Spilled right now? Hold the power button for 10 seconds. Unplug it. Don't charge it.
Call 02 4509 9248
MacBook repair · Hills District workshop
MacBook Water Damage Repair in Sydney's Hills District
TL;DR
Spilled just now? Hold the power button for 10 seconds. Unplug it. Don't turn it back on, and don't charge it.
Call 02 4509 9248 and bring it in as soon as you can. Liquid keeps eating the board until it is cleaned out.
Spill clean from $150. Chip-level repair from $249. The $150 inspection comes off the repair if you go ahead.
We repair the board, not swap it, so your files stay. A new board wipes the files on 2018+ and M1-and-newer Macs.
Apple's warranty doesn't cover liquid. Need an insurance report? $149.
Spilled on your MacBook? Do this in the first 10 minutes
Cut the power, drain it, and keep it off. These six steps give your Mac the best chance.
1
Turn it off. Hold the power button (or Touch ID) for 10 seconds until the screen goes black. Don't stop to save your work.
2
Unplug everything. The charger first, then USB drives, hubs and screens.
3
Wipe the outside. Use a dry towel or paper towel. Don't press the keys. That pushes liquid deeper.
4
Tent it. Open the lid wide and stand it upside down like a tent, keyboard facing down, so liquid can run out.
5
Leave it off. Don't turn it on to test it. Don't charge it. Even off, the battery keeps part of the board powered, and that power speeds up corrosion.
6
Call us and bring it in. Ring 02 4509 9248. Tell us what spilled and when. The sooner we open it, the more we can save.
What not to do after a spill
Don't use rice, heat or air, and don't test it. Each one can turn a small fix into a big one.
Don't
Why
Put it in rice
Rice can't reach inside, it doesn't stop corrosion, and its dust gets in. Apple says the same for wet iPhones.
Use a hair dryer or heater
Heat can damage parts and push liquid further in. Apple warns against external heat.
Blow compressed air into it
It drives liquid deeper under the keys and chips.
Turn it on "to check"
Power plus liquid can short chips that were still fine.
Charge it
Charging feeds power straight into the wet board.
Wait for it to "dry out"
The outside dries in a day. Liquid trapped under chips does not, and the residue keeps corroding.
Shake it
Shaking spreads liquid to parts it hadn't reached.
Apple's advice on rice, heat and compressed air: Apple Support.
Spill checker: how serious is it?
Answer five questions to see the risk, what to do now, and the likely repair. It is a guide, not a diagnosis.
What water does inside a MacBook
Liquid harms a Mac in two ways: it shorts parts while there is power, and it corrodes the board for days or weeks after.
Short circuits. Liquid joins tiny points on the board that should never touch. With power on, chips can burn out in seconds.
Corrosion. Minerals, sugar and salt stay behind when the water dries. With a little power and moisture, they eat the metal. You may see green or white crust.
It hides. Liquid gets trapped under chips and connectors, where you can't see it or dry it.
It spreads. On one real job, corrosion moved from the ports on one side of a MacBook Pro to the other side in three weeks.
Simplified layout. On MacBooks the main board sits under the keyboard, so a keyboard spill can reach it in seconds. Liquid near the side ports often kills the chips that run USB-C and charging.
Which liquids do the most damage
Liquid
Why it hurts
Risk
Plain water
Shorts live parts. Tap and rain water leave minerals behind.
Lower
Black coffee or tea
Mildly acidic, leaves a stain and residue.
Medium
Coffee with milk or sugar, juice, soft drink
Sticky sugar and fat hold moisture against the board.
High
Beer or wine
Sugar and acid, and often a big spill.
High
Salt water or pool water
Salt and chlorine carry current well and corrode fastest.
Very high
Signs of water damage, even weeks later
A Mac that works after a spill is not safe yet. Watch for these signs, and get it cleaned before they start.
Keys stop working one by one
A USB-C port stops charging
The battery drains fast or won't charge
The screen flickers or goes dark
Speakers crackle or go quiet
The trackpad clicks on its own
Fans run all the time
Random shutdowns
It won't turn on at all
What MacBook water damage repair costs
A clean starts from $150. Board repair starts from $249. We can't give an exact price on the phone, because nobody can see the corrosion until the Mac is open.
Inspection: we open it, check it and quote
$150, comes off the repair if you go ahead
Ultrasonic clean and dry, no parts needed
From $150
Chip-level board repair after a spill
From $249
Keyboard or trackpad after a spill
From $129
Screen after a spill
From $149
Files only, from a dead or wet Mac
From $199
Insurance report for your claim
$149
Real job: MacBook Air M1, dead after rain, files saved
$450
Real job: MacBook Pro 16" 2019, dead USB-C ports
$580
Real job prices are what those customers paid at our workshop. You approve every price before we start.
How we repair a water-damaged MacBook
We stop the corrosion first, then find and replace only the parts that failed. That is why it often costs a lot less than a new board.
1
Battery off. We open the Mac and disconnect the battery first. This cuts the power that feeds corrosion.
2
Look closely. We check the liquid indicators and map every spot of corrosion under a microscope.
3
Ultrasonic clean. The board goes into an ultrasonic bath with a board-safe solution. It reaches under the chips where a brush can't. Then it is fully dried.
4
Find the dead parts. Power readings, circuit diagrams and board maps show which chips have failed.
5
Replace only what failed. Common ones after a spill: USB-C controller chips, charging chips, backlight chips and audio chips.
6
Test everything. Charging, every port, keyboard, trackpad, screen, speakers, microphones, camera, Wi-Fi and the battery.
7
You get a report. What we found, what we fixed, and anything that may still be at risk. Need it for insurance? We write a formal report for $149.
What we can't promise
Liquid damage is hard to predict. Two spills that look the same can end very differently.
Hidden corrosion can cause a new fault later. We warranty the parts we replace, but there is no long-term guarantee on a liquid-damaged Mac. See our terms.
If a repair costs more than your Mac is worth, we tell you, and we focus on your files.
Repair it, replace it, or just save the files?
It depends on what still works, whether you have a backup, and whether you have AppleCare+.
Your situation
Our advice
It still works after a spill
Back up, then have it cleaned. This is the cheapest time to act.
Some keys, ports or sound have stopped
Clean and replace the failed parts. Usually worth it if the Mac is otherwise good.
It won't turn on and you need the files
Board repair to reach the files. Files first, then decide on the Mac.
It won't turn on, files are backed up, you have AppleCare+
AppleCare+ may be the cheaper choice. Check with Apple.
Old Mac and the repair costs more than it's worth
We save your files and move them to your new Mac.
Will you lose your files after a spill?
Not if the board is repaired. A new board means your files are gone on most newer Macs.
Macs with a T2 chip (2018 to 2020) and all M1-and-newer Macs keep their storage soldered to the board, and it is always encrypted. The key lives in the chip on that board.
So if a shop or Apple swaps the board, the old files can't be read, even if the storage chips were fine.
That is why we repair the original board. Even when the Mac is not worth fixing, we fix it enough to start, then copy your files off.
Older Macs (MacBook Air to 2017, MacBook Pro to 2015) have a removable drive, so the files can often be read in another machine.
Know your Mac login password. With FileVault on, we need it to unlock your files.
Covered as accidental damage, for a service fee. If you have it, check with Apple. No backup? Talk to us first: a new board wipes the files on 2018+ and M1-and-newer Macs, and we can get them out before it goes to Apple.
Maybe. Many policies only cover a spill if you added accidental damage cover. Outside the home you usually need portable items cover. Check your policy wording.
Often, yes. The best chances come when it was turned off fast and brought in within a day or two, before corrosion spreads. After the inspection we tell you if it can be fixed and what it will cost.
How much does it cost to fix MacBook water damage?
A spill clean starts from $150 and chip-level board repair from $249. The $150 inspection comes off the repair if you go ahead. Real jobs: $450 to save a student's files from a dead MacBook Air M1, and $580 to fix dead USB-C ports on a MacBook Pro 16". Much lower than a new board from Apple.
Can a MacBook survive water damage?
Yes, if the power is cut quickly and the board is cleaned before corrosion takes hold. A Mac that still works after a spill can still fail weeks later, so have it cleaned.
What do I do if my Mac has water damage?
Hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn it off. Unplug the charger and everything else. Wipe the outside. Stand it upside down like a tent, keyboard facing down. Don't turn it on or charge it. Then call 02 4509 9248.
How long does MacBook water damage repair take?
Most jobs take 2 to 7 days. A clean with no parts can be quicker. On one real job we had a student's files back in 2 days.
I spilled water on my MacBook but it still works. What now?
Back up your files today, then bring it in for a clean. Liquid left inside keeps corroding the board. On one real job the owner waited three weeks, and the corrosion spread from the ports on one side to the other side.
Does putting a MacBook in rice work?
No. Rice can't reach inside the Mac, it does not stop corrosion, and its dust can get in. Apple says not to put a wet iPhone in rice for the same reason.
Does AppleCare+ cover water damage?
Yes. AppleCare+ covers liquid as accidental damage, for a service fee, so check with Apple if you have it. If you have no backup, talk to us first. Apple usually fits a new board, and on 2018+ and M1-and-newer Macs that wipes your files. We can get the files out before it goes to Apple.
Does home insurance cover a spilled drink on a laptop?
Only if your policy includes accidental damage cover, which is often an optional extra. Outside the home you usually need portable items cover. Check your policy. Your insurer will want a written report from a repairer. Ours costs $149.
Will I lose my files after water damage?
Not if the board is repaired. On 2018+ and M1-and-newer Macs, the files are locked to the original board, so a new board means the old files can't be read. Don't agree to a board swap until your files are safe.
How does Apple know it was liquid damage?
Mac laptops have liquid contact indicators inside that change colour when they get wet. Corrosion is also easy to see under a microscope.
How long should I wait before I turn my MacBook back on?
Don't wait and try. Drying the outside does not dry the board, and liquid stays trapped under the chips. Turning it on can short the parts that are still fine.
Is it worth repairing an old MacBook after a spill?
It depends on what failed and what the Mac is worth. We tell you after the inspection. If it is not worth it, we can still try to save your files and move them to your new Mac.
Can water damage on a MacBook screen be fixed?
If liquid got inside the screen, you may see stains or lines, and the display usually needs replacing (from $149). Often the real fault is the backlight circuit on the board, which costs less to fix.
