Have you ever had an accident while drinking coffee, tea, or water near your laptop, and suddenly the liquid spilled onto it? Does your laptop immediately turn itself off and won’t turn on anymore? If so, you may feel panicked and confused about what to do. Has your laptop been permanently damaged, or can it still be saved?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people have experienced something similar, and there are steps you can take to increase your laptop’s chances of recovering from water damage. However, you need to be quick and careful, because every second and movement counts.
This article will provide you with a complete guide on how to save a laptop that is exposed to water and turns itself off, from first aid steps to advanced repairs.
First Aid Steps
First aid measures are the most important steps you should take as soon as your laptop is exposed to water. This step aims to prevent further damage to your laptop components, especially those related to electricity and circuits. Here are the steps you should take:
- Turn off your laptop. If your laptop is still on, immediately press the power button for a few seconds until your laptop is completely off. Do not try to close the application or save the data first, as doing so will waste time and increase the risk of a short circuit. If your laptop is already turning itself off, make sure that your laptop is not in sleep or hibernate mode, but is completely off.
- Unplug all cables and accessories. Disconnect all cables connected to your laptop, including power adapters, USB cables, HDMI cables, ethernet cables, and others. Also, remove all accessories installed on your laptop, such as mice, keyboards, flash drives, external hard drives, and others. It aims to prevent electric current from entering or exiting your laptop and avoid damage to other connected devices.
- Turn your laptop upside down. Once you’ve made sure that no cables or accessories are connected, turn your laptop upside down with the keyboard on the bottom and the screen on top. This aims to make the liquid that enters your laptop flow out through the cracks of the keyboard, and not seep into the more sensitive inside of the laptop. Don’t wiggle or shake your laptop, as doing so could make the liquid spread to unwanted places.
- Remove your laptop battery. If your laptop has a removable battery, remove your laptop battery carefully. This aims to disconnect the main power source of your laptop and reduce the risk of short circuits. If your laptop has a non-removable battery, you’ll need to open your laptop case to disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard. However, this requires special skills and equipment, so you may need help from a professional technician.
- Dry your laptop. Use a clean cloth, tissue, or paper towel to absorb and remove any liquid that is still stuck to the surface of your laptop. Do not use a hair dryer, fan, or other heating device, as doing so could damage the heat-sensitive components of your laptop. Do not also use rice, silica gel, or other absorbent materials, as doing so can leave a residue that can clog holes or gaps in your laptop.