Liquid Spills

Help Desk

What to do if Liquid Spills on Your Laptop

Coffee, soda, beer, and other liquids spilled on your laptop can badly damage your system and result in costly repairs. For Dell computers, liquid spills are not be covered by your warranty unless you purchased Haverford's recommended Dell laptop warranty package, Dell CompleteCare. In the case of Macs, liquid spill damage is not covered by AppleCare warranty. If you need help for your Mac after a liquid spill, Haverford's Apple technicians are happy to help you disassemble, clean, or repair your machine at the rate of $40 per hour.

In the event that you do spill something on your laptop computer, you can minimize damage to your machine if you follow these steps immediately:

1. Unplug your computer from the wall and from any other devices connected to it.
2. Turn off your computer and keep it off. Avoid the temptation to check on your computer. You could cause further damage.
3. Take out the battery.
4. Carefully wipe off any liquid on the outside of the computer with a soft, dry cloth.
5. Allow your computer to dry for at least 48 hours before attempting to turn your computer on.
   • Partially open your laptop and stand it up on either short end (illustrated to the left). This will help your system to dry out and drain.
   • Make sure that you store your computer in a safe, well ventilated place -- do not place a bath towel or other flammable material under or near your computer.
   • Do not use a hair dryer or fan to dry your computer -- it may damage to your machine.
   • If you turn the computer on before it is completely dry, you could cause additional damage to your system.
6. If your computer does not boot or you notice a problem, bring your computer to the Computing Help Desk in Stokes 204 during Help Desk hours. If you are away and cannot get to the Help Desk in person, call us at 610-896-1480 for advice on your best option.

In the case of a liquid spill, it's always in your best interest to seek help from the college before you contact your service provider.