Electronics and water don’t mix well, and laptops are no exception.
Usually, water damage on a laptop is easy to spot, but this isn’t always the case.
However, the extent of the damage depends on the amount of water.
If it’s just tiny bits of wetness, it could be condensation due to humid conditions.
The Keyboard Stops Working or Malfunctions
Water damage can be sneaky, sometimes manifesting as keyboard malfunction.
This is especially common in areas with high humidity.
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Touchpad Stops Working
Water on a touchpad usually leads to stickiness and reduces responsiveness.
Water damage to the motherboard can also cause the touchpad to cease functioning or function haphazardly.
Water can cause corrosion and rust in the speakers' internal components, leading to poor sound quality.
Rusting shows up when the water stays in the speakers for a long time.
Moreover, the membrane of laptop speakers is made of paper that is easily damaged by liquid.
This can also contribute to poor sound quality.
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This happens because the battery was connected when it came into contact with water.
Short circuits can damage the power rails, leading to the uncontrolled restarts and shutdowns you might be experiencing.
Water can damage a laptop’s display and graphic cards, leading to a malfunctioning display unit.
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A BSOD could mean your laptop requires a lengthy repair or replacement.
Water damage to the hard drive or processor can result in corrosion and short-circuiting.
It can also make the operating system unstable, resulting in a BSOD.
The laptop will likely not boot.
Once you suspect water has entered your equipment, take the following steps to minimize potential damage.
Water damages electrical components instantly, and the damage is often irreparable.
If the laptop stays on after the spill, switch it off immediately.
Then, unplug it from the power source.
Remove the Battery, If you could
Another step to take is to remove the battery.
The battery is your laptop’s power source, so it should be protected immediately.
Other removable parts should follow, including the hard drive and RAM.
Before touching the laptop components, ground yourself, asstatic electricity dischargecan destroy circuitry.
Unfortunately, some laptop models only allow battery removal with unscrewing.
But for a MacBook and some other laptops, you’ll need to find a screwdriver.
Wipe and Dry
After following the preceding steps, you could thoroughly clean your gadget.
First, wipe its exterior with a dry cloth, including the keyboard and screen.
Wipe and dry thoroughly to eliminate the risk of an electric shock.
Also, clean and dry thoroughly because wet external components can short the internal components.
It’s best to place it upside down with the screen open.
you’ve got the option to also place it under a fan to speed up drying.
Isopropyl alcohol with over 90% concentration comes in handy.
In addition, you’re free to use a toothbrush to wipe down the components after drying.
It removes excess water and can help remove and protect against corrosion.
Be careful when wiping down with your brush so small board components don’t break off.
The internet is also rife with various ways to help with this problem.
Below are two popular opinions you shouldn’t consider if you have a water-damaged laptop.
But the intense heat is strong enough to harm your laptop’s components.
Blasting your laptop with a hairdryer will cause more harm than good.
Take the long route and let your laptop dry on its own or under a fan.
Rice Does Not Fix a Water-Damaged Laptop
Do not put your laptop in rice.
The rice myth is widespread, and many have reported success with this method.
But putting your unit in rice does not help.
Instead, it might worsen your laptop’s condition.
Rice is small enough to get into your laptop ports and stay there for a long time.
And rice is harder to get rid of than water.
If not, a repair is on the horizon.
Because water can destroy electrical components, a repair after water damage typically means hardware replacement.
However, some warranties cover water damage.
But you must contact your laptop’s manufacturer.
