Can you fix a water damaged device

Electronics Water Damage

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.

1. 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.
2. 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 and switch it off. Use caution if you choose to remove a plug or power adapter from an outlet that has not been switched off.
3. 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.
4. If the device is still on, turn it off.
5. Rotate and shake the device to try to let any fluid drain out.
6. If possible, remove the battery.
7. 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.
8. TIP: Rice and similar desiccants will not help! These will create more damage in the long term as it does not remove the contaminants from the liquid spill.

1. Completely disassemble your device removing all cables, opening all connectors and remove shields to access under them. To displace any remaining liquid around or under any components of the logic board submerge it completely in a suitably sized container filled with isopropyl alcohol. Ideally use a 90% or higher concentration available from a pharmacist or drug store. You can use distilled or deionized water as an alternative cleaning fluid, although this will take longer to dry. Avoid solvents such as ketone, acetone, or naphtha.
2. Use a toothbrush, small paint brush, or other soft brush to clean the logic board of any debris or deposits from the offending liquid. Use caution as you clean to avoid damaging or accidentally knocking off components of the logic board. Pay particular attention to the connectors and ends of ribbon cables to prevent corrosion of their contact surfaces. If you have an ultrasonic cleaner, this will more thoroughly clean the exposed areas of the board. In addition, this will remove dirt and corrosion from areas a toothbrush cannot reach (Ex: Under chips).
3. Once you are satisfied that the logic board is clean and free of corrosion you may use a hairdryer on its cold setting and dry the logic board. Alternatively, the logic board may be placed under a desk lamp to gently warm it and dry out the cleaning fluid.
4. When the components are dry check the cable ends and connectors again for signs of corrosion or debris.
5. Reassemble your device with a new battery or one that you are confident is in good working order. If your device has been submerged it is likely that you will need a new battery. Lithium and other types of rechargeable batteries do not tolerate submersion well. Again, any sign of bubbling, bulging, melting, or discoloration on the battery indicates that it is toast. Dispose of it only at a battery recycling facility.
6. Once you have your device assembled, the real work of evaluating the damage begins. Look for what is working and replace parts in an organized fashion, not all at once. The likely order of failure in a smaller electronic device is typically:

A number less than 7 indicates an acid solution, while a number above 7 indicates an alkaline solution. Both cases are bad for electronic components. Knowing the pH of the fluid can help give you an idea of how severe the damage is.

• Pure water neutral pH = 7.0
• Sea water i.e. saltwater = about 8.2
• Regulated pool water = 7.2 - 7.8 (Source)
• Lemon juice = 2.3
• Cola = 2.5-3.5
• Fruit juice = 3.5
• Beer = 4.5
• Coffee = 5.0
• Tea = 5.5
• Hand soap = 9.0 -10.0
• Bleach = 12.5
• Other beverages

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH

How to fix a water damaged phone

The world suddenly freezes when you see your phone dunked in water. Whether its in a pool, the sea, or a toilet, you know nothing good will come out of the next few seconds. After all, thats a high-tech device worth a significant amount of cash, and chances are it will be deemed unusable. Not to mention, all your important files might be gone! You may want to learn how to fix a water-damaged phone.

Lets start by saying trying to rescue a water-damaged phone is a bit of a coin flip. Nothing can guarantee a positive outcome, but its always worth trying. Our upcoming tips may give you a higher chance of success.

QUICK ANSWER

The best way to fix a water damaged phone is to turn it off, disassemble it as much as possible, and let it air dry for a day or two. You can also use silica gel packets to try removing all the moisture from the phone. Try turning the phone back on when it's completely dry. Also, check if it shows any signs of life by plugging it in.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

Step 0: Be proactive and protect your phone

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Water damage repair might be unnecessary if you take some precautions. You may want a waterproof phone with a good IP rating to ensure it will survive a dip. These are becoming very common. If your phone cant handle liquids and you know youll be putting it in danger at your next beach retreat, buying something like a waterproof phone pouch might be worth it.

Additionally, its always nice to consider getting phone insurance, whether from your carrier, the retailer you bought the phone from, or a third party. Just make sure to read the fine print to ensure the insurance policy covers accidental and water damage.

Step 1: Please turn off your phone ASAP!

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

I know its hard to react quickly after such a devastating event, but you must snap out of it! The longer your device stays underwater, the lower its chances of survival are. You must dig in and take that phone out of the water immediately. Yes even if its in the toilet!

Once the phone is out of the water, make sure its off and it stays that way. Even if it seems okay it is important to shut it off just in case. Those who still have a removable battery should take it off. Turning off the device ensures that water doesnt reach and damage important phone parts while electronics are active. Water reaching operating components is more likely to cause permanent damage. And it might not happen right away, so turn it off.

Step 1.5: What not to do after you dropped a phone in water

The following actions can mean the difference between a totaled phone and a survival story. You better be careful what you do. Before we jump into water damage repair, lets try to prevent major failures you could cause.

• Do not turn on the phone, as we already mentioned. Electrical components dont play well with water when operating.
• Dont plug it in, either. For the same reason.
• Avoid pressing any keys. This can push water further into the phone, or open space for water to go deeper into the devices internals. Its best to mess with the phone as little as possible.
• Dont poke or blow into the device. This may also push water into deeper areas of the phone. Especially try to avoid blow driers not only because of the blowing part, but also because of the following point.
• Do not apply any heat to the phone. Remember, excessive heat can also damage the phone.
• Keep the phone as still as possible. Its the same deal; you dont want the water moving around inside the phone.
• Dont put it in rice! We will talk about this later, but rice has starch and particles, which can get into the device.

Step 2: Disassemble the water damaged phone

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Dont mistake this step with take the whole darn phone apart! What we mean is that you should remove everything that is user-removable. If your back cover is removable, take it off. Similarly, try to remove the battery (if you can), SIM card, and SD card. Lay it all out on a paper towel. Most phones have no removable backs nowadays (but there are still some!), but do what you can.

Now, if you are an experienced tech specialist, know a phones ins and outs, and dont mind voiding your warranty, you can go ahead and take the whole phone apart, too. It might help with drying up every single piece faster. Just be careful. If you dont know what youre doing, this could cause more harm than good.

Try to dry the exterior

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

We first have to try to get rid of all the excess water found on the exterior of your phone. Use a cloth or paper towel to dry out everything as much as possible. Just make sure you dