Water damage is one of the most common ways laptops get broken. Spilling a drink, leaving a laptop out in the rain, or dropping it in water can all lead to serious damage. The good news is that with the right steps, there’s a chance your laptop can recover from water exposure and work again. Here’s what you need to know about water damaged laptops and data recovery.
What causes water damage in laptops?
There are a few common causes of water damage in laptops:
- Spilling drinks – Coffee, soda, juice, etc. can all be spilled onto a laptop keyboard or other components.
- Getting caught in the rain – Laptops left outdoors or in bags can get wet from rainfall.
- Dropping in water – Laptops dropped in sinks, toilets, pools, etc. can sustain water damage.
- Leaking pipes or flooding – Water from burst pipes, flooding, etc. can cause laptop water damage.
- Using around wet surfaces – Setting laptops on wet counters, grass, etc. can allow moisture inside.
The most at-risk components are the keyboard, trackpad, ports, and ventilation grills, but moisture can reach the inner circuits and components as well.
How does water damage a laptop?
Water can damage laptops in a few key ways:
- Short circuiting – Water can bridge connections and create shorts, damaging circuits.
- Corrosion – Water causes corrosion on electronic contacts and components.
- Mineral deposits – Dissolved minerals in water often get left behind as deposits when drying.
- Damage to fan/vents – Water can prevent fans and vents from working properly.
Short circuiting and corrosion are the most immediately damaging effects. The mineral deposits and fan/vent damage occur over time as the laptop dries.
What are the signs of water damage in a laptop?
Here are some common signs your laptop has water damage:
- Won’t turn on
- Keys or trackpad not working
- Flickering/distorted screen
- Fan making noise or not working
- Ports not recognizing devices
- Battery not charging
- Strange smells from vents
- Corrosion around ports or vents
The extent of the damage determines which signs appear. For example, a small spill on the keyboard may just cause a few sticky keys, while submerging the laptop in water can cause a complete failure to turn on.
Is it safe to turn on a wet laptop?
No, you should never turn on a laptop that got wet until you’ve dried it out. When powered on, electricity can flow through water trapped inside and cause short circuiting damage. Always follow these steps:
- Disconnect power immediately and remove battery if possible.
- Dry out the laptop with compressed air.
- Leave the laptop in a dry environment for at least 24 hours.
- Carefully try turning it on after it’s thoroughly dried.
Never try turning on a wet laptop right away. The shortest path for electricity is through water, which can fry the components. Letting it dry reduces this risk significantly.
How can I dry out my wet laptop?
Here are some effective ways to dry out a wet laptop:
- Leave it powered off and remove the battery in a dry environment.
- Use compressed air to blow out any visible moisture.
- Place paper towels, newspaper, etc. under and over it to wick moisture.
- Point a fan directly at it to facilitate evaporation.
- Put it in a bag/container with rice or silica gel packs.
- Wait at least 24 hours before turning back on.
The key is to let evaporation run its course rather than using heat sources. Rice and silica gel absorb moisture well when sealed in a bag with the laptop. Extended drying times also help prevent any hidden moisture from short circuiting components when powered on.
Can I fix water damaged laptop components?
It depends on the extent of the damage:
- Keyboard – Individual key switches can often be cleaned or replaced after water damage.
- Battery – Batteries may recover after drying out completely over several days.
- Screen – Water damaged screens need to be replaced in most cases.
- Logic board – Severe damage often requires a full logic board replacement.
- Ports – Ports may work again after drying out, but corrosion can necessitate replacement.
For moderate damage, components like the keyboard, battery and ports can be serviced individually. But major damage usually requires professional service or a full device replacement.
What are the costs to fix a water damaged laptop?
| Repair Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Keyboard replacement | $50 – $150 |
| Battery replacement | $50 – $120 |
| Screen replacement | $100 – $350 |
| Logic board replacement | $350 – $700 |
Full device replacements for severe damage can cost $500 – $1000+. Water damage repairs can add up quickly, which is why professional assessment is recommended to determine if economical local repairs are possible based on the components affected.
Will insurance cover a water damaged laptop?
Most standard insurance policies do not cover water damage to laptops and electronics. However, your homeowners or renters insurance may cover water damage from specific situations such as:
- Burst pipes
- Roof leaks
- Hurricanes/storms
- Fire sprinklers
Even then, coverage may be limited based on your policy details. Special electronics insurance or portable device insurance can provide more comprehensive coverage against water damage and other laptop repairs.
How can I prevent water damage to my laptop?
You can take these precautions to avoid most causes of laptop water damage:
- Never eat or drink around your laptop.
- Keep it away from pool sides, boats, etc.
- Store it in protective bags if traveling in rain.
- Keep pipes, roofs, windows maintained to prevent leaks.
- Use a surge protector in storm-prone areas.
- Avoid setting laptop near sinks or other wet surfaces.
Being mindful of liquids/moisture around your laptop goes a long way. But accidents can still happen, so keep service center numbers handy just in case disaster strikes.
Can spilled liquids other than water damage a laptop?
Yes, other spilled liquids can also damage laptop components and electronics:
- Coffee/tea – Can leave corrosive residue and stains when drying.
- Soda – Sticky sugar residues and acidity can quickly damage parts.
- Alcohol – High conductivity amplifies short circuit and corrosion risks.
- Juice – Acids can corrode metal components and circuits.
- Toilet water – Bacteria growth risks from exposure.
Even when powered off, these liquids can damage keyboards, screens, boards, etc. Follow all the same precautions as drying water-damaged devices, since dried residues can remain corrosive or conductive.
Are some laptop models more prone to water damage?
Yes, some laptop designs are more vulnerable to water damage than others:
- Older laptops – Have fewer water resistance measures around ports and vents.
- Budget laptops – Cheaper construction provides less sealing from moisture.
- Hybrids – Vulnerable hinge and screen connections on 2-in-1 laptops.
- Removable batteries – Easy for moisture to reach internal components.
Newer premium laptop models tend to use tighter sealing around cases and keyboards. But no laptop is fully waterproof, so additional care should be taken with pricier models around liquids.
Can I recover data from a water damaged laptop?
It may be possible to recover data depending on the extent of the damage:
- Remove any wet SSDs/HDDs and dry thoroughly before data recovery attempts.
- Connect the storage drive to another computer with an external enclosure.
- Use recovery software to access existing files and folders on the drive.
- For more severe cases, professional data recovery services may be able to help.
The less exposure to moisture your storage drives had, the better chance important files and data can be saved. Flash drive backups are very useful for this scenario.
Conclusion
Water damage doesn’t necessarily mean a laptop is beyond saving. By quickly cutting power, thoroughly drying components, and carefully assessing the damage, there’s a good possibility shorted-out parts can be replaced and your laptop restored to working order. Just be sure to take precautions around liquids to limit the chances of needing these repairs in the first place.