Water Damage
Water damage can cause significant problems with the delicate internal circuitry in your phone or another electronic device, leaving it inoperable and your information gone for good. Was your device dropped in the toilet or coffee spilt on it? Did you jump in the pool, leave it in the rain or throw it in the wash? Try the following steps to save your phone.
Safety note/ Prevent Electric Shock to Yourself! do not touch a phone that is wet and plugged into a charger!
1. In any situation involving the submersion or splashing of an electronic device in any liquid, the first step is to disconnect any
power source as soon as this is safely possible.
2. Pay attention to your personal safety first! Use caution when disconnecting any device from household current or any other source. If you are standing in water or your clothes are wet please remove yourself from any potential shock hazard before even thinking about retrieving a submerged or soaked electronic device.
3. If the electronic device is still submerged and is connected to an external power source, find a safe way to disconnect it. If possible find a circuit breaker or switch for that source of power. Use caution if you choose to remove a plug or power adapter from an outlet that has not been switched off.
4. Retrieving a submerged or soaked electronic device that contains a battery presents its own dangers. A shorted battery may be a fire and/or chemical hazard. If you see or feel any heat, smoke, steam, bubbling, bulging, or melting avoid handling the electronic device.
5. If the device is still on, turn it off. Rotate and shake the device to try to let any fluid drain out. If possible, remove the battery.
6. If possible, disassemble the device to allow any remaining liquid to drain and to begin cleaning the internal components. This is particularly important with acidic liquids such as fruit juice or alkaline liquids such as laundry water.
If you can not remove the battery bring it to a Tech ASAP. Removing the battery quickly could make the difference to save your phone. Most phones have a white indicator near the battery that will turn pink or red if water has damaged the device. You can try to draw the moisture out by submerging the phone in a bowl of rice or other absorbent material overnight BUT we suggest you bring it in ASAP to prevent any further damage. You can also try to dry it out with a vacuum cleaner, as long as you don’t hold the vacuum too close to the device.
Do’s and Don’ts Tips:
Do’s:
Remove the sim card, memory card, and anything else that might be plugged into the device.
Dry gently with an absorbent towel.
Don’ts:
Don’t push any buttons! This could force water further into the circuits.
Don’t use a hairdryer on the phone – this could also push water into the phone and do further damage.
Don’t move the phone more than you must. It is best to keep the phone still to prevent water from spreading throughout
the device.
Don’t turn the phone on too soon. It is best to wait 24 hours before attempting to turn your phone back on.
Repairing Cell Phones with Water Damage
If you have tried the advice above and your phone is still not working, let us look at your phone. Our expert technicians will make every
effort possible to salvage your water damaged phone or other device. However, if the damage is beyond repair, we have devices on
hand for sale or can put other high end repair techniques to the test.
