MacBook Pro Repair: How to Save Your MacBook from Water Damage

If you’re reading this, you’re probably dealing with a MacBook Pro water damage problem. Perhaps you dropped a glass of water on your keyboard by mistake. Alternatively, you may have been caught in the weather while commuting with your laptop. 

Whatever situation you find yourself in, you need to visit a MacBook Pro repair centre for water damage repairs.  However, there are a few things you should do to keep your MacBook Pro from getting any worse.

Steps to Follow

If you’ve just spilled water on your MacBook, there are a few things you can do to help it keep going as long as possible. It is important that you stop using your water MacBook Pro the moment water spills on your laptop. If you would want to Google for an authorised MacBook repair and mobile repair centre, then use your smartphone or another device.

The first method to prevent more damage is shutting your MacBook Pro down immediately. Remove all items attached to the MacBook, such as a USB or an SD card, and disconnect it from any connected power sources after that.

Draining Your Water Damaged MacBook Pro

Before taking your MacBook Pro to any authorised Laptop and mobile repair shop, you will need to drain the water from your MacBook Pro once it is fully powered off. Depending on the MacBook model, there are 2 ways to do this.  To begin, if your MacBook is a pre-2013 MacBook Pro or pre-2018 MacBook Air model with a non-Retina display, you can use the “tent” position technique to drain your water-damaged MacBook.

If your MacBook has a Retina display, you’ll need to use a different method to drain it. Basically, you will need to drain your MacBook Pro by setting it on a flat, edged surface like a bench or tabletop.

Draining Your MacBook with the Tent Method

This simple and effective method works well with older MacBooks that have thicker screens. You can securely set your MacBook in a “tent” posture and drain the liquid from below it – thanks to the earlier MacBook’s watertight screens.

The displays of pre-2018 MacBook Air models are protected by an aluminium frame. Protective glass covers are present on pre-2013 MacBook Pro models with non-Retina displays. These shield their screens from being damaged by water.

Bench Top Method

Any MacBook model will work with this technique. If your MacBook Pro is a more recent model (2013 MacBook Pro and later with Retina displays), this must be your preferred method of draining the water from it. Look up your MacBook’s serial number, product specs, or package details, online to see if it has a Retina display.

Retina displays are sensitive to water damage and are costly to replace. The tent draining method will damage the Retina display, therefore you can’t use it.

The first step is to locate a flat surface with an edge, such as a table or benchtop. Next, use dry and soft paper towels to line up the surface near the edge. Because this is where your MacBook’s display will reside. After that, you can open your MacBook Pro at a 90-degree angle. Place your MacBook’s display section face down on the surface, with the keyboard section hanging over the side. Keep an eye on your MacBook Pro to make sure it doesn’t fall over.

Water will not move towards the screen; hence this method works with non-water resistant screens. This causes fluids to seep through the ports and keyboard of the computer. It also prevents further damage by drawing fluids away from the hardware.

What Not to Do

We’ve already discussed what to do if you spill water on your MacBook Pro and when a MacBook water damage repair is required. The list of things NOT to do, on the other hand, is equally significant.

1. Do Not Put Your Device in Rice.

The age-old ‘device in rice’ treatment has become so popular that it’s one of the first things people think of when their device because comes into contact with water. The reasoning behind this is rice absorbs water, therefore it will absorb the liquid in your MacBook. Putting your MacBook on a bed of rice won’t damage it, but it won’t help it either.

2. Do Not Shake Your MacBook Pro

Having said that, in a panic, users may usually shake their MacBook Pro to clear it of water. In theory, it makes sense, however in practise, allowing water to enter other parts of the MacBook Pro’s hardware is more likely to cause severe water damage.

3. Do Not Turn On Your MacBook Pro

Another important mistake to avoid is turning on your MacBook Pro to see if it’s still functional. In the short term, if you spilled water on your laptop, it may still work. This does not rule out the possibility that the damage has reached your MacBook. 

Damage is generally triggered by minerals and salts in liquids such as water, which erode computer electronic components. This process is accelerated by the heat generated by turning on the computer. This is why you should turn off your MacBook until you can take it to a specialist for a comprehensive water damage assessment and repair.

Conclusion

Following the steps outlined above, you should call an authorised MacBook Pro repair centre that has the requisite abilities to repair your MacBook Pro. Authorised repair centres have the expertise and skills in providing effective assistance to you in the event of your laptop being damaged by water. If your MacBook Pro has been damaged by water, please contact only authorised service centres for a reliable and effective solution.