Ceiling leak - got a shower

Sul · 7 Oct 2006 at 05:56

Hey,

Just need some advice on how to go about my equipment getting a shower from the flat upstairs..

Basically, returned home to find my keyboard / mouse and screen with a load of water all over it due to a leak coming from the ceiling directly above. I've switched off the computer and moved everything away from it now, and luckily nothing else got damaged (my other computer components escaped untouched).

How do I assess the damage or go about using my equipment without damaging it further? Would leaving it to dry for a day be enough - will it still work? Also, I'm in London and the water is pretty hard here, so it leaves a residue. My monitor got splashed with water (a third of the screen or so) and so has this calcium like residue on it - how do I go about cleaning that, I'm afraid it might scratched the screen..

At the time my computer was switched on, and my monitor and keyboard seemed to work, but my mouse didn't. Is it likely that my mouse will work once it's dry?

Overall, I've been lucky, only my 3 items got water over them, but it's terrified me! Not sure where I stand, if say the monitor doesn't work, would they (the landlord / property manager) be liable?

wizardmaxx · 7 Oct 2006 at 06:25

Bummer dude

As they are cheapish items id replace the keyboard and mouse as a matter of course, and keep them in case you need a spare. If you strapped for cash then id attempt opening the keyboard and mouse so that they can dry out properly, get a hairdryer involved as well.

The monitor is a different kettle of fish though. You dealing with high voltages in there and unless water only got on the outside theres no guarantee that everythings ok. You have not said what type of monitor, so I'm assuming a TFT. I would recommend getting those lcd wipes and gently wiping the calcium off as id imagine that it could potentially scratch.

Sul · 7 Oct 2006 at 06:31

Yep, it's a TFT.

Would it be safe to use the monitor? I wouldn't want it to blow up or anything due to any water shorting circuits or whatever.. :S

wizardmaxx · 7 Oct 2006 at 06:39

wizardmaxx said:
The monitor is a different kettle of fish though. You dealing with high voltages in there and unless water only got on the outside theres no guarantee that everythings ok.

Either way you taking a chance

1 - nothings wrong and you chuck a perfecly good monitor
2 - somethings wrong and it blows...possibly taking the graphics card with it

You could let it dry out...plug it into the wall socket and turn it on...leave it for a couple of hours...and if nothings smoking yet...attempt to hook it up to the graphics card.

paradigm · 7 Oct 2006 at 13:08

TBH, I'd just use it.

If it breaks, insurance claim for new items

If it doesn't, you have your PC back

WIN:WIN

CrazyMonkey · 7 Oct 2006 at 13:14

Yeah get some Wipes and clean it, or i got a piece of kitchen roll and wet then rinsed it so it was a little wet. I also got a dry piece of kitchen roll then i wiped screen with wet and dried with the dry. If there is any small fibres left get something soft and smooth and gently go over it.
Saves some dosh, perhaps try wetwipes?

Give the monitor ago plug it in a power on leave for a while, if all is good hook it up to your rig and give it a good go. Leave it to dry for like a day though.
Yeah if your mouse and keyboard really took a hammering, open them up and dry then out really well then pray they work!

GL

Sul · 7 Oct 2006 at 21:34

I took a closer look at my monitor, and it seems that the only beating it took was that when droplets fell onto the pool on my desk, some bounced onto the screen.. so no water seems to have actually gone inside the monitor. It's a relief.

I've left it on for a few hours and no smoke or anything else.. so my monitor seems fine, thank god! My mouse is working fine.

The keyboard is a bit messed up though.. it repeatedly presses the enter key.. and I checked, the key is not stuck, so dunno what's going on there.

So in the end, I'll count myself lucky, I've got away with only my keyboard needing a replacement - which I will ask my landlord to pay for.

It's the inconvenience that's really annoyed me.. oh well, could have been worse.

Thanks for the advice.

mikeymike · 7 Oct 2006 at 21:40

sticky keys = contact is shorting maybe, i fixed a gameboy that fell in a river once by wrapping it in a towel and leaving it on a radiator on medium for a couple of days, got all the water out of it, maybe you could do the same for the k/b, although tbh sounds like so much effort you may aswell just buy a new one

Sul · 7 Oct 2006 at 21:57

Yeah.. the keyboard is full of calcium residue as well (London water.. heh), so my beautiful keyboard is now aesthetically ruined.

I'm just writing a long email to the property management company at the moment, describing what happened, description of the damage with photos and asking them to replace my keyboard.. I hope they co-operate.