We do things differently. After working through more than 12,000 liquid-damage cases out of our Hyde Park Johannesburg workshop, we have learned that pricing follows a predictable pattern based on what the corrosion has actually destroyed. There are four clear tiers, and once you understand them, the rest of the conversation becomes simple.
This post walks you through each tier, what triggers it, what timeline to expect, and where data recovery sits in the picture.
Why Water Damage Costs Vary So Much
Liquid damage is not a single problem. It is a chain reaction. The moment a conductive fluid touches a powered logic board, electrolysis begins eating copper traces and lifting solder pads. Stop the damage early and you might walk away with a clean board and a R599 bill. Leave it for three weeks in a drawer, hoping rice will save it, and you are looking at a board rebuild or replacement.
The variables that decide your tier are: the liquid type (clean water versus sugary cola versus saltwater), how long the machine ran with liquid inside, whether you tried to power it on afterwards, and which components took the hit. The CPU rail, the PMIC (power management IC), the SMC, the U7000 boost converter on Touch Bar models — each one has its own repair complexity and price.
You can read more about how we approach liquid damage recovery on our dedicated service page, but the four tiers below cover what 95% of clients pay in practice.
Tier 1: The R599 Assessment — Always the Starting Point
Every liquid-damage MacBook that comes through our door starts with the same step: a full assessment from R599. This is not a guess-and-quote. It includes a complete teardown, ultrasonic cleaning of the logic board in a heated isopropyl alcohol bath, microscope inspection of every affected area, and a written diagnostic report telling you exactly which components have failed.
In roughly one in four cases, the ultrasonic clean alone is enough. The corrosion has not yet damaged active components, just left residue that was interfering with signals. You collect the machine, pay R599, and go home. We have seen this happen with around 3,200 of the units we have processed — usually clients who powered the device off immediately and brought it in within 48 hours.
Turnaround for assessment is typically 24 to 72 hours depending on workshop load.
Tier 2: Component-Level Repair From R2,499
If the diagnostic shows a single failed component — one blown MOSFET, a damaged filter, a corroded keyboard connector, a single power stage that needs rework — you are in component-repair territory. Pricing starts at R2,499 and rarely climbs above R3,500 in this tier.
This tier covers things like backlight circuit repair (very common on 13-inch Pros after a small splash near the hinge), a single failed USB-C port controller, or a corroded trackpad flex that needs the connector reflowed and a new cable fitted. Turnaround is generally 2 to 5 working days, assuming the part is in stock locally. If we need to import a specific IC from our supplier in Shenzhen, add another 7 to 10 days.
Every Tier 2 repair carries our standard warranty — up to 3-year warranty depending on the repair type and components used. Board-level work specifically is covered for 12 months as standard, with extended cover available.
Tier 3: Board-Level Rebuild — R4,499 to R8,999
This is where most serious spills end up. The board boots intermittently, or not at all. The diagnostic reveals multiple failed ICs — typically the PMIC, the SMC, and one or two surrounding power stages. The keyboard might be dead. The display might not initialise. There is visible green corrosion under the shield cans.
Rebuilds in this tier involve removing and replacing multiple BGA (ball grid array) chips, repairing lifted pads with micro-jumpers, and sometimes sourcing donor components from our parts inventory. It is precision work under a stereo microscope at 40x magnification, and it takes time. Expect 1 to 2 weeks turnaround.
The price range exists because no two rebuilds are identical. A PMIC replacement plus three power stages on a 2019 Air sits around R4,499. A full power-section rebuild plus SMC replacement on a 16-inch 2019 Pro with the T2 chip in play can reach R8,999. We give you the exact figure in writing after the assessment, before any further work begins.
This level of repair is the bread and butter of our logic board repair service. Apple's own service channel does not offer it — they replace the entire board. Which brings us to Tier 4.
Tier 4: Full Board Replacement — R12,000 to R18,000
When the damage is catastrophic — saltwater immersion, a full glass of wine that sat overnight, a board with lifted CPU pads or a destroyed Apple silicon SoC — replacement is the only viable path. We source genuine pull boards (tested logic boards harvested from non-damaged donor machines) and fit them to your chassis.
Pricing sits between R12,000 and R18,000 depending on model and year. For comparison, the same repair through an Apple Authorised Service Provider typically runs 40 to 60% higher, and on certain Apple silicon models exceeds the value of a used replacement. We are transparent about this — sometimes the right advice is to recover your data and put the money towards a newer machine. We will tell you that.
Data Recovery: The Separate Cost Most People Forget
Data recovery is priced independently of board repair, because it is a separate technical workflow. If your MacBook has a soldered SSD (every model from 2016 onwards, plus the T2 and Apple silicon machines), recovery requires either bringing the logic board back to a state where it can boot, or transferring the NAND chips to a working donor board. Neither is trivial.
For most cases where the board can be revived enough to read the SSD, data recovery is included in the repair cost. For severe cases where we need to do chip-off recovery or work with the encrypted T2/Apple silicon Secure Enclave, costs are R1,800 to R3,200 additional. Apple themselves are clear that liquid-damaged Macs are not covered under standard warranty — their official guidance confirms this — which makes independent specialists the only realistic option for most clients.
What to Expect From Drop-Off to Collection
Bring the MacBook in powered off. Do not try to charge it. Do not put it in rice — it does nothing useful and the starch residue actually makes our ultrasonic cleaning harder.
At drop-off in Hyde Park we log the device under POPIA-compliant intake, you sign the assessment authorisation, and we start within the same working day where possible. You receive a WhatsApp update with the diagnostic report and exact quote within 24 to 72 hours. Nothing proceeds without your written approval. If you decline the repair, you pay only the assessment fee and collect the machine.
Want to start the process? WhatsApp us on 064 529 5863 with your model and a short description of what happened, or book online at zasupport.com/book. You can also contact us through the form on our site if you prefer email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How quickly should I bring my MacBook in after a spill?
Within 24 hours, ideally within the first few hours. Corrosion is time-dependent. Every day the residue sits on a powered or recently-powered board, more copper is etched away and more components fail. Same-day intake in Hyde Park almost always saves money.
Q: Will rice or a hairdryer help while I wait?
No. Rice absorbs almost nothing useful and leaves starch dust inside the chassis. A hairdryer can drive liquid deeper under shield cans and cause thermal stress. The best home action is: power off immediately, hold any spill-side downward to let liquid drain, do not attempt to charge, and bring it in.
Q: Is the R599 assessment refunded if I go ahead with the repair?
The R599 covers the diagnostic and ultrasonic clean as standalone work, so it is not deducted from larger repairs. However, if the clean alone resolves the fault, R599 is your total cost. We are upfront about this at intake so there are no surprises.
Q: Do you offer a warranty on water-damage repairs?
Yes. Component and board-level repairs carry a 12-month standard warranty, and on certain repair types we extend cover up to 3-year warranty. Warranty covers the work we performed; it does not cover new liquid incidents on the same machine.
Q: Can you recover my data if the board is beyond repair?
In most cases yes, though it depends on the SSD type and damage extent. For pre-2016 MacBooks with removable SSDs, recovery is straightforward and often included. For T2 and Apple silicon models with soldered, encrypted storage, advanced recovery costs R1,800 to R3,200 extra and success depends on the state of the NAND chips themselves.
Q: Why are your prices lower than Apple's quote?
Because we repair at component and board level rather than swapping the whole logic board. Apple's repair model is module replacement — fast and standardised, but expensive. Our model is targeted repair using the same techniques outlined in detailed teardowns on resources like iFixit. Same outcome, often a fraction of the price, with the option to keep your original board and data intact.
