Water can cause severe damage to electronics like laptops and computers. When water gets inside a laptop, it can create shorts, corrosion, and electrical malfunctions. One key component affected is the internal cooling fan, which helps regulate the laptop’s temperature. If water gets inside the fan, it can prevent it from spinning properly or cause other issues.
Fans play an important role in laptop cooling systems. They pull in cool air and expel hot air to keep the internal components from overheating. Laptops have temperature sensors that monitor heat levels and speed up the fans when needed. If the fan gets damaged from water, the laptop may get excessively hot and shut down to prevent further damage.
In this article, we’ll look at how and why water exposure activates the fans in a water-damaged laptop, other signs of water damage, steps you can take to dry out a wet laptop, and when you may need professional repairs versus a full replacement.
How Water Damages Electronics
Water can damage electronics in several ways: short circuits, corrosion, and mineral deposits.
When water comes into contact with electronic components, it can cause short circuits. Water provides electrical conductivity, allowing current to flow between points that are normally non-conductive, causing a short circuit and system malfunction (https://www.howtogeek.com/360301/how-water-damages-electronics/). Short circuits can lead to sparks, fires, and component failure.
Water can also cause corrosion as it oxidizes metal components and connections. This corrosion eats away at the metal, causing connections to weaken or break over time. Corrosion damage may not be immediately apparent, but can cause gradual degradation and failure of electronics as connections deteriorate (https://www.quora.com/How-does-water-damage-electronics-1).
Finally, water often contains dissolved mineral salts and impurities. As water evaporates, these minerals are left behind on circuit boards and components. The mineral buildup, especially from hard water, can cause insulating deposits and bridges between connections leading to short circuits and other damage over time (https://strikecheck.com/webinars/water-damage-to-electrically-powered-items/).
Fans in Laptops
Fans are a crucial component in laptops. Their main purpose is to provide cooling and airflow to prevent overheating of internal components like the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage drives. Fans work by pulling cooler air from outside vents and circulating it over hot internal parts. The warm air is then exhausted through exhaust vents, usually along the edges or rear of the laptop.
Without proper cooling from fans, modern laptops would quickly overheat. High temperatures can cause throttling, where components slow down to prevent damage. Overheating over time also reduces the lifespan of processors, graphics cards, and other delicate electronics. Fans help maintain safe operating temperatures so laptops can deliver consistently high performance.
Some key points about cooling fans in laptops:
- Provide active airflow to dissipate heat from internal components
- Prevent CPU, GPU, RAM from overheating and thermal throttling
- Allow sustained high-performance operation
- Extend lifespan by maintaining safe component temperatures
- Typically controlled automatically by hardware monitoring and throttling
In summary, cooling fans are a vital part of modern laptop design. They keep the sensitive electronics from overheating so laptops can deliver speedy performance in a compact form factor.
Water and Laptop Fans
Water can cause serious issues for laptop fans and internal components. When liquid comes into contact with the delicate electronics inside a laptop, it can short circuit the components and cause corrosion over time. This is often signaled by the laptop’s fans spinning faster than usual.
Fans inside laptops serve the important function of cooling down the CPU and other internal parts. The CPU in particular generates a lot of heat that needs effective cooling. Fans spin faster when components are overheating or the laptop senses a urgent cooling need. Water reaching the thermal sensors or fan mechanisms can trip this response.
According to discussions on Apple support forums, some users report their MacBook fans running louder and faster after a water spill, even when the laptop appears to still function normally (source). This is likely the fans compensating for components at risk of overheating due to water exposure.
The proper response after a laptop water spill is to immediately power off the device and dry it out as quickly as possible. Water can quickly spread to more components, so prompt action helps limit the damage. Once dried, a laptop may still need repair or part replacement if water reached core components like the fan, logic board, etc.
Sensors Detecting Water
Most laptops contain small sensors that detect liquid intrusion. These sensors are typically located under the keyboard, touchpad, motherboard, and other vulnerable areas. When water hits these sensors, it completes an electrical circuit that triggers the laptop’s built-in water damage protection features 1.
One of the first things that happens when a laptop’s moisture sensors are tripped is that the fans immediately ramp up to full speed. This helps remove any liquid from inside the chassis and dry out internal components before corrosion can occur. The fast-spinning fans also alert the user that liquid has entered the laptop.
In addition to triggering the fans, moisture sensors can communicate with other components to take protective measures. For example, some laptops are designed to disconnect the battery when water is detected to prevent short circuits. The sensors may also send signals to quickly park the hard drive heads and shut down the system 2.
