I accidentally spilled about half a cup of water through the top of my PC. I unplugged it immediately and left it disconnected with a fan blowing on it for 24 hours. After plugging everything back in, there are no lights, fan movement, or other signs of power. I inspected the components and didn't see any obvious water damage, and I also removed the RAM and graphics card to check whether anything changed. What should I test next, and is it likely that the power supply or motherboard was damaged?
3 Answers
Twenty-four hours with a fan doesn’t guarantee that everything is dry, especially under connectors or inside the power supply. Unplug it again and let the components dry thoroughly, then have the board and connectors inspected for residue or corrosion. Since water entered from the top and the computer is completely lifeless, professional testing is a better option than randomly replacing parts.
A liquid spill can short the power supply, motherboard, or another component even when there’s no visible damage. Start by disconnecting the PC from power and inspecting the power supply carefully—don’t open the PSU itself. Because the system has absolutely no lights or fan movement, the PSU is one possibility, but the motherboard or case power circuit could also be affected. If you’re not comfortable diagnosing components, a reputable repair shop is the safest next step.
Removing the RAM and graphics card alone won’t isolate the problem. A proper diagnosis would involve testing the system outside the case with only the motherboard, CPU, cooler, one memory stick, and a known-good PSU. Before doing that, check the power cable, PSU switch, motherboard power connectors, and the case’s power-button connection. Don’t keep repeatedly powering it on if there may still be moisture or residue inside.
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