Spilling water or another liquid onto your laptop can be a worrying experience. Water and electronics don’t mix well, so liquid damage has the potential to seriously harm your device. However, whether your laptop survives a spill depends on several factors.
What should you do if you spill water on your laptop?
If you accidentally spill water or another liquid like coffee, soda, tea, or juice on your laptop, immediate action is important. Here are the steps you should take:
- Unplug the laptop and turn it off immediately. This will help prevent short circuits and fires.
- Remove the battery. This eliminates the risk of further damage from electrical shorts.
- Dry off any excess liquid by gently shaking the laptop and blotting with a clean towel. Be careful not to spread the liquid around.
- Do not try turning on the laptop to see if it works. It’s best to let it dry thoroughly first.
- Allow the laptop to air dry for at least 24-48 hours. Point a fan at it to help speed evaporation.
- After drying, reinstall the battery and plug in the laptop. If it doesn’t power on, you’ll likely need to take it in for professional repair.
Following these steps can greatly improve your chances of saving a water-damaged laptop. The quicker you can stop power flowing through wet electronics, the better.
What factors determine whether a laptop survives water damage?
Several key factors play a role in determining the extent of water damage and whether a laptop can recover fully:
- Liquid type – Water may cause some damage, but other liquids like soda, coffee, wine, etc can be even more destructive. Acidic drinks can corrode metal components.
- Amount of liquid – A few sprinkles or splashes in the right spots may not be fatal, but spilling an entire glass of water can overwhelm the components.
- Entry points – Water getting inside the case through ports, vents, under the keys, etc causes more damage than exterior-only spills.
- Power status – Powered on laptops are more vulnerable to short circuiting. A spill into a turned-off laptop can often be recovered from if dried properly.
- Drying process – Quick power removal and thorough drying is key. Allowing moisture to linger increases corrosion risks.
- Laptop design – Some laptops have better sealing and water resistance than others. MacBooks and EliteBooks tend to do better.
- Age of the laptop – Older laptops with worn seals are more vulnerable to liquid ingress issues.
In general, turning the laptop off immediately and allowing sufficient drying time offers the best chance of survival after a spill.
Which laptop components are most vulnerable to water damage?
Here are the laptop components most prone to water damage:
- Motherboard – Critical for core laptop operations. Short circuits can fry the motherboard.
- Processor – Extremely intricate components can corrode and fail.
- Hard drive – Internal platters rust rapidly. Sticky liquids cause head crashes.
- RAM – Dense, exposed electronics are vulnerable to shorts and corrosion.
- Battery – Liquids can reach the cells and cause fires or explosions.
- Screen – Displays can flicker, discolor, or fail completely.
- Keyboard – Water under keys can bridge contacts and cause electrical issues.
If liquid reaches any of these components while powered on, damage is very likely. The motherboard, hard drive, and keyboard are most directly exposed to spills.
What are the common water damage issues and symptoms?
Here are some of the most common issues caused by water damage to laptops:
- Laptop won’t turn on or boot up
- Corrosion on metal components
- Electrical shorts and fires
- Display screen flickering, discoloration or failure
- Keyboard keys sticking or malfunctioning
- Battery not charging properly
- Hard drive failure or data corruption
- Motherboard failure
- Fan or internal components rusting
- Peripheral devices like USB ports not working
- Overheating due to liquid remnants inside
- Visible water stains or residue
- Buzzing, cracking or popping sounds
- Burning or electrical smell
- Smoke or sparks visible
Any of these issues can manifest immediately or progressively get worse over time after water exposure. The longer moisture sits inside, the more damage it can cause.
Can you fix a water damaged laptop yourself?
It’s generally not recommended to try fixing water damaged laptops yourself, as this risks further damage. However, there are a few things you can try:
- Open up the laptop case and remove any water droplets, residue, or corrosion with a soft dry cloth.
- Use compressed air to blow out any lingering moisture, especially from ports and vents.
- Remove removable components like RAM and the hard drive, and dry them separately.
- Place the disassembled laptop in front of a fan for thorough air drying.
- Check for loose connections, battery leakage, or damaged ports.
- Reassemble once fully dry and test.
Note that opening up most laptops will void any warranties. And dismantling them requires expertise to avoid damaging fragile components. So this is best left to experienced repair professionals in most cases.
When should you take a water damaged laptop to a professional?
It’s advisable to take your laptop to a repair shop for water damage assessment and servicing if:
- You spilled a large volume of liquid on or inside the laptop.
