Save Your Laptop From Water Damage
Computer

8 Steps To Save Your Laptop From Water Damage

The laptop is one of the most used equipments in the office. However, it is also one of the most vulnerable to water damage. Water and electronics need to mix better. If you accidentally spill water on your laptop or if there is a flood in your office, you need to know how to act quickly. This article will show you how to save your laptop from water damage.

Water is one of the most common causes of damage to your laptop. From spilling a glass of water at the dinner table to dropping your laptop in the bathtub, it can be challenging to avoid damage. The good news is that there are many ways to get around this.

If you’ve dropped your laptop in water, or even if you think the liquid might get inside, don’t panic. You can still save your laptop. You can do some things that could help you prevent damage altogether. This guide offers some advice on how to avoid water damage and what to do if it happens anyway.

Keep your laptop in a protective case.

Many laptops come in protective cases. If you need one, try to find one for your laptop as soon as possible. You can find cases made specifically for your laptop or a generic bag offering protection from water and other damage.

Keep your laptop away from liquids.

Laptops should be kept away from drinks and other liquids. Not only is this an excellent way to protect the laptop itself, but it also helps prevent spills from damaging or destroying other items that might be nearby.

Turn off the laptop instantly after the water spill.

If your laptop does get wet, immediately turn it off. This will help prevent damage to the inside of the laptop. Next, remove any power sources and remove any discs or flash drives from the computer.

Also, Read This – 15 Ways To Boost Up The Laptop Performance

Now that you’ve done everything you can to prevent water damage, you need to know what to do if your laptop does get wet. This is much easier than you might think. First, shut down your laptop and ensure it’s unplugged from any power source. Next, you’ll want to open the laptop and remove any batteries. Then try to let it dry out on its own for about 24 hours.

Do not turn on your laptop.

This general rule applies to virtually any electronic device you own. Even though laptops have safeguards to protect against moisture, you still need to take precautions to avoid a disaster. Do not turn on your laptop if you think it has been exposed to water.

When you spill water on your laptop, it may seem like the best thing to do is turn it on. But don’t do it. Just because you can turn it on right away doesn’t mean that you should. It’s best to leave your laptop off for a little while to allow the water to drain out of your laptop.

We know that water is an essential element for human life, but it can also cause massive damage to a computer. Water can short-circuit the laptop’s motherboard or destroy a hard drive. 

So, if you accidentally spill water on your laptop, do not turn it on your computer. Instead, please turn off your laptop, unplug it, and remove the battery. Then, use a clean and dry cloth to clean your laptop and wait for it to dry for at least 24 hours before turning it on again.

Remove the battery and any auxiliary power supply.

If your laptop has been dropped into water, it is essential to remove the battery as quickly as possible. 

  • Remove any auxiliary power supply to ensure that the laptop is switched off and there is no power source. 
  • After this, you should remove any accessories, such as the hard drive or the optical drive. 
  • Then, open the display and check that there is no water in the keyboard or the touchpad. 
  • If not, let your laptop dry for a few days in an environment free from dust. 
  • As for the hard drive, you should immediately turn off your computer and wait a few hours before trying to turn it on again.

Protect the hard disk drive.

If you have a laptop computer, you must know that a hard drive is the most critical component. It stores all your important data; if it goes down, it may be lost forever. That’s why you need to take measures to protect your laptop’s hard drive in case of water damage.

According to the experts, you should immediately shut down your computer and remove the battery as soon as you realize that your laptop has been damaged by water. You’ll want to lay it on a flat surface and detach the AC adapter. If you cannot turn it off, unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet.

Afterward, it would help if you used a towel to gently dab the moisture from your computer’s keyboard and LCD screen. You shouldn’t rub with a towel or press on the keys. If water is visible on the keyboard, you should also try to dry it before it causes any damage. You can use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to suck up the water or a compressed air duster.

Once the water has been removed, and the laptop is completely dry, you should turn it back on.

Turn the laptop upside down.

You’ll need to act fast when your laptop gets wet to avoid further damage. The first step is to turn it upside down, with the keyboard facing down. Then, you must dry the device as quickly as possible. Don’t use a hair dryer, for example. Instead, shake it. It’s best to do this in an open area since water can spread quickly. You can also use a towel to absorb the water from your laptop.

When you’re done drying the laptop, you’ll need to take it apart. The first step is removing the battery. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to remove the keyboard. That’s the only way to access the motherboard. Here are the steps to follow:

  • Remove all screws from both sides of the laptop with a screwdriver.
  • Take a flat-head screwdriver and pry up the keyboard on the one-hand side. Use both hands for this task.
  • Raise the keyboard on both sides and remove it carefully with your fingers.
  • Put it aside on a towel or paper towel to absorb any water that might have gotten in there.
  • Once removed, you’ll see the motherboard. This is where most of the water might have gotten in, so you’ll need to dry it as well thoroughly.
  • If there are small holes in the motherboard, you can use a compressed air duster to remove any water.
  • If there’s any water left, use a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol to remove it.
  • As you do this, ensure to put the swab away from the motherboard’s surface. Instead, place the swab flat on the surface and dab away any water.
  • Once you’ve done this, try to put the keyboard back onto the laptop. If it doesn’t go in quickly, take it off and try again. When you’re done, it should fit on both sides of the laptop. When that’s done, put all screws back in place and close it up again.
  • After doing all that, gently turn on your laptop again.

Protect the LCD screen.

Protect the LCD screen to save your laptop from water spillage. How often have you heard about laptops being dropped in the toilet or a glass of water? It happens mainly if you carry your computer around when you travel. So, how can you protect your laptop from water spillage? 

The first rule is to never leave your computer in a place where liquids could damage it. But what if it’s already too late? What should you do if you accidentally drop or spill liquids on your laptop?

If you do happen to spill water on your laptop, follow these steps to save it:

  • Turn off the computer immediately to avoid electrical shock. If you do not know how to turn off your computer, press the power button to force a shutdown. The liquid will not damage your computer if you have turned it off.
  • Unplug all wires and cables from the back of the computer.
  • If the water is still there, be careful not to let any more liquid into the computer. You might have just saved your laptop, but if you expose it to more fluid, it will likely be destroyed.
  • Do not move the laptop under any circumstances. Just leave it alone until it completely dries out.

If you cannot get your computer to dry out for several days, take it to a computer repair shop for professional attention.