MacSolutions Plus, Inc. Buffalo's premiere Apple Specialist

Spill Cleaning

You didn't mean for it to happen. It was an accident. Some liquid has just spilled into your Mac.

What should I do now?

The first thing you should do is immediately shut down the computer and unplug the power cord. Don't try to turn it back on. Liquids can help electrical current move about the components of your Mac in destructive ways. If it is a Portable Mac you should also remove the rechargeable battery. Disconnect any peripherals and note what was spilled into your Mac. Don't shake the computer (this will only spread the liquid around) or use a hair dryer on it (even at a low setting a hair dryer will damage sensitive components). Don't wait for the damage to be evident. Bring/Ship the Mac to MacSolutions Plus as soon as you can. It doesn't take a big spill to cause significant damage.

What should I expect, what are the costs?

We charge a non-refundable fee of $30+tax for determining the extent of the damage. When you bring a Mac in for a spill cleaning we completely disassemble it and clean the affected parts. The parts are set aside to dry for at least 48 hours. After they dry, we test the Mac to determine if any of the parts are in need of replacing. A technician will call you with a more specific estimate after the Mac has been cleaned. If we determine a part needs replacing, we'll contact you for authorization prior to replacing it. There may be additional labor charges if several parts need to be replaced. You'll get the same advice we'd give a good friend; if it makes better sense to purchase a new Mac that is the advice we'll give.

Note* we do not clean individual keys on a keyboard. Our experience has shown that it almost always fails and is not worth the time it takes to clean each key.

What are the chances my Mac will be OK?

The chances are surprisingly good. But keep in mind, most spill damaged Macs will require replacement parts.

My Mac won't turn on after a spill. Is it worth cleaning?

If the Mac is fairly new it makes sense to attempt a spill cleaning. If it is older than three years, it may be time to consider a new Mac.

How does this affect my warranty or AppleCare?

Apple does not cover damage caused by spills. Apple charges pretty steep prices to deal with spill damaged Macs. Our prices are much more reasonable.

Is there some type of warranty on spill cleaning?

No, we offer a standard 90 day warranty on the replaced parts unless otherwise specified at the time of the repair. We do not warranty the entire computer.

It was just a little liquid. How could that have killed my Mac?

It really depends on where the liquid made contact with the internal components. The tiniest amount of liquid could conceivably cause a logic board to fail. The logic board of a Mac is densely crowded with many sensitive components.

I dropped my Mac off a week ago. What is taking so long?

Spill cleaning is time consuming. It is a process that is best not rushed. Please keep in mind what is being done in the case of a spill cleaning. We must fully disassemble and clean your Mac. After that, it must be allowed to dry for at least 48 hours. Then we inspect it further to determine what if any damage has occurred. We replace suspect parts and reassemble it. Finally it is tested thoroughly to be sure it passes all functional tests.

Can I trade-in my spill damaged Mac to you for parts?

It really depends on the specific Mac we are talking about. The older the Mac is; the less we want or need the parts. Additionally we pay very little for trade-ins.

My Mac wasn't fixed and I was charged anyway. What gives?

You are paying for the service we provided. We disassembled, cleaned and tested your Mac. Although you may decide the cost of the repair is prohibitive, we still spent time and effort assisting you in your decision.