Dropping a phone in water is something that happens much more often than you can imagine. Statistics show that water damage is among the most common cell phone issues consumers experience. Unfortunately, if you don’t act quickly and correctly, your new phone may never turn on again.
So, in this article, we will give you some useful tips on what to do in case you drop your phone in water while taking a beach selfie or just spill your drink on it. But first…
What NOT to do
In case of an emergency, most people will search online on how to deal with a specific problem. While this makes sense, you always need to be extra careful about the credibility of the article you read and doubt the information presented in front of you.
The same goes for repairing water-damaged phones. Some recommendations on the Internet will actually do more harm than good. Here is a shortlist of things you should not do if your phone gets wet:
● do not try to dry your phone in the microwave – there is a very high risk of it exploding due to the high temperature
● it is better not to use a hairdryer or a fan to dry the phone – the airstream could disperse the water in places that have remained dry and cause more serious damage.
● do not try to freeze the phone – this is another common online tip that will not work because when you take the phone out of the freezer, the ice will melt and the phone will be wet again.
● do not try to disassemble or repair the phone yourself if you have no experience and do not know exactly how to do it;
How to repair a phone dropped in water
Once we’ve clarified which tips you shouldn’t follow, here’s what to do if you drop your phone in water.
First of all, react as quickly as possible by turning the phone off immediately. Absorb the water very carefully with a soft microfiber cloth, trying not to spread the liquid.
The next important step is to remove the phone’s battery if possible. We know that most new smartphone models do not offer this option. Therefore, if your phone does not have a removable battery after you have tried to absorb as much water as possible – remove the SIM card and the memory card, in case you have one. Do not attempt to remove water by inserting toothpicks or other objects into the headphone jack, speakers, etc., as this may damage the device.
The best option is to put the phone in a bag together with silica gel, known for its strong moisture-absorbing properties. Wait for at least 24 hours before trying to turn on the phone again.
These methods may help, but still, the best thing you can do is take your phone to a service center. Professionals who have encountered water-damaged phones have experience in repairing such damage whenever possible. As already mentioned, opening the phone and trying to handle the water yourself may not be the most successful strategy if you have no experience.
If you need professional water-damaged phone cleaning and repairing, contact Cellular Toy Shoppe or bring the phone to our Edmonton location as soon as possible.
