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Spill Cleaning


Some liquid has just spilled into your Mac. What should you do?


Do

  • Immediately shut down the computer and unplug the power cord.
  • Remove the computer's battery if it's a portable Mac.
  • Disconnect any peripherals (printers, iPods, scanners, cameras, etc.)
  • Lay the computer upside down on paper towels to get as much liquid as possible to drip out.
  • Note what was spilled on your Mac.
  • Bring the computer into Tekserve as soon as possible.

Don't

  • Don't try to turn it back on. Liquids can help electrical current move about the components of your Mac in destructive ways.
  • Don't shake the computer (this will only spread the liquid around).
  • Don't use a hair dryer on it (even at a low setting a hair dryer will damage sensitive components).


About Tekserve's Spill Cleaning Service

We charge a non-refundable fee of $250+tax for cleaning the computer and determining the extent of the spill damage. When you bring your Mac in for a spill cleaning, we completely disassemble it and clean the affected parts. Then we reassemble the computer and test the Mac to determine if any of the parts need to be replaced. A technician will then call you with the cost to replace any damaged parts; at that point you can choose to continue the repair or move onto a new machine. You'll get the same advice we'd give a good friend; if it makes more sense to purchase a new Mac, we'll let you know.


Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a question below to view in full:


What are the chances my Mac will be OK?

The chances are surprisingly good. But keep in mind, most spill damaged Macs will require replacement parts.


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.


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.


Is there some type of warranty on spill cleaning?

No, we offer a standard one-year warranty on the replaced parts unless otherwise specified at the time of the repair. We do not warranty the entire computer.


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 cause a logic board to fail. (The logic board is the main circuit board in your computer that connects to every part of the machine.) The logic board of a Mac is densely crowded with many sensitive components.


I dropped my Mac off a week ago. What is taking so long?

Spill cleaning is time consuming. It is a process that is best not rushed. Please keep in mind what is being done in the case of a spill cleaning. We must fully disassemble and clean your Mac. After that, it must be allowed to dry for at least 48 hours. Then we inspect it further to determine what if any damage has occurred. We replace suspect parts and reassemble it. Finally it is tested thoroughly to be sure it passes all functional tests.


Can I trade-in my spill damaged Mac to you for parts?

Usually not. Any parts damaged by the spill cannot be traded in but occasionally we may offer a small amount for other parts.


Can I apply the spill clean fee to the purchase of a new Mac?

We would appreciate it if you did purchase a new Mac from us. However, we are not able to apply the fee to your new purchase. If you decide to purchase a new Mac from Tekserve, we will transfer the data from your old Mac to a new one for free (providing your hard drive functions normally).