Water damage is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a laptop. If your computer encounters water, there are several things that you can do to try and fix it, but the best option is usually to take it to a professional. However, if you are curious whether or not your computer has been damaged by water, there are some telltale signs you can look for.

Knowing the common signs to look for can help diagnose water damage in your devices. If you are right there when your computer is exposed to liquids, unplug it immediately. Wet components can short-circuit and cause issues for your motherboard, hard drives, and more.

Still, you might not know immediately that water damage is to blame. You might live in an area with high humidity. Or maybe someone in the family spilled drinks on your laptop while watching NetflixThat's when you look for signs of moisture inside your computer.

Signs You Can See Yourself

Water spilled inside your keyboard can make keys and the trackpad stop working. Even a few water droplets can cause the keyboard or trackpad to start responding to your touch erratically.

You might also experience screen issues. This depends on where the liquid penetrates your laptop. Look out for:

• images not displaying correctly;
• pixel discolouration;
• a display that won't turn on.

These are pretty obvious signs you need to get help. You might also see some discolouration on the outside of the computer. The white or green residue is not a good sign.

Another scary indicator? The computer won't turn on at all. That suggests that internal components are damaged, and you'll need to take action.

Signs That Repair Shops Can See

Most people should not be opening up computers on their own. Even if you think there might have been water damage, it's safer to take the computer to a trained expert. That way, you won't do more damage trying to see what's wrong in the first place.

The person doing the repairs at a computer shop will look inside for corrosion around connectors and your motherboard. They'll be looking for that white or green residue you were hoping not to see on the exterior.

Another sign? The water damage indicator shows exposure to water or liquids. The indicator is a small device inside the computer that manufacturers use to deny warranty coverage (despite the consumer's protests that the laptop never got wet). These are common on high-end devices, such as Apple laptops.

What To Do With a Wet Computer

Unplug it. Get help. The sooner you take a water-damaged computer in for repair, the more likely we can repair it or at least salvage your data!