I recently spilled some water from a bottle onto my gaming PC rig. I followed some advice to remove all components except the motherboard, Thermalright heat sink towers, and front fans. I've seen suggestions about using humidifiers, box fans, or compressed air to dry it out. I'm wondering if I can just let everything dry on my kitchen table, or should I place it near an air vent with the AC on? For context, the PSU was on during the spill, but I haven't turned on the PC for about two weeks. I unplugged it shortly after the incident, maybe 30 seconds after spilling, which was a couple of hours ago.
5 Answers
You might be okay since the PC was off, even if the PSU was powered. It's still a gamble, though. Letting it dry in a warm room for at least 24 hours (or even 48) and using air dusters to blow it out afterwards should help. Just don't turn on the AC while drying to keep the heat up.
Avoid using a humidifier since that would just add more moisture to the air. A fan aimed at the inside of your PC is better. Make sure to let it dry thoroughly for at least a week to be safe. Just to be cautious, don't rush the process.
Would using an air compressor instead of a fan for drying work?
Air drying might not be enough to prevent damage from the minerals in water. If you can figure out where most of the spill happened, cleaning those components with isopropyl alcohol would be your best bet. Just keep an eye on the thermal paste to make sure it doesn't run.
I plan to get some cleaning alcohol soon. Is it okay to keep the setup for a couple of days drying out?
The outcome really depends on how much water got inside. It's usually wise to check areas like underneath the heatsinks. If you see any moisture, you might want to take those off to let everything dry properly. Remember, water in the PSU can be a disaster, so avoid using your computer until you're sure everything's dry and tested.
Is it worth spending around $100 to get a computer store to check my components in a few days?
A good idea would be to rinse the pieces that got wet with some isopropyl alcohol—ideally 90% or more. This helps remove any minerals from the water that could cause corrosion. Just be cautious about getting too close to thermal paste since it might start to run. It's a solid way to ensure your parts last after the spill.
I've ordered some isopropyl alcohol online, but I plan to pick up some locally tomorrow. Should I also consider removing the motherboard and CPU for a deeper clean?
So, it's better not to use the AC at all? My apartment isn't huge, and I'm just feeling stuck.