Macbook Air hit by Water Ballon

[TooSmooth]

So I was the music man for a waterballon trivia show.

Long story short, my laptop was directly hit by a water ballon. Fortunately it hit the cover side rather than the open side. I do not think any water got it (unless it went into the vents). It looks like no damage was done, what do you guys think?

 

[NurJahan]

I think I would murder whoever threw that water balloon.

 

[IngerMan]

I would keep it off and seal it up in a zip lock freezer bag with a cup of dry rice inside for at least 48 hours, maybe 72. The rice will absorb any moisture. Very common trick for cell phones, etc.... Google it.

 

[sharkync]

IngerMan is giving sage advice. That's exactly what I would do to be on the safe side.

 

[AlphaDogg]

Rice may get caught in the vents/ports. If you have any silica gel packets (from being shipped things, etc) , put the MBA in a Ziploc freezer bag, and put as many silica gel packets in the bag as you can. Leave the MBA in the bag untouched for 48-72 hours and see if the MBA works.

 

[ECUpirate44]

Rice may get caught in the vents/ports.

So cover them with tape?

 

[DoFoT9]

So cover them with tape?

if you cover all the holes with tape then how is the moisture going to get out?

 

[t0rr3s]

Hello MacBook Air Balloon.

 

[TooSmooth]

I think I would murder whoever threw that water balloon.

He is a good friend. I would if he wasnt, aha.

I did not zip it up with moisture sucking things. After it was hit I turned it off and cleaned everything off right away. I am using it right now and there doesn't seem to be any ill effects.

 

[Martylaa]

Lol why ask for advice if you weren't going to follow it?

 

[Scottsdale]

Actually, you are very lucky it was a water balloon. Water is the easiest to recover from spills.

I would immediately pull the entire thing completely apart. Get the battery disconnected, and definitely do NOT try turning it on for a few weeks.

I would leave them all apart to dry for ten to fourteen days. You really don't need to clean anything since it was water. It is really about getting it apart so it can all completely dry. Store it in a completely dry place, and you could use fans and heat to dry it quicker but that adds some risk. If any power goes through it, you could ruin it so you need to keep it off until completely dried. I wouldn't put it in a bag with dry ice nor apply anything to it. I would just get it all apart so it can completely dry and not attempt using it until it's beyond completely dry.

The keyboards are really sensitive, so it is possible you would have to replace the keyboard if some of the keys don't work. Make sure the keyboard is completely dry as it can retain water more easily if not completely torn down. With any luck the rest of it could be completely safe once dry.

Good luck.

 

[Duke15]

Too bad you didn;t get a video of that happaning, thank god its alright, atleast you have a good story now

 

[chrono1081]

Actually, you are very lucky it was a water balloon. Water is the easiest to recover from spills.

+1 My Macbook air got hit by a chocolate syrup balloon and never recovered

 

[57004]

He is a good friend. I would if he wasnt, aha.

So? Friends are free. You can always find another one. MacBooks cost at least $1000!

Sorry, just joking To remain on topic: You don't have to put the rice in with the laptop, I think putting it in a sealed bag next to a cup of rice (or better, silica gel like someone else already mentioned) should work, they should absorb the moisture from the air.

 

[triscuits]

You don't have to put the rice in with the laptop, I think putting it in a sealed bag next to a cup of rice (or better, silica gel like someone else already mentioned) should work, they should absorb the moisture from the air.

So you're suggesting to seal the computer in a plastic bag, and then put that bag next to a cup of rice? The rice will magically be able to pull water through the plastic bag?

I think he should disassemble it and put those pieces, along with a giant bag of rice, in a near vacuum to reduce the boiling point of the water and therefore speed up the whole process. You'd obviously need to perforate the rice bag to allow for absorption, or better yet spread the rice around the container to increase surface area and the rate of absorption.

I concur that the most sensitive part is probably going to be the keyboard. I accidentally spilled some water on a pre-unibody Macbook Pro keyboard once (small amount, got it apart fast enough that nothing made it past the keyboard tray), half the letters sporadically worked and I ended up having to replace it.

 

[57004]

So you're suggesting to seal the computer in a plastic bag, and then put that bag next to a cup of rice? The rice will magically be able to pull water through the plastic bag?

No, the cup of rice would be in the bag with the MacBook Air of course I just meant you don't have to plonk the laptop in a big bag of rice and get it in all the ports, like another poster suggested. No need for it to have physical contact (you're not going to get the rice physically where the water is if it's inside, and if it's only on the outside you can just wipe it off anyway).

The idea is of course: The rice would absorb any humidity in the bag, causing the water in the laptop to evaporate, which then gets absorbed, etc.. Never tried it in practice but I think it would work.