While moisture sensors provide useful protection, they cannot completely prevent damage from water exposure. Any amount of liquid inside a laptop can still cause corrosion over time. But the sensors help minimize immediate issues while alerting the user to take quick action.
Other Signs of Water Damage
In addition to the fan running constantly, there are other signs that a MacBook Pro has water damage. These include:
Display issues – Water can cause screen glitches, distorted images, screen flickering, dead pixels, and an unresponsive touch screen. This is because water seeps into the display connectors and components, causing corrosion and electrical shorts.
Beeping sounds – You may hear beeping noises or alarm-like sounds coming from your MacBook if water reaches the motherboard. This indicates some internal components are detecting errors or failures.
Random shut downs – If water gets on the internal circuits, it can trigger the laptop to suddenly shut down or restart on its own. This unpredictable behavior is the motherboard’s attempt to protect itself when water is detected.
Severe water damage can fry the entire logic board. But even a small amount of water on the wrong component can create havoc. Quick action is needed to dry out the laptop and stop further water damage.
Drying Out a Wet Laptop
If your laptop gets wet, it’s crucial to dry it out as quickly as possible to prevent permanent damage. Here are some tips for drying out a wet laptop:
- Remove Power Source – Unplug the laptop and remove the battery immediately. As long as the laptop is powered on, electricity can travel to components and cause short circuits.
- Dry Immediately – Use a microfiber cloth or towel to gently blot up any accumulated water on the laptop’s exterior and keyboard. Be sure not to rub the screen. Place the laptop upside down on an absorbent towel in an area with good airflow.
- Open the Case – If you’re comfortable doing so, open up the laptop case and remove components like the hard drive, RAM, and battery. This allows interior sections to dry thoroughly. Be extremely gentle when handling internal components.
- Give it Time – Leave the laptop in a warm, dry place for at least 24-48 hours to allow sufficient drying time before attempting to turn on again. Extended drying is crucial to prevent moisture damage.
Quick action is essential when drying out a wet laptop. Allowing moisture to linger greatly increases the risk of short circuits, corrosion, and permanent component failure down the line. If drying efforts are unsuccessful, professional repair may be required.
When to Repair vs. Replace
The decision of whether to repair or replace a water-damaged laptop depends on several factors:
The age of the laptop – Older laptops may not be worth investing in expensive repairs, as the components are outdated. If your laptop is more than 3-4 years old, replacement may make more sense.
Cost of repairs – Water damage repairs can range from $200 for minor fixes to over $1000 for full motherboard replacements. Compare this to the cost of buying a new laptop. Extensive repairs on an old laptop may be close to the price of a new model.
According to expert opinions on Quora, repairs can successfully fix 95% of water-damaged laptops. However, the cost effectiveness depends on the laptop’s age and repair expenses.
For newer laptops that suffered minor-moderate water damage, repairs may make financial sense. But for very old laptops or ones needing major component replacements, replacement may be the better option.
Preventing Water Damage
There are several precautions you can take to help prevent water damage to your laptop:
Avoid having liquids near your laptop. Don’t place drinks on the same table as your laptop. Make sure to keep it away from sinks, tubs, pools, or other sources of water.
Use a protective laptop bag or sleeve when transporting your computer. This can help shield it from rain, spills, or other splashes of liquid.
Consider investing in an accidental damage protection plan or insurance for your laptop. This can cover repair or replacement costs if you do experience water damage.
As Your IT Mates notes, “The best way to deal with laptop water damage is to prevent it in the first place.” Taking simple precautions can go a long way in avoiding costly water damage incidents.
Conclusion
Water damage can have serious consequences for electronics like laptops. The fan turning on spontaneously after water exposure indicates the internal water sensors have been triggered. This is the laptop’s way of trying to dry itself out and prevent further damage. But you shouldn’t just leave it alone to try to dry on its own. Quick action is required to give your laptop the best chance of survival.
If the laptop is still responsive and functional, shut it down immediately and disconnect all power sources. Position the laptop to allow the water to drain out, then dry the exterior with a microfiber cloth. Consider placing the laptop in front of a fan to circulate air through the vents and interior. Let it sit powered off for at least 24-48 hours before attempting to turn on again.
For more significant water exposure that causes the laptop to turn off or stop working, disassemble the laptop to thoroughly dry all components before reassembling. This process requires technical skill and special tools. If damage is severe, replacement of parts or the full laptop may be necessary.
While accidental spills can happen, it’s best to prevent water damage in the first place. Keep drinks away from laptops, don’t use electronics near sinks or tubs, and store laptops in protective bags when not in use. Addressing water damage right away is critical for giving your laptop the best chance of survival.