April 12 marked National Deskfast Day – a day on which to celebrate workers who have their breakfast at their desk.  Whilst that is seen as a sign of diligence, is it really such a great idea from an insurance point of view?  And if you do this, should you make sure you have computer insurance in place first?

The simple fact is that computer keyboards and water, tea, coffee, milk, juices and fizzy drinks just don’t mix.  Any computer repair specialist would tell you that keeping any liquids a good couple of feet away from your keyboard is essential safety practice.

How liquid keyboard spillages can occur

It is far too easy for a drink to tip up on an uneven surface, slip out of your hands or be knocked over by another person visiting your desk and not spotting it. Any quick movement to grab something from elsewhere on the desk can lead to computer carnage.

The other thing to factor in is that not all desks are in an office environment.  Many of us are now working from home or enjoying hybrid working arrangements.  You might actually be working in a kitchen environment – perhaps at a kitchen island – where there are liquids all around and where you are sharing space with your family.  This means that your liquid spillage could be caused by your lively kids, your exuberant dog or your rather too exploratory cat.

The impacts of liquid computer spillages

Liquid spillages, of all kinds, are firstly dangerous, as your computer is an electrical device.  Your first step should be to unplug it.  The liquid spillage can lead to electrical shorts within the computer, which means permanent damage.  Your computer can suffer corrosion, which can interrupt the circuitry.   You could experience mould growth within the device. Enticing sticky liquids inside your computer can encourage insects to invade and nest.

Coffee can leave a residue when it dries and this can lead to keys sticking or registering multiple presses.  This can slow you down and affect your work flow.  Coffee can also degrade not just metal components but also plastic ones, such as the rubber domes that allow you to press keys.

Trying to facilitate a clear up can take different forms.  You might be told to try using mild isopropyl alcohol to assist a clean-up.  Some might tell you to put the device into a box of rice for a few days.  You might pick up tips about removing keys, so that you can get beneath the keyboard and attempt a rescue mission.   But what does all of this mean for your computer’s warranty?  Would it invalidate it?  And will these measures work anyway?

Which insurance will clean up liquid computer spillages?

The answer to that is problematic.  The results of liquid spillage might not be evidenced for days, weeks or months, so your first course of action should really be to get your computer to a professional who can try to salvage things for you.  This might be imperative if there is any chance of data loss or security issue because of the spillage.

Whatever steps you take, however, you are likely to have downtime of what could be several days or even quite a few weeks.

This may lead you to consider insurance and making a claim, believing that your computer will be covered by your home or commercial property insurance.  The fact is that it won’t be.  Your property insurance is only likely to cover your computer if it is damaged by a fire or flood.  It will not cover anything that relates to data loss or corruption, just as it will not cover any cyber-related issues.

Computer insurance for spillages, theft and more

If you bought a warranty policy for your computer then that may allow you to claim.  If you are buying a new computer, a warranty is something you might consider, but the key thing to consider is whether you could get the same benefits through a standalone computer policy that would also give you a range of additional covers.

A standalone computer policy would not just cover you for accidental damage, in terms of things like spillages, cracked screen, or damage caused by dropping your computer, for instance, but also for risks like theft.  If you take your laptop out and about with you, this could be essential.  Imagine if you left it on public transport, or had it stolen from you as you walked along the street, or sat in a coffee shop.

You could also bolt on other elements that are important, such as cover for data losses and for the costs associated with getting back up and running, after having been hacked or infected by a computer virus.

Full computer breakdown could similarly be covered, so that you can be compensated for any additional costs that you incur, because you are unable to access your computer.

Covering other devices with your computer insurance

And then you can include associated devices in the same policy, whether that’s the headphones you use for meetings and podcasts, the audio-visual equipment that allows you to create your social posts, the photocopier that gets your documents printed off, or the modem that keeps you online.

This Deskfast Day, there is a lot to think about but maybe the right one, as a step one, is to   keep your liquids away from your keyboard and put computer insurance in your armoury.  That way, you have a protective bubble that means you will not be left crying over spilt milk.

To talk to us about computer insurance, or a comprehensive cyber insurance policy, call 0113 244 8686, or choose a local broker from our local broker map.

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