Accidents happen, and spilling liquid on your computer is one of those accidents where you get a sinking feeling wondering how much damage just occurred… we know the feeling and will help you get your Mac back up and running after liquid damage. We start with a free diagnosis of the computer. If the liquid reached the logic board we will recommend our professional cleaning service which is $99 if it is successful in getting your logic board working again. Once the logic board is working, we can test the other components and let you know if anything additional needs to be replaced. The most common additional items that need replacement are the keyboard or the battery.
Mac Liquid Damage Repair
The most important thing to remember is to bring your computer in for a professional cleaning as soon as possible. If a spill happens, turn off the laptop, remove the power cable, remove the battery if possible, and run over to a repair shop that offers liquid damage cleaning. The sooner you get the power removed from the laptop and the logic board cleaned, the better the chance of having a repairable computer.
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Liquid Damage Cleaning
The first step when receiving a liquid damaged computer is to disconnect all power sources including the battery to slow the corrosion process. Then we take apart the computer and clean any liquid or corrosion from the logic board and other components using our ultrasonic cleaner. By cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner you get any residue or corrosion out from under chips. The next step is to let the board dry completely after cleaning (which can take a few hours). You want to make sure all the cleaning solution is out from under the chips before attempting to power the board back on.
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Testing Components After Cleaning
It is important to not test the computer out before it is taken apart and looked at by a shop. By pressing the power button without cleaning the board first if needed, the chance of shorting the board increases by a large amount. Once a professional cleaning is complete, the next step is to test the logic board and other components to see what repairs are necessary. Some of the most common repairs being necessary after liquid damage is a keyboard replacement or logic board level repair. If data is important we will also check the hard drive functionality at this time to verify if the data is present or if data recovery services will be needed.
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Keyboard Replacement
At HippieTechs, we offer component level repair for many problems caused by liquid damage. For example, if your keyboard shorted during the liquid damage, we offer a keyboard only replacement for most models of Macs. Replacing just the keyboard rather than the entire topples assembly will potentially save you $100’s. A shorted keyboard will usually either not work at all, or certain keys will not function properly. Because of the circuitry design on the keyboards, usually a diagonal row of keys will go out at the same time, so for instance the E, D, and C keys will all start having trouble functioning properly. Often times when the keyboard is bad striking a key will bring a different letter, or a combination of letters.
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Battery Replacement
Anything power related is especially vulnerable during liquid damage. The battery should be replaced if the components came into direct contact with the liquid. We offer battery only replacements to help save you money. Many battery replacements (for the retina model MacBook Pro’s) have the battery attached to the top case meaning the entire top case must be replaced if you need a new battery. We are able to replace just the battery saving you money in the process by keeping components that are still functioning properly!
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Logic Board Component Level Repair
One of the most expensive components in your Mac is its logic board. The logic board holds the processor, graphics processor, and more. If the liquid damaged the board, we may be able to repair the board itself rather than swapping it out completely. Our component level repair on logic boards is $249 if successful. Note that we only charge if we are successful in repairing the board. If we are unsuccessful, there is no charge for the failed attempt. A successful logic board repair service will be a savings of $100’s off buying a replacement board!
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Display Repair
If the display in your Mac was damaged by coming into contact with liquid, we can help! We offer screen repair services for almost every model Mac and keep many of the parts in stock. You can see our prices on our Mac Screen Repair Pricing page. One of the more classic examples of liquid damage on the display is when it looks like there are clouds behind the image. You can literally see the liquid behind the LCD panel and it causes what looks like clouds in the background. Another classic issue caused by a liquid damaged display is having lines or bars on the screen.
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Magsafe Board Replacement
Another component that frequently is damaged by liquid is the DC in board, or MagSafe board. The MagSafe board is the piece that your power cable plugs into. Sometimes when damaged the Mac will not take a charge, not power on with the power cable attached, or the charging light will go orange/red and not turn green. We cary MagSafe boards in stock for many Mac models to help speed up the diagnosis/repair process.
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Data Recovery
We understand the importance of the data on your computer. As a full data recovery shop, we have the tools and expertise needed to safely remove the data from a liquid damaged hard drive. You can read all about our Data Recovery services on our Data Recovery page.
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Other Issues
There are tons of issues that can be caused by liquid damage that are not listed on this page. In fact, liquid damage repair varies so much case by case that it is impossible to know what kind of damage was sustained by the computer until it has been taken apart and the damage inspected. This is the reason we always start with a free diagnosis for liquid damaged computers. We don’t require money up front to take the computer apart and inspect the damage… we want to be able to provide you with your options without having you already invested in just learning what those options are. To start with a free diagnosis, just click the button below!
Need your Mac repaired?
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