How likely is a computer to get condensation damage?

powlesY

powlesY

powlesY

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Ages ago i posted about me living in an unfinished damp garage conversation and i ended up sleeping on the sofa for a while to get it sorted. Anyway, the computer in there hasn't been touched in months and with especially this cold weather there's a lot of condensation on the windows. The way i've looked at it is electricals in the kitchen don't get messed up so the computer should be fine. With a bit of a cash-injection the room should be finished soon and i haven't got anywhere to store the computer until then (what can another month or 2 hurt when it's been in there for almost a year anyway?).

Any steps i should take when i finally do get back in the room, can i expect my computer to even work?
 
Have you had a look inside the case?

If it's dripping it's a bad sign. If not i think you should be fine.

Is there anyway you can plug in it and see?
 
as a precaution before powering on. i'd leave it in a dry and warm enviroment such as the living room for 48 hr's before trying to power it on.

Condensation is one of the many killers of mobile phones so just be careful.
 
Don't just plug it in and see.

When you get the PC back into a warmer environment take the side panels off the case and leave it for a while (a couple of days?) to let it warm up and for any moisture to evaporate.

Ideally also take as many components out as you can and let them warm up individually.

Then you can try turning it on.
 
Doomedspeed said:
Have you had a look inside the case?

If it's dripping it's a bad sign. If not i think you should be fine.

Is there anyway you can plug in it and see?
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I'll check later when i get some time. I did hear my brother went and took the side casing off off about 6 weeks ago and probably hasn't put it back on, basically him just being nosey looking to see if there was any parts he could rob whilst i'm not using it.

Nickyyy said:
as a precaution before powering on. i'd leave it in a dry and warm enviroment such as the living room for 48 hr's before trying to power it on.

Condensation is one of the many killers of mobile phones so just be careful.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Would it be best to slowly heat the room it's in when it's finished and run a de-humidifier for a bit? Or will putting it in the living room be enough?
 
What's a garage conversation?

Your PC should be fine. As long as the case isn't half hanging off. I kept a PC in the shed (hooked up and working) for nearly two years, survived two drastic winters. It was nothing special.
 
Buchanan0204 said:
What's a garage conversation?

Your PC should be fine. As long as the case isn't half hanging off. I kept a PC in the shed (hooked up and working) for nearly two years, survived two drastic winters. It was nothing special.
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conversion*

Define "case hanging half off". As mentioned, don't even think the side of mine is on, i haven't even got the silver thing you put on that fits over the sockets on.
 
powlesY said:
conversion*

Define "case hanging half off". As mentioned, don't even think the side of mine is on, i haven't even got the silver thing you put on that fits over the sockets on.
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:p

I was referring to the side panel being removed. Only one way to find out :) It can't be that important anyway if you left it like that for so long. Fire it up and see what happens.
 
It's a computer i spent £1000 building this time last year :(

My Dads a self-employed builder and it's always been "i'll sort out the floor next week, i meant the week after" blah blah and never gets round to it so i've never wanted to move it as there's a lot of wires. I've been using the family PC the past 5-6 months.
 
powlesY said:
So basically, as long as i don't turn it on if it's wet.... it should be alright?
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Yes its when something is wet/damp and you put power through it, that causes the damage, but if its wet and there no power, it will be fine. Just make sure its dry before plugging it in to the mains.

I read on here once that someone cleaned their pc with a hosepipe but didnt use it for a good few months after. Anyway when he powered it up, it was fine.. That story might not be true tho, but like I say its not the wetness that causes the damage on its own
 
Phil2008 said:
Yes its when something is wet/damp and you put power through it, that causes the damage, but if its wet and there no power, it will be fine. Just make sure its dry before plugging it in to the mains.

I read on here once that someone cleaned their pc with a hosepipe but didnt use it for a good few months after. Anyway when he powered it up, it was fine.. That story might not be true tho, but like I say its not the wetness that causes the damage on its own
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That's so reassuring (especially considering your number of posts, which adds credibility to what you say imo), thanks and i so hope that you're right.
 
No signs of wet from what i can see, but there's no condensation on the windows either at the moment. Looks like a new damp-proof membranes been put down aswell and it's stunk the room right out, everything rubbery as **** - that can't be good.
 
Cheers for the reassurance, it's much aprreciated. As far as how water condensates though, i'd imagine the side being off or not doesn't do anything (albeit i understand how it would dry quicker).
 
Sorry to bump the topic but this is in regards to getting the room sorted now. The membrane stinks the room right out, is that a problem? What needs to be spent now to have it a livable area?
 
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