Having moisture or water damage on your laptop screen can be very frustrating. Water can cause all sorts of issues, from screen discoloration to permanent damage. Thankfully, there are several methods you can try to get that moisture out of your laptop screen.
What causes water or moisture damage on a laptop screen?
There are a few common ways moisture can end up on your laptop screen:
- Spilling a drink on your laptop
- Getting caught in the rain with your laptop
- Having condensation build up on your screen from going from a cold environment to a warm one
- Exposing your laptop to high humidity
When liquid gets on your screen, it can seep down under the bezel and get trapped between the screen layers. This allows it to spread across the screen via capillary action. The moisture gets absorbed by the anti-glare coating on your screen, causing foggy splotches or discoloration.
How to prevent water or moisture damage
The best way to deal with moisture on your laptop is to prevent it in the first place. Here are some tips to keep your screen safe from liquids:
- Keep drinks away from your laptop
- Use a laptop cover when traveling through rain or snow
- Allow your laptop to come to room temperature slowly if bringing it inside from cold temperatures
- Avoid exposing your laptop to high humidity situations
- Wipe down any condensation with a microfiber cloth immediately
Taking precautions will reduce the risk of moisture damaging your screen. But even if you do everything right, accidents can still happen. The good news is there are ways to dry out your laptop screen if it does get wet.
How to get water out from under laptop screen
If moisture has already made its way under your laptop screen, you’ll need to open up the display assembly to access the screen itself. This will allow excess moisture to evaporate. Follow these steps:
- Power off your laptop and unplug it.
- Remove any screws securing the screen bezel in place and pry off the bezel.
- Carefully disconnect the screen cable going to the motherboard.
- Lift the screen out of the mounting brackets.
- Stand the screen upright, supported on something soft, to allow air circulation.
- Let it sit for at least 24 hours to fully dry out.
- Reassemble the laptop once totally dry.
Taking the screen fully out of the chassis is the most effective way to remove pooled moisture. Just be very gentle, as screens can crack easily. Make sure no power is going to the laptop during this process.
Use a desiccant pack
Another option is to place desiccant packs around the screen area. Desiccants absorb ambient moisture in the air. Follow these steps:
- Obtain desiccant packet, such as those found packaged with clothing, medications, or electronics.
- Wrap packets in paper towels or tissue.
- Wedge the wrapped packets into the screen bezel, around the edges of the screen.
- Leave in place for 24-48 hours.
- Remove desiccant packs.
The desiccant will draw out moisture from the screen area. Just make sure the packs don’t scratch the screen. Their moisture absorption properties make this an easy fix.
Use dry rice
Rice also readily absorbs ambient moisture. It can be used like this:
- Fill a sealable plastic bag with 1-2 cups of dry, uncooked rice.
- Wrap the bag in a thin towel or cloth.
- Place the wrapped bag over the affected area of the screen.
- Seal laptop closed and let sit for at least 48 hours.
- Check on the rice bag each day, replacing with fresh dry rice as needed.
The rice will help draw moisture away from the screen gradually. Make sure no rice grains get inside the laptop. Allow plenty of time for the rice to fully extract the moisture.
Use a drying fan
Applying moving air to your laptop screen can also help evaporate moisture. Follow these tips:
- Place your laptop open at an angle, so the screen faces downwards.
- Position a fan or hair dryer 6-12 inches away, blowing air down onto the back of the screen.
- Keep the fan/hair dryer on the low heat setting if adjustable.
- Let the air blow over the screen for several hours, checking regularly.
- Once moisture appears gone, let the screen air dry an additional 24 hours upright before using.
The stream of dry air will gently remove any humidity or condensation from your screen. Just be sure to keep the air flow low to avoid any damage to the display.
Use moisture-absorbing packs
There are different products made to absorb moisture in enclosed areas. These can be used to dry out a laptop screen:
- Silica gel packs – These absorb very well, just wrap in cloth before using to prevent scratches.
- Moisture absorber packs – Look for small disposable packs made for electronic devices.
- Dehumidifier pouch – Some come in sizes perfect for placing inside laptops.
Read packaging instructions carefully and don’t oversaturate the packs. Place them around the perimeter of the screen for best moisture absorption. Let them work overnight or longer if needed.
DIY options
For a low-cost approach, you can make your own drying packs using products found in most homes:
- Uncooked rice in breathable cloth or sock
- Cat litter in absorbent fabric
- Chalk or gypsum powder wrapped in paper towels
- Gradually heat silica gel crystals on very low setting and store in sealed container
These materials act as adsorbents, soaking up ambient humidity. Place them carefully around affected areas of the screen and wait at least 24-48 hours before removing.
