of a liquid spill.

Faqs

Can a Laptop Survive Water Damage?

Yes, a laptop can survive water damage if the quantity of water is limited. What it can’t survive is water submersion. In either case, it’s best to contact a laptop professional to find out whether your laptop is salvageable.

How to Dry Out a Laptop?

The best way to dry a laptop is to turn it off and remove any external devices and the battery. Then, place it upside down in a tent shape and dab it with a paper towel.

How Much Water Can Destroy a Laptop?

Even a few drops of water in the wrong place, like the keyboard, ventilation ports, or motherboard, can damage the laptop or lead to hardware failure.

How to Fix Water in Laptop Screen?

The best way to fix water in a laptop screen is to turn it upside down, dab the screen with a microfiber cloth, and place it on a paper towel in a tent shape.

Can You Use Rice to Dry Out a Laptop?

It’s common to use rice to dry out the laptop, but it’s not recommended since rice can get stuck in ports and other crevices.

Get Your Laptop Repaired Today!

So, if your laptop has suffered water damage, just follow our guide above to limit the damage and fix it. Sticking to this guide helps you salvage your laptop and make it work like nothing ever happened.

Want some help with your laptop? Check our Laptop repair service.