Water damaged phone? What to do
Dropped it in the bath, the sink or a pint? What you do in the first hour makes a real difference to whether it can be saved. Here's what we tell our customers.
Do this straight away
- Get it out and switch it off.Don't keep pressing buttons or unlocking it to see if it still works. Power running through a wet circuit board is what does most of the damage.
- Take the case off and pop out the SIM tray.Cases trap water against the phone. Taking the SIM tray out opens up another way for moisture to escape.
- Dry the outside.Wipe it with a soft cloth, then gently shake it with the charging port facing down to get water out of the ports and speakers.
- Leave it off and bring it in.Get it to us as soon as you can, ideally within 72 hours. The sooner we see it, the better the chance of saving it.
Don't do this
- Don't put it on charge.It's the first thing most people do, and the worst. Charging a wet phone can short the board and cause damage that can't be repaired.
- Don't put it in rice.Rice doesn't draw water out of the inside of a phone. It leaves dust and starch in the ports, and while the phone sits there for days, corrosion is setting in. Apple advises against it too.
- Don't use a hair dryer or a radiator.Heat can damage the screen, the battery and the seals, and blowing air into the ports can push water further in.
- Don't assume it's fine because it turns on.Corrosion can take days or weeks to show. Phones that seemed fine often start playing up later, when it's harder to fix.
Not all liquids are the same
Clean fresh water is the least harmful. Salt water, fizzy drinks, juice, tea, coffee and beer are worse, because they leave sugar, salt or acid behind on the circuit board, and that corrodes it much faster. Let us know what it was when you bring it in, as it helps us know what we're dealing with.
Water resistant phones aren't waterproof. The seals wear with age and after drops or earlier repairs, and manufacturer warranties usually don't cover liquid damage, so don't rely on the rating if it has been fully submerged.
Liquid damage repair in Liverpool
We repair liquid damaged phones, tablets and laptops in the shop on County Road. Bring it in as soon as you can, tell us what happened, and we'll let you know what we can do. If we can't fix it, you don't pay for the repair.
181 County Road, Walton, Liverpool L4 5PB. Opening hours and directions.