500+
Liquid Damage Recoveries
Assessment: from R599
Fee
Warranty
Written. On every repair.
Assessment: from R599
Always. No obligation.
Emergency Guide
What to Do in the First 30 Minutes
The actions you take in the first 30 minutes after a spill determine whether your MacBook Pro can be saved. Follow these steps exactly, in order, before bringing it in.
Power off IMMEDIATELY
Hold the power button until the screen goes completely dark. Do not wait for a normal shutdown, force power off now. Every second the board is powered with liquid present causes more damage.
Do NOT plug in the charger
Connecting power to a liquid-damaged MacBook Pro is one of the most destructive things you can do. It energises the corroded circuits and causes electrolytic corrosion to spread rapidly across the board.
Tilt to drain, keyboard side down
Turn the MacBook Pro upside down with the keyboard facing down. This allows gravity to pull liquid away from the logic board. Hold this position for 2–3 minutes over a towel.
Do NOT use a hairdryer
Heat from a hairdryer does not help and can cause further damage. It drives moisture deeper into connectors and components, and can warp the chassis or damage display cables.
Bring it to ZA Support within 24 hours
The single most important factor in a successful liquid damage recovery is time. Corrosion begins within minutes of liquid contact. Bring your MacBook Pro to us within 24 hours for the best possible recovery chance. Do not put it in rice.
Why the “Rice Trick” Does Not Work, The Science
The rice myth persists because it feels logical, rice absorbs moisture from food containers, so it should absorb moisture from electronics. The problem is that liquid damage to a MacBook Pro is not a moisture problem. It is a corrosion problem.
When liquid contacts a powered logic board, electrolytic corrosion begins within minutes. The liquid acts as an electrolyte, it allows current to flow between adjacent traces and pads, causing metallic ions to migrate from conductors onto the PCB surface. This creates conductive bridges (dendrites) and eats away copper traces.
Rice absorbs some of the free water molecules, but it does not:
- ✕Remove the corrosive mineral and ionic residue left on the board
- ✕Reverse electrolytic damage already caused while the board was powered
- ✕Clean corrosion from under IC packages, BGA balls, or connector pins
- ✕Stop ongoing corrosion that continues even after the visible liquid is gone
What actually works: professional ultrasonic cleaning with a specialist PCB solution, followed by microscope inspection and targeted component replacement. This is what we do at ZA Support — and it is why our liquid damage recovery rate is significantly higher than “let it dry out” approaches.
Common Liquid Damage Scenarios & Repair Costs
Every liquid damage case is different. The cost and complexity depend on where the liquid went, how much got in, and how quickly the machine was powered off. Below are the four most common scenarios.
Spill on keyboard only
ExcellentLiquid reached the keyboard and possibly the trackpad but did not penetrate to the logic board. The most common and most recoverable scenario.
Repair type
Keyboard and/or trackpad replacement
Typical turnaround
24–48 hours
Logic board corrosion, minor
Very goodLiquid reached the main logic board but corrosion is localised. Component cleaning under ultrasonic bath, trace repair, and targeted IC replacement restores full function.
Repair type
Ultrasonic cleaning, IC cleaning, trace repair
Typical turnaround
48–72 hours
Logic board corrosion, major
Case dependentExtensive corrosion across multiple board areas. Multiple ICs affected, traces damaged, and multiple failed components. Requires full board cleaning plus targeted component replacement.
Repair type
Full component repair, multiple IC replacements
Typical turnaround
3–5 business days
Screen damage from liquid
ExcellentLiquid entered the display assembly causing dead pixels, backlight failure, or full screen blackout. The display assembly is replaced independently of the logic board.
Repair type
Display assembly replacement
Typical turnaround
24–48 hours
All prices are confirmed before any work begins. Our Assessment: from R599 policy applies to every case — if we cannot repair your MacBook Pro, an assessment fee of from R599 applies and the machine is returned exactly as received. up-to-3 year warranty on all repairs.
Our Liquid Damage Repair Process
We follow a systematic, transparent process on every liquid damage case. You are kept informed at every stage, and you approve the cost before we begin.
Assessment: from R599
We open the machine, inspect under our stereo microscope, and map every affected area. Power rail testing confirms whether the logic board has short circuits. Completed within 24 hours. No charge. No obligation.
Written Quote
You receive a fixed quote, not a vague estimate. The quote covers the specific fault, every component to be replaced, labour, and a confirmed completion time. If you decline, assessment fee of from R599 applies.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
The logic board is cleaned in our ultrasonic bath with a specialist PCB cleaning solution. This removes corrosive residue from traces, pads, and component leads, the step that rice never performs.
Component-Level Repair
Under a stereo microscope with a precision soldering station and professional hot-air rework station, we replace specific damaged ICs, repair lifted traces, and replace corroded components.
Multi-Stage Testing
Before closing the machine: power-on test, full charge cycle, display verification, port enumeration, thermal monitoring under load, and keyboard/trackpad validation.
Collection or Delivery
Collect from Hyde Park or we arrange secure courier delivery. We include a up-to-3 year warranty certificate with every repaired machine.
MacBook Pro Models We Repair
We repair all MacBook Pro models for liquid damage, from the 2016 redesign through to the latest M3 Pro and M3 Max. Our engineers know every board revision and every failure mode across all generations.
Common Failure Points After a Spill
USB-C / Thunderbolt Board
First to fail in most cases. Controls charging, data, and display output. Often replaceable independently of the main logic board.
Keyboard & Trackpad
Both scissor-switch and butterfly keyboards are vulnerable from the top. Replacement restores full function.
Logic Board Traces & ICs
Corrosion on copper traces causes open circuits. Failed ICs require replacement under stereo microscope.
Touch Bar & Touch ID
The Touch Bar flex cable and BRDG controller chip are vulnerable on 2016–2021 Touch Bar models.
Display & Backlight Circuit
Liquid entering the display assembly causes dead pixels or backlight failure. Display replacement restores full output.
Speaker Assemblies
MacBook Pro speakers can be permanently saturated by liquid. New speaker assemblies restore full audio.
What Clients Say
“Spilled an entire glass of water on my MacBook Pro during a Zoom call. Brought it in within an hour and ZA Support saved it completely. Logic board cleaned and keyboard replaced, works perfectly. Could not be more relieved.”
Natalie H.
Sandton, Liquid Damage Repair
“I made the mistake of leaving it in rice for two days before coming in. ZA Support still managed to recover the board. They were honest about the extra time the corrosion needed to address, but the result was worth it. Incredible work.”
Jason F.
Rosebank, Logic Board Liquid Damage
“My M2 MacBook Pro had a coffee spill. The screen was dead and it would not charge. ZA Support replaced the display, cleaned the board, and had it back to me in 3 days. up-to-3 year warranty too, proper professional service.”
Thandi M.
Fourways, Liquid Damage, Display Replacement
MacBook Pro Liquid Damage, FAQs
MacBook Pro Liquid Damage? Act Now.
Every minute counts. WhatsApp us now for an immediate response, we will guide you through the next steps and get your machine booked in as fast as possible.
Assessment: from R599. written up-to-3 year warranty. Hyde Park, Johannesburg.