Liquid Damage Repair
Spills and corrosion can damage boards, connectors, keyboards, batteries, and storage. ProTek inspects the device, checks recoverable data, and explains the safest path before work begins.
If wet or recently spilled on, power it off and do not charge it.
Spill triage
Do this first
Power it off and unplug everything.
Do not charge it or keep testing it.
Skip rice, heat, and hair dryers.
Bring it in while residue is still fresh.
Liquid damage is time-sensitive because residue keeps corroding after the device looks dry.
What to do now
The first few minutes after a spill matter. Stop using the device and avoid common fixes that make damage worse.
Power off immediately
Hold the power button until it shuts off. Do not wait for a clean shutdown.
Unplug everything
Disconnect the charger, USB devices, external drives, docks, and anything attached.
Do not test it again
Each boot attempt can push current through residue and turn a cleanup into board damage.
Skip rice, heat, and dryers
They do not remove conductive residue. Heat can warp parts, melt adhesive, and damage batteries.
Bring it in or start intake
The earlier we can inspect and clean the affected areas, the better the odds.
What we handle
Common liquid damage scenarios we see on laptops, desktops, and all-in-ones.
Laptop spills
Coffee, water, soda, alcohol, and other spills on laptops and notebooks.
Desktop exposure
Spills inside towers, all-in-ones, iMacs, power supplies, and internal cabling.
Corrosion cleanup
Removal of conductive residue, salts, and sugar deposits from boards and connectors.
Input damage
Sticky keys, dead keys, ghost input, trackpad failure, and palm rest damage.
Board inspection
Visual and electrical inspection for shorts, burned components, and damaged traces.
Data recovery after liquid
Drive extraction and recovery options when the device itself is not worth repairing.
Diagnosis
We treat liquid cases like evidence, not guesswork. The goal is to stop further damage, protect data, and decide whether repair makes financial sense.
Intake notes and photos
We document symptoms, spill timing, liquid type, visible damage, and customer priorities before bench work begins.
Corrosion mapping
We open the device, inspect under magnification, and map residue across boards, sockets, shields, and connectors.
Board and connector inspection
We check the logic board, RAM, storage, display paths, battery area, keyboard, trackpad, and I/O connectors.
Rail and short testing
We test power rails and look for shorts that explain no-power, no-post, charging, boot loop, or shutdown behavior.
Data-first storage evaluation
We evaluate the drive separately so data recovery stays on the table even if the computer is not worth repairing.
Quote and repair path
You get a realistic outcome, repair recommendation, and quote before we proceed with chargeable work.
Expectations
Liquid damage is unpredictable, so we do not promise magic. Our job is to prevent further damage, protect recoverable data, and give you the honest repair path before money gets spent.
- Outcomes vary by the type of liquid, time exposed, and how the device was treated afterward.
- Some repairs are clean and direct. Others need replacement parts, board-level work, or are not worth fixing.
- When the device is a loss, drive extraction and data recovery are often still possible.
- We give you the honest path forward before doing chargeable work.
Liquid damage questions
Bring it in for a real look
The sooner we inspect the device, the better the chances. Schedule a drop-off or call to talk through your situation.