What should you do if you spilled something on your MacBook, iMac, or other Apple computer? Just give us a call at 823-3085 or stop by. Even with a spill, the chances are surprisingly good that your Mac will be OK, often with just a few replacement parts. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints:
Step 1 – 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.
Step 2 – If it is a laptop 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.
Step 3 – Bring it in for an estimate. 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.
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.
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.
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.