Data Recovery Info

Water Damage

Humidity
Computer system reliability is at risk when there is either an excess or insufficient humidity in the environment.

• Both excess and insufficient humidity in the environment in the computer room can threaten system reliability. Too much moisture in the air can accelerate oxidation of electronic circuits, conductors and connectors, and can provide high-resistance current paths that make circuits perform unpredictably.
• A lack of moisture in the air increases the potential for equipment 'zapping' from static-electricity.

Sources of water damage
A common cause of water damage to computers is caused by:

• the rupturing of water pipes,
• excess vapour condensation within air-conditioning units,
• sprinkler systems,
• water or halon fire retardants that ironically, are in place to protect computer rooms.

Fire Safety Devices
These fire safety devices can cause severe damage to electronic devices if they are used while power is applied to those circuits. Unfortunately when an alarm is first sounded it is mandatory that employees leave there stations and evacuate the premises. This leaves computers active and susceptible to more danger than if they had been shut down.

Any type of water damage will render a computer useless. However, trained data recovery specialists have been known to retrieve precious files from computers that have survived the worst of circumstances.