How to Protect Laundry Electronics from Moisture and Power Surges | UpFix

Moisture and Power: The Hidden Enemies in Every Laundry Room

Commercial laundry rooms are brutal environments for electronics.
Heat, humidity, detergent vapors, and voltage spikes eat away at circuit boards until they fail—usually when you need them most.

A few low-cost preventive steps can add years of life to your machines and prevent the next “Out of Order” disaster.

1. Understand Why Laundry Boards Fail

Most washer and dryer electronics die from two causes:
moisture intrusion and power instability.

• Moisture corrodes solder joints, creates short circuits, and slowly breaks down coatings.

• Power surges or voltage dips burn out relays, fuses, and driver circuits.

When these two forces combine—humid air and dirty power—you get premature failure, downtime, and repair bills that could have been avoided.

2. Spot Early Warning Signs

If you see corrosion or smell something burnt, disconnect power immediately and dry the area. Catching it early often saves the board.

3. Control Moisture Before It Controls You

• Keep air moving. Add a small fan or vent to circulate air behind machines.

• Seal wall openings. Humid air sneaks through gaps and condenses on cold boards.

• Run a dehumidifier in the back room, especially in summer.

• Don’t store detergents near control panels. Vapors accelerate oxidation.

• Wipe condensation daily—especially under coin drop chutes or water lines.

These habits reduce corrosion and prevent the green “crust” that technicians dread.

4. Protect Against Power Surges

• Install a commercial-grade surge protector on every bank of machines.

• Check neutral and ground connections—loose wires cause internal spikes.

• Avoid sharing outlets with compressors, HVAC units, or vending machines.

• Use line conditioners or voltage regulators if your area has unstable power.

• Shut down during severe lightning storms to avoid catastrophic hits.

Power issues are silent killers. A $30 surge bar can save a $600 control board.

5. Maintain a Cleaning Schedule

Dust, lint, and detergent residue create conductive bridges on circuit boards.
At least once per quarter:

• Unplug machines.

• Blow out dust with compressed air.

• Wipe accessible surfaces with dry microfiber.

• Inspect for discoloration, oxidation, or burnt traces.

Preventive cleaning is the simplest form of insurance for electronics.

6. What To Do If You Already Have Damage

If corrosion or surge marks are visible, replacement isn’t your only option.
UpFix can repair moisture- and surge-damaged boards by:

• Removing corrosion and residue through ultrasonic cleaning.

• Replacing burnt or shorted power components.

• Adding new protective coatings to resist future moisture.

• Fully testing under heat and load to confirm performance.

Our repairs often cost 70–80% less than new boards and come back ready to plug in.

7. Real-World Example

A Florida laundromat lost six washers after a power outage.
Lightning tripped breakers, and voltage spikes burned traces on the main control boards. The OEM quoted $800 each.
UpFix cleaned and repaired all six for $1,200 total, returning them within three days—saving the owner over $3,000 and getting the store back online before the weekend rush.

Why Protection Matters

Every power surge or humid night chips away at your investment. Protecting your machines isn’t just maintenance—it’s profit preservation.
The best operators don’t wait for failures; they build prevention into their routine.

Keep Your Machines Safe, Stable, and Spinning

Don’t let moisture or surges quietly drain your revenue.
Send your damaged board to UpFix for professional cleaning, repair, and protective coating—or ask our team how to safeguard your entire setup before the next storm hits.
Fast turnaround, guaranteed testing, and smarter repair for a stronger bottom line.