What causes water damage to a computer?
Water and electronics don’t mix. If a computer gets wet, even a small amount of liquid can cause big problems. The most common causes of water damage to a computer include:
- Spilling a drink onto a laptop
- Using a computer near a source of water like a sink or tub
- Exposing a computer to rain or snow
- Knocking over a glass of water onto a desktop computer
- Having a computer in a flood-prone basement
- Letting moisture build up in a computer from high humidity
When liquid enters a computer case, it can cause short circuits, electrical fires, or corrosion on circuit boards and metal parts. Even a couple drops of water in the wrong place can render a computer unusable.
How does water damage a computer?
Water causes damage to computers in a few different ways:
Short Circuits
Water is a conductor of electricity. If water gets on the printed circuit boards inside a computer, it can create short circuits between different components and circuit paths that are not supposed to connect. This disrupts the carefully planned flow of electricity within the device.
Corrosion
Many parts of a computer are made of metal, including wires, circuit boards, screws and plates. When these metals get wet for a prolonged period, the moisture causes corrosion or rust. This corrodes away the metal over time, eventually breaking connections and destroying components.
Residue
As water evaporates, it leaves behind mineral deposits from the dissolved solids. These residues can interfere with electrical contacts, essentially gluing things together that are not supposed to touch. Sugary drinks like soda leave an especially sticky residue.
Erosion
Prolonged moisture can cause erosion on micro-scale components and circuitry. This gradually destroys the tiny pathways that carry electrical signals around the device.
How do you know if your computer is water damaged?
Here are some signs that liquid has infiltrated your computer:
- You see signs of moisture inside the case
- There is evidence of corrosion on external metal parts
- The computer will not turn on
- It powers on but will not boot into the operating system
- It works for a while then suddenly shuts down
- There are electrical shorting noises
- You can smell burning or ozone from inside the case
- Programs and operating system crash frequently
- Peripheral devices connected to the computer (like external hard drives) stop working
Any of these symptoms point to potential water damage, which will only get worse over time if left untreated. The longer you operate a wet computer, the more damage is likely to occur. If your computer gets wet, avoid the temptation to turn it on to “see if it works.” Powering up a water-damaged machine can cause further short circuits and permanent harm.
Is it possible to fix a water damaged computer?
It is sometimes possible to fix a water damaged computer, but results are variable. The prognosis depends on:
- How long it was wet – The quicker you can dry it out and clean it, the better
- What parts got wet – CPU chips are very vulnerable but dry out more easily than power supplies
- Level of corrosion – Heavily corroded components may need replacement
- Residue contamination – Sugary drinks can leave irreparable stickiness
With quick action, it is possible to remove power sources, dry out the interior, clean residues, and bring a wet computer back to life. The longer moisture sits inside the case and corrodes components, the lower your chances of resurrecting it without replacement parts.
How to dry out and fix a wet computer
Here are some steps to try to revive a water damaged computer:
1. Immediately power down and unplug all power sources
As soon as you realize your computer is wet, press the power button to shut it down, then unplug the power cord and remove any batteries. This will cut the electricity to your shorted circuits. Resist the temptation to turn it on – you risk electrical fires, explosions or further damage.
2. Drain out any collected water
If you can see pools of water inside the case, carefully tip the computer to drain the liquid out of any openings. Absorb any remaining droplets with a microfiber cloth. Avoid shaking the computer, which can spread water to unaffected areas.
3. Take it apart
Completely disassemble the computer and remove all components from the case. Lay components out on a towel and pat them dry with a clean cloth. Carefully look for signs of moisture and corrosion on each part.
4. Dry out the interior
Use compressed air to blow out any nooks and crannies with collected moisture. Let the empty case and components air dry for at least 24-48 hours to evaporate any remaining liquid. Position them in front of a fan to speed drying. Do not use hairdryers or heat guns as these can damage electronics.
5. Clean with isopropyl alcohol
Use 90% isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs to gently clean off any corrosion and sticky residues from circuit boards and connectors. The alcohol will displace moisture and evaporate without leaving a residue. Be gentle to avoid damaging delicate components.
6. Rinse components with distilled water
Once parts are clean and dry, use distilled water to rinse off any remaining minerals from tap water drying on components. Distilled water will not leave new mineral deposits. Allow to fully dry once again.
7. Test components
Reassemble the computer but do not connect the power. Turn it on and watch for signs of short circuiting like smoke or popping noises. This verifies if components are too damaged for operation.
8. Attempt carefully booting up
If components pass the power test, connect the power cords and attempt to boot the computer. If successful, thoroughly test operations. Failed booting usually indicates non-repairable damage to critical parts like the CPU or motherboard.
9. Replace damaged parts
If certain components did not survive cleaning and drying, replacement may be necessary. This is often required for power supplies, circuit boards or connectors corroded beyond function. Only use replacement parts specifically designed for your computer model.
Best practices for water damage prevention
While you can sometimes resurrect a wet computer with prompt action, prevention is much better to avoid catastrophic damage. Here are some tips to keep computers safely away from liquids:
- Never eat or drink around laptops or desktops
- Avoid placing computers directly next to sinks or tubs
- Close toilet lids before flushing to reduce humidity
- Keep computers on elevated surfaces in basements to reduce flood risk
- Use waterproof cases for outdoor use
- Always completely dry hands before using keyboards
- Never pour liquid directly over a computer to clean it
- Use compressed air instead of blow drying to remove dust
- Ensure liquids like cleaners are not taken near computers
- Keep computers away from humidifiers and aquariums
Avoiding spills in the first place is the best way to ensure your computer stays dry and undamaged. But if an accident does occur, take immediate steps to remove power sources, dry out the machine, and clean away any residue before turning it back on. With quick action, you just might save your wet computer from the scrap heap.
Can rice help dry out a wet phone or computer?
You may have heard that submerging wet electronics in rice can help absorb moisture. Here’s what you need to know about this home remedy:
How the rice trick works
The concept is that putting your wet device in a bowl or bag of rice will allow the rice to gradually absorb water from the airspace around it through diffusion. Since dry rice attracts ambient moisture until reaching equilibrium, it creates a water pressure gradient that can pull some moisture out of a damp device.
Effectiveness for drying
Research shows that rice only absorbs tiny amounts of surface moisture from electronics through vapor diffusion. One study found it dried out a phone just 6% faster than air drying, taking over 67 hours to dry fully. It does not extract leaked water from inside electronic cavities.
Risks
Because rice can’t pull significant liquid from inside devices, components stay wet for too long, leading to permanent circuit damage. Rice dust and fragments can further contaminate the device’s interior if not properly contained.
| Drying Method | Effectiveness | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | Minimal – slow vapor diffusion only | Prolonged moisture, rice residue |
| Silica Gel | Higher – active moisture absorption | Still slow, gel residue |
| Compressed Air | Moderate – helps surfaces and crevices | Moisture remains in deep interiors |
Alternatives
Silica gel packets attract moisture more strongly than rice, but still take over a day to fully dry devices. Compressed air combined with opening up the device helps clear residual moisture best to prevent corrosion.Ultimately, specialized commercial drying machines heat chambers to about 100°F to rapidly dry electronics safely in under 3 hours. This quick action before corrosion can set in gives the best chance of saving wet devices.
The verdict
Rice only extracts minimal surface moisture through slow vapor diffusion, while leaving interior components wet. Specialized drying techniques are necessary to quickly and fully dry out water-damaged electronics before permanent circuit damage occurs. Don’t rely on rice when devices get wet.
Water damage myths
There are many misconceptions about saving wet electronics. Here are some common water damage myths and the realities:
Myth: Electronics are toast if they get wet
Reality: Fast action to dry them out can often save wet devices.
Myth: You should disassemble electronics before drying
Reality: Taking them apart risks more damage. Dry assembled first.
Myth: Turn it on to check if it works
Reality: This can short circuit and destroy salvageable parts.
Myth: Rice saves wet phones and computers
Reality: Rice only extracts minimal moisture on the surface.
Myth: Heat them to dry faster
Reality: Excessive heat can damage components and warp boards.
Myth: Water leaves no residue after drying
Reality: Minerals in water often leave corrosive deposits.
Myth: Liquids only harm circuits they directly touch
Reality: Residues, erosion and corrosion spread impact well beyond.
Myth: Devices work fine until suddenly dying
Reality: Performance slowly declines as damage progresses.
Myth: Clean water won’t cause damage
Reality: Any liquid can create shorts, erosion, and residue buildup.
Don’t let wishful thinking make a bad situation worse for your electronics. Learn the facts about water damage to give devices the best chance of recovery with appropriate drying and cleaning methods.
Conclusion
Liquid and computers seem like they should never meet. But accidents happen, and a bit of spilled water or coffee can threaten to destroy your precious electronics. While you can never guarantee saving a water damaged computer, quick action gives you the best shot. Immediately powering down, opening up the machine, gently drying components, cleaning away residue, and testing function can potentially resurrect electronics from their untimely demise. With proper procedures, there is hope for bringing wet computers back from the brink. Just be sure to take preventative measures as well, since an ounce of caution is truly worth a pound of rice when it comes to keeping computers safely dry.
