Have you ever dropped your phone in water unintentionally? If yes, you are not alone since phones with water damage are common in phone repair shops and smartphone parts suppliers. We hear a lot about this kind of issue. There are many ways that your phone can get soaking wet. For example, it can accidentally fall in the toilet, at the pool while taking some photos, or a glass of water can accidentally fall on the table where you have placed your phone.
No matter the method, having your phone soaked with water is a big event as you may end up losing your expensive phone plus your important files and contacts. Luckily there is a possibility that you can save your phone if you act fast to prevent further damage. While not every phone dropped in water can be rescued, some things can be tried – at the owner’s own risk, please note.
How to fix a phone dropped in water
You can increase the chances of your phone’s survival after the incident if you react promptly to prevent the water from reaching the vulnerable components. You can follow the steps below to try and rescue your phone if you accidentally drop it into water.
Firstly; NO RICE.
Albeit a very common statement, putting a wet device in rice is not recommended. The myth explains that rice is highly absorbent and will essentially suck the water out of the device. This is simply incorrect, and can actually cause further damage. This is because the minerals in the rice can seep into the device and make their way to the logic board where they can cause severe damage to your phone.
Take it out immediately
Acting promptly will help save the phone from severe damage because there is a chance the water has not yet reached the vulnerable parts. The longer your phone stays in the water, the greater the risk. Long exposure can make it harder to repair the damage.
Switch off the phone
Once you have removed the phone from the water, the next step is to switch it off immediately, even if it seems to be working fine. If you are still using a phone with a removable battery, you can remove the battery.
Now that you have taken the first step for rescuing your phone, you should avoid doing anything that can cause more damage. There is a risk that will leave your phone damaged beyond repair. Let’s see some of the things to avoid when your phone falls in the water.
- Don’t switch on the phone. While you might be worried about people trying to call you, it is advisable not to switch on your phone until you are sure that it is no longer at risk of damage. Since water is a good conductor of electrical currents, it can cause a short on the circuit board or inside the many electrical components. However, switching off your phone or removing the battery prevents such things by eliminating the flow of electrical charge on the circuit board.
- Don’t charge the phone. One mistake that people make is trying to charge the phone if it switches off and becomes dead after dropping in water. This mistake can lead to further damage to the circuit board and/or components.
- Don’t press any key. You should not try using your phone because it can push the water further inside.
- Don’t shake the phone or move it around too much. Shaking the phone will push the water further inside, causing more damage.
- Don’t blow the phone. Blowing the phone will only push water deeper into the phone. Blowing the phone using a hair drier can also damage sensitive parts due to excessive heat.
How to fix a phone with water damage
After you have rescued the phone from further damage, the next step is to remove the water by drying it. Let’s see some of the recommended ways of drying your water-soaked phone.
Dry the exterior
Try to wipe the water found on the exterior of your phone using a cloth or tissue paper. You should wipe gently without moving things around to avoid pushing the water inside to deeper parts of the phone. Wiping the water will prevent it from making its way inside the phone.
Use a gentle vacuum cleaner to suck out the water
Even when you have opened the top cover to access the inner parts, a dry cloth or paper towel cannot access some parts. You can try a small vacuum cleaner (for example for a car or for sucking dust from a keyword). This may allow you to suck some or all of the water out. Equally, if there are parts you can access with a paper towel, you can use this as such towels or tissues are highly water-absorbent. However, you should avoid hard suction as it can vibrate the phone excessively and cause internal problems. The front-room vacuum cleaner is definitely out!
Leave the phone alone to allow drying
You can leave the phone on top of a counter or inside a drawer. The best spot is near (but not in) sunlight or close to moving air, like next to a fan.
Take the phone to a reputable repair center like ours
When you are confident the phone is completely dry (err on the side of caution) then you can attempt to switch it on or recharge. If the phone does not turn on or has some issues after the above processes, you can take it or send it to a professional repair service such as our send-in service. Our repair team will let you know if your particular phone has damaged parts, if they are replaceable, and at what cost.