- The laptop was powered on during the spill.
- You notice any symptoms like malfunctioning keys, flickering display, etc.
- You don’t have the knowledge or confidence for DIY repairs.
- The laptop warranty requires service by authorized technicians.
- Drying attempts were unsuccessful and issues persist.
- There are signs of short circuiting like burning smells.
- Liquid ingress was extensive and components are still wet.
Professional repair services have the skills, tools, parts and experience to best assess damage, troubleshoot issues, dismantle laptops safely, and enact repairs or replacements. This gives you the highest chance of resurrecting a water damaged laptop.
How much does it cost to repair a water damaged laptop?
The cost to repair a water damaged laptop can range from $50 to over $1000 based on the extent of damage. Here are some average price ranges:
| Repair Type | Average Cost |
| Screen repair | $100 – $300 |
| Motherboard replacement | $200 – $500 |
| Hard drive recovery | $300 – $1000 |
| Full system cleaning and drying | $50 – $150 |
| Keyboard replacement | $50 – $150 |
| Battery replacement | $50 – $200 |
In severe cases where major components like the motherboard are irreparable, the cost can exceed the value of an older laptop. You may need to weigh replacing versus repairing if damage is extensive.
How can you lower chances of water damage to your laptop?
You can take the following precautions to protect your laptop from common liquid spills:
- Keep drinks away from your laptop when working.
- Only use the laptop on stable, flat surfaces.
- Don’t eat or drink around the laptop.
- Install a waterproof case or shell if working in risky conditions.
- Carry laptop in a padded bag when transporting.
- Look for laptop models featuring spill drainage and water resistance.
- Use a waterproof Bluetooth keyboard if worried about spills.
- Invest in a laptop cooling pad to avoid condensation under the device.
Taking sensible precautions greatly reduces the risk of exposing your laptop to liquids. But accidents can still happen, so also be prepared with the proper response if a spill does occur.
Can you prevent water damage through regular maintenance?
While you can’t guarantee preventing water damage, some regular maintenance steps can reduce the risks:
- Keep your laptop’s internal fan clear of dust buildup, which can block drainage routes.
- Upgrade your laptop’s internal seals if they become worn.
- Ensure drainage channels under the keyboard remain unblocked.
- Replace a failing laptop battery prone to leakage.
- Back up your laptop data regularly in case hard drive damage occurs.
- Check for signs of liquid residue after transporting your laptop.
- Update your laptop’s motherboard BIOS firmware when available.
- Use caned air to routinely clean ports, vents and other entry points.
While liquid damage is always a risk, attentive maintenance checks and upgrades can reduce the likelihood and potential impact. But prevention is only half the process – being prepared to act quickly and properly if an accident happens is also essential.
Does homeowner’s or renter’s insurance cover laptop water damage?
Rental or homeowner’s insurance will sometimes cover laptop water damage, but not in all cases or policies. Here’s what to consider:
- Standard policies may exclude laptops as “mechanical breakdowns.” Read your coverage details.
- Electronics coverage, floaters, or endorsements often specifically cover laptops.
- There may be a deductible amount you’ll need to pay per claim.
- Some policies only cover theft or complete loss, not accidental damage repairs.
- There are usually limits on the payout amount per item.
- Reporting and documentation is required detailing how the damage occurred.
- Exclusions apply if you failed to take reasonable precautions.
Before filing a claim, review your insurance policy or contact your agent to confirm what water or spill damage scenarios might be covered. Don’t just assume you’ll be reimbursed.
Does laptop warranty cover water damage?
Unfortunately most laptop warranties do not cover water or liquid damage. However, there are few cases where coverage is possible:
- Premium extended warranties may include accidental damage protection.
- Credit card purchase benefits sometimes extend coverage.
- Some laptop brands offer optional liquid damage contracts.
- Recent laptops promoting water resistance may also cover related repairs.
- Reaching out to the manufacturer may yield goodwill repairs, especially if purchase was recent.
But in general, laptop warranties are designed to only cover defects – not user-caused damage. So don’t rely solely on a warranty after a spill. Your best bet is professional repairs or even a replacement laptop if needed.
Conclusion
Water and laptops are never an ideal combination. But the reality is spills and splashes do occur despite our best efforts. How well a laptop survives water damage depends on many aspects – the liquid amount, laptop design, quick action taken, and pure luck all play a role. There are steps you can take to promote recovery after a spill, but prevention is the best policy when liquids and electronics mix.
