Water Damage Problem

[Abaddon]

Ok.

My parents amongst other things are are landlords.
Recently some work on one of their flats caused a downstairs flat a bit of a flooding problem

It was a recurring problem and it seems the person staying there has decided to get a new laptop out of it.

They either
1. Placed a lappy where they thought it would leak (an it did)
2. After the leak quickly moved laptop into position, chucked water over it..


Either way, I now have a very wet laptop.

I don't know if it worked before or not, and i don't know how it got wet (apprently mum found it lid closed, but miraculusly wet inside!)
I do not know if it was turned on at the time (battery was in though)

Is it already too late?
Or if I leave it unplugged, give it a few days drying out.. there might be a chance of saving it?


I'd have thought its buggered, but i'd like to get my mum out of being scammed if I can...

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

There's some advices here
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070803024545AASvUP0

 

[Cutlass]

Dry it out completely and try it. As in open the case and put a fan to it for a day or 2. If it fails to work record the model of it and look up what the same model would cost now. Don't get them a better one.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Ok.

My parents amongst other things are are landlords.
Recently some work on one of their flats caused a downstairs flat a bit of a flooding problem

It was a recurring problem and it seems the person staying there has decided to get a new laptop out of it.

They either
1. Placed a lappy where they thought it would leak (an it did)
2. After the leak quickly moved laptop into position, chucked water over it..


Either way, I now have a very wet laptop.

I don't know if it worked before or not, and i don't know how it got wet (apprently mum found it lid closed, but miraculusly wet inside!)
I do not know if it was turned on at the time (battery was in though)

Is it already too late?
Or if I leave it unplugged, give it a few days drying out.. there might be a chance of saving it?


I'd have thought its buggered, but i'd like to get my mum out of being scammed if I can...

The person should have renters insurance or something similar to it. Otherwise, check the contract. Its possible there's something in there about the landlord not carrying responsibility for these types of things.

Also, dry it out completely and check to see if its under warranty. If its not and you find that you're forced to get the person a new laptop, make sure that person knows that you're only on the hook for the equivalent current value of the laptop. What the current value is is for him/her to determine and for you to verify. Your parents can also take it out of that persons security deposit, unless such a thing is specifically stated against in the contract.

On the side though, Id get in touch with a lawyer too. If the person is using this event to scam your parents, they may want to know about it because that person is likely to do it again. Since not many of us here are experts in the law, your best bet is to find someone who is. You can also try getting your question posted on a site like Consumerist.

 

[Abaddon]

Well, I dared hooking it up today.

An it didn't fry itself.

However, it did however make a LOT of beeping noises.. guess the keyboard is still wet and some keys are sticking..so it wouldn't completly boot up

guess I just should leave it longer? Will it dry out better if I leave it turned on, beeping away?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Well, I dared hooking it up today.

An it didn't try itself.

It did however make a LOT of beeping noises.. guess the keyboard is still wet and some keys are sticking..

guess I just should leave it longer? Will it dry out better if I leave it turned on, beeping away?

No. Turn it off, pull out the battery and leave it to dry for a week.

 

[Abaddon]

OK, battery pulled out, sat in sun again.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

I thought batteries shouldn't sit in the sun. Explosions and stuff.

 

[Abaddon]

No, i'm sat in the sun again... its an easy life









(lappy is in sun minus battery which is elsewhere)

 

[GoodGame]

Also, dry it out completely and check to see if its under warranty. If its not and you find that you're forced to get the person a new laptop, make sure that person knows that you're only on the hook for the equivalent current value of the laptop. What the current value is is for him/her to determine and for you to verify. Your parents can also take it out of that persons security deposit, unless such a thing is specifically stated against in the contract.

On the side though, Id get in touch with a lawyer too. If the person is using this event to scam your parents, they may want to know about it because that person is likely to do it again. Since not many of us here are experts in the law, your best bet is to find someone who is. You can also try getting your question posted on a site like Consumerist.

Yeah, usually there'll be a clause where the apartment has to be vacated because of destruction, like post haste. That might help if the laptop damage was reported kind of late. But laws vary with region of course.

 

[El Koeno]

I heard that when your phone gets wet, you should submerge it in alcohol, and leave it to dry. Alcohol dries faster than water, or something. It's always a good idea to solve your problems with alcohol.

 

[Abaddon]

it worked, given back to owner

 

[J-man]

I heard that when your phone gets wet, you should submerge it in alcohol, and leave it to dry. Alcohol dries faster than water, or something. It's always a good idea to solve your problems with alcohol.

But alcohol is also a better solvent...