Mac mini m1 leaking liquid, won’t turn on

[SpeQ]

Like I said, Tuesday March 9th in the AM is my appointment so I’ll know by then.

I’m afraid the only thing you will learn is that it’s not covered by warranty. They’re not going to be able to tell you what the liquid is, and they’re not going to send a sample back to “the lab”. If it’s an actual Apple Store, and not an affiliate, they might have mercy on you and clean/dry it for you at no charge, but I wouldn’t count on it. I think you’ll still be left with the mystery, and without the computer, for a while at least.

 

[Fishrrman]

I won't speculate as to what the moisture is, or from where it came. There are pages of posts here about that already.

But... whether Apple offers you a replacement or if you pay for it yourself... I'll offer a suggestion for the future:
Get it off the surface where it is now sitting.

To do that...
I'd suggest a couple of pieces of wood, perhaps 1x1, placed under the bottom plate. Once done, any "moisture" in the future will have to come "from inside" or "from above", but it won't be from the surface of the table.

 

[philfournier]

I won't speculate as to what the moisture is, or from where it came. There are pages of posts here about that already.

But... whether Apple offers you a replacement or if you pay for it yourself... I'll offer a suggestion for the future:
Get it off the surface where it is now sitting.

To do that...
I'd suggest a couple of pieces of wood, perhaps 1x1, placed under the bottom plate. Once done, any "moisture" in the future will have to come "from inside" or "from above", but it won't be from the surface of the table.

It’s already sitting on top of a grovemade desk shelf, which is on top of my ikea karlby countertop desk. Not sure why I’d need to keep placing wood under it.

 

[philfournier]

Are you vaping? I have seen computers of sub-ohm vapers damaged and looking like that after they have been vaping around the computer for a couple months.
The nasty thing about that is that PG / VG steam gets sucked into the cooling system, then condensates. The stuff does not dry off from low temperatures which causes it accumulating until you get a short.

No vaping. I don’t smoke.

 

[philfournier]

Do you by any chance vape, or anyone in your house vape

i highly doubt is condensation , I’m in NB also and I leave my window open most days minus ten or warmer and I have never had condensation issues.

to make that level of condensation would need a very warm surface and a lot of cold air. you can generally see that going on in your windows. especially with the cold nights we have had.

Ya I’m not sure man I don’t vape and it’s in a room with regular heat on. There’s some condensation on the outside of the window as normal anywhere else.

 

[djc6]

I know you've reported not having a portable humidifier, but does your furnace have a whole home humidifier like an Aprilaire attached to it? It could be turned up too high.

Do you have a hygrometer to measure indoor humidity? Have you called an HVAC professional? There are a some posts online about high efficiency furnaces causing humidity issues.

 

[Coheebuzz]

It’s already sitting on top of a grovemade desk shelf, which is on top of my ikea karlby countertop desk. Not sure why I’d need to keep placing wood under it.

Have you checked for any moisture signs under that desk shelf? It looks like a good place for moisture to get trapped if the humidity came from under your desk (i.e. wet shoes).

 

[theSeb]

I'm looking suspiciously at that cactus on the shelf above the mini...

Yeah, that cactus does look quite shifty to me as well. Also what is going on the right side shelf? Is that a glass and another plant?

Does your heating switch off for the night or switch to a lower temperature? It does seem too much water for condensation though so I am also looking at that dodgy cactus.

 

[DeltaMac]

(hmm...) nice looking desk, with pretty clean layout...
(I will not be showing a comparison shot of my desk. )

Who else uses your Mac?

 

[chscag]

Who else uses your Mac?

I think the better question is: Who has been using your Mac that didn't have permission to use it?

I've seen many water damage threads in other forums where the owner was completely surprised it happened. It usually winds up being someone in the family or visitors that caused it and didn't own up to it.

Doesn't really matter for the OP though. Apple is not likely going to repair or replace it for free.

 

[circatee]

I am still following this thread, too.

When I was at school, our Science teacher came into class one day. He had a massive piece of paper, with a sort of 'foot looking' drawing on it.

He stated that when he woke up the day before, and looked in his garden, he saw this 'foot looking' thing, shaped in the mud, and he drew it, so we could see. His questions was, what was it, and how did it get there?

The purpose of this exercise was to get us all thinking, and suggesting ideas. This thread reminds me of those few days in class.

Regardless, I will be tuning in tomorrow for the results

 

[circatee]

So, umm, any update?

 

[wkalexand]

A few ideas:

• Who else has access to the room? Looks like a nice place to set down a drink.
• If someone has access to room, what access do they have to use the computer? May help you narrow down who might have set their supposed drink on the mac.
• Do you have kids who have access to the room? Kids do the most curious (and damaging) things.
• Did you check ceiling for leaks, or wall behind it for plumbing leaks that might spray the back of the mac?

 

[Celerondon]

Does a sleeping MI Mini use power at the "Idle" rate? If it does then that is another hint that condensation was not the source of the OPs moisture problem. For comparison, an old school incandescent automotive dome light uses 4 or 5 watts of power. Inside of that room, even 4 watts should produce enough heat to eliminate the possibility of condensation in a device that size.

From the source:

 

[seadragon]

Ya I’m not sure man I don’t vape and it’s in a room with regular heat on. There’s some condensation on the outside of the window as normal anywhere else.

@philfournier Are you going to provide an update after starting this thread or have you abandoned it???

 

[pencilscribbler]

@philfournier Are you going to provide an update after starting this thread or have you abandoned it???

Patience, people.

Maybe it’s still awaiting assessment by Genius Bar / AASP?
Let’s give OP the benefit of the doubt.

 

[GooglyEyes]

Does the Mac Mini use heat pipes to transfer the CPU heat to the fans? It's possible that one or more of the heat pipes are damaged/failed and are leaking. Water is the most common fluid used in heat pipes.

 

[CMMChris]

Yes it does use heat pipes and no, there is by far not enough liquid in them to cause what has been described here. Those tiny heat pipes don't even leak if you cut them open.

 

[circatee]

Does the Mac Mini use heat pipes to transfer the CPU heat to the fans? It's possible that one or more of the heat pipes are damaged/failed and are leaking. Water is the most common fluid used in heat pipes.

Hmm, interesting thought...

 

[MacCheetah3]

Does the Mac Mini use heat pipes to transfer the CPU heat to the fans? It's possible that one or more of the heat pipes are damaged/failed and are leaking. Water is the most common fluid used in heat pipes.

That was a thought I had as well, but I've never heard of such a failure occurring, not a single instance for any computer.

 

[ElBerserko]

Some questions to ask yourself: Do you drink hot tea, hot coffee, or other hot beverage or hot meal while at your desk? Did the steam rise up near your Mini?

This seems like the most likely cause. Looking at the OP's desk setup picture, if there is ever a steaming hot beverage sitting to the left of the keyboard it seems like a prime spot for that steam to get pulled in by the fan through the intake on the bottom of the mini and condense on the aluminum body inside.

 

[Coheebuzz]

It doesn't need to be pulled by a fan, the mini runs fan-less most of the time so you have a hot, dry and wind-less state that may naturally suck in humidity and expel the heat until an equilibrium is reached.

 

[DonutHands]

Anyone think OP will return to post when they remember that months ago they set down some wet container next to the Mac mini?

 

[GrumpyCoder]

Don't think we'll hear from the OP again. I think it's unlikely condensation or a broken heat pipe. Neither is a per responsible. I think it's the usual "I spilled water but gonna clean the outside and deny it ever happened so someone else has to pay for my broken machine" or "someone else spilled water on it, cleaned everything up except for the inside of the MacMini and didn't tell the OP to not get in trouble". It usually turns out to be one of the two and we'll never know. But the forum is full of these threads.

 

[trip1ex]

possible the heat wasn't being vented out of the Mini properly and caused condensation inside.