Wondering what to do when you spill water on your laptop? At Computer Repairs Hamilton, we’ve got your back! Time is of the essence, so let’s jump right into it.
Today, we’ll be answering questions about what water can do to your laptop, as well as breaking down the 4 essential steps to take if you spill water on your laptop.
A Quick Note: The very first thing you should do if you spill water on your laptop is to power it down and unplug it. So, if you’re reading this on your laptop, turn it off and jump over to another device before continuing.
Can a laptop survive water damage?
Whether or not your laptop can survive having water spilt on it will depend on a variety of factors. The amount of water, the length of time it has spent on your laptop, and what kind of laptop you own are all factors here. That said, if you are going to spill any kind of liquid on your laptop by accident, water is the best option.
Sugary drinks or corrosive liquids can wreak havoc on technology from the second they touch a surface. Sugary residue encourages ants to move in and accelerates rust in the circuitry, while corrosive liquids will quickly eat away at your laptop from the inside.
Damage caused by water, on the other hand, carries slightly less of an immediate toll. That said, it’s important to act fast, as water inside your laptop can still cause any number of issues, including:
- A malfunctioning keyboard or touchpad
- A damaged laptop screen (that might need a screen replacement)
- Damage to internal electrical components such as the motherboard
Occasionally, laptops can escape unscathed if their owners act quickly after the spill. Most of the time, however, we highly recommend having a professional check out your laptop to make sure there aren’t any issues lying in wait.
What to Do When You Spill Water on Your Laptop (4 Steps)
One: Switch it Off & Unplug It
A common myth about what to do when you spill water on your laptop is to turn it on straight away to check if it’s still working. But the opposite is actually true! Spilling water on laptops doesn’t instantly kill the machine. In fact, it’s usually the electricity that water can conduct that kills vital internal components.
If water has come into contact with your laptop, turn it off immediately and disconnect the power from the wall, as well as any other devices you have plugged in (including monitors and headphones). You should never try to turn your laptop back on to test if it works, as this can cause the water to react with the electricity inside the casing and spark a short that kills all the electrical components.
Two: Dry it Out as Much as Possible
Next, it’s time to let gravity work for you. Use a paper towel or microfibre cloth to blot any excess liquid off the machine. Then, open your laptop and turn it over, placing the screen and keyboard face down onto a towel. This will allow the water to gradually drip out of the laptop.
Let your laptop dry for anywhere between 24 to 48 hours without turning it on. The more liquid that spilt, the longer we recommend letting your laptop dry.
Note: some tutorials recommend removing the battery or internal components to dry separately. We do not recommend this, as opening your laptop’s case will damage your warranty and possibly even increase the amount of damage the water does to the internal components.
Three: Turn the Laptop On to Test It
Once you’re completely sure that all water has been dried, turn on your laptop to check if it still functions. Ideally, this would be done without plugging it into the wall, for safety. There are two possibilities here:
- Your laptop turns on with no issues. In this case, run a few of the programs on your computer to see how well everything is still working. Make sure to test the trackpad, keyboard, and display thoroughly.
- Your laptop sparks or starts to smell. If anything sparks once you turn it on, or if you smell a bad odour, these are signs that liquid is still in the laptop or another larger issue is occurring. Immediately turn it off again and skip to step four.
If you want to be absolutely sure that your laptop is safe to use again, you might want to skip this step altogether and head straight to step four.
Four: Take the Laptop to a Repair Specialist
When it comes to what to do when you spill water on your laptop, our number one piece of advice is to get it looked over by a professional. Laptop repair places like Computer Repairs Hamilton care for laptops of all shapes and sizes that have come into contact with liquids, so we know exactly how to make sure that your machine is in good working order.
While the laptop may run in the short term, a spill can cause your laptop’s internal circuitry to rust over time or cause an unexpected electrical short that damages your laptop for good. It’s important to have your laptop looked over before you continue to use it.
If you notice that your keyboard, touchpad, or screen has stopped working following the spill, it’s also best to immediately take your machine to a repair place to get it looked at. This could be a sign of spreading internal damage that isn’t visible to the naked eye.
When in doubt, a repair specialist will recommend the best course of action and take care of small issues before they can progress. After all, it’s what we do best!
Spilled water on your laptop? Call Computer Repairs Hamilton.
If you’re wondering what to do when you spill water on your laptop, our team has got your back. Our friendly team of tech experts is here to help with any and all laptop emergencies, including screen repair, water damage, and more.
Get in touch with us today for fast and friendly laptop repairs that will reunite you with your machine in no time.