When to avoid DIY methods
While convenient, not all DIY solutions are a good idea for drying out your laptop screen. Avoid these methods:
- Applying too much heat from hair dryers or other gadgets
- Using compressed air, which can push moisture deeper into laptop
- Submerging screen in uncooked rice or other grain (causes scratching)
Exposing screen to sunlight, which can damage display
Anything too harsh has the potential to ruin your screen more. Stick to gentle, moisture-absorbing techniques only. When in doubt, take your laptop to a repair professional instead.
Signs moisture was removed successfully
Once you’ve used an appropriate moisture removal method, how can you tell if it worked? Look for these signs:
- No more foggy, discolored splotches on display
- Screen image appears normal when powered on
- No moisture residue visible on screen or other internals
- No short circuiting or functionality issues
- Rice or desiccant packs are dry after removal
Power up your laptop carefully after drying and check that the screen looks and works correctly. If you still see evidence of moisture, repeat the drying process.
When to get professional help
DIY moisture removal may not always do the trick. Consider taking your laptop to a repair technician if you observe:
- Visible water or liquid inside screen, especially if spinning/rolling effect when powered on
- Cracked or damaged screen
- Display not working after attempted drying
- Signs of corrosion on electronic components
- Short circuiting, sparks, or electric shocks from laptop
Don’t mess with your laptop further if anything like this is going on. The pros have specialized tools and methods to dry out and recover water damaged electronics safely.
Can I fix the anti-glare coating?
Sometimes moisture damage can leave permanent scuffs or clouds on your laptop screen’s anti-glare coating. While this doesn’t affect picture quality, it can be annoying visually. Unfortunately, repairing the anti-glare coating involves replacing the screen entirely. There’s no real DIY solution for this type of cosmetic damage.
Professional water damage repair services
For serious moisture or liquid damage, trust your laptop to professional electronics repair experts. Services typically include:
- Diagnosing extent of water damage
- Drying internal components safely
- Inspecting for corroded parts
- Replacing any damaged parts like screens
- Data recovery if drive was affected
- Full testing and functional restoration
The right experts have specialized tools and controlled environments to dry out laptops correctly. They can bring an unresponsive wet laptop back to life safely and effectively.
Water damage repair costs
Costs for professional water damage repairs depend on a few factors:
- Extent of damage – Was it a minor spill vs. submersion?
- Parts needing replacement – Just screen or entire board?
- Data recovery needed – Simple or complex process?
- Type of laptop – More complex models cost more.
Typical price ranges for common repairs:
| Screen replacement | $100-$300 |
| Motherboard repair | $200-$700 |
| Component cleaning/drying | $100-$300 |
| Data recovery | $500-$1300+ |
Bulk discounts may be available from some repair shops. Get an accurate quote for your model’s damage before proceeding.
Is it worth fixing a water damaged laptop?
Deciding if repairing liquid damage is worthwhile depends on:
- Age and value of laptop – Older low-value models may not justify costly repairs.
- Data on hard drive – Data recovery services can be pricey.
- Availability of replacement parts – Some parts for older laptops are hard to source.
- Cost of repairs vs replacement – At a certain point, a new laptop may make more sense.
Evaluate the pros and cons for your situation. In some cases, putting that money towards a new laptop altogether is the smarter choice.
Tips for drying out your wet laptop
Here are some top tips for getting moisture out of your laptop screen and components:
- Act quickly to prevent permanent water damage
- Never power on a wet laptop
- Remove exterior case pieces to access internals
- Dry the screen upright and exposed to moving air
- Use moisture-absorbing packs around affected areas
- Allow plenty of time for moisture to fully evaporate
- Inspect carefully before reassembling laptop
With some patience and the right drying methods, you can rescue your laptop from a spill. But at the first sign of major trouble, trust the pros.
Conclusion
Dealing with moisture or liquid damage in an electronic device can be worrisome, but in many cases, the situation can be resolved with some DIY troubleshooting. For minor spills or condensation issues in a laptop screen, gently absorbing the moisture using desiccants, rice, airflow, and other methods can be quite effective. However, if problems persist or there are signs of major water damage, it is best to turn the device off immediately and seek professional repair assistance. The right experts have the skills, experience and tools to properly diagnose issues, dry out components, replace damaged parts, and recover data if needed. This maximizes the chances of restoring your laptop successfully after water or moisture problems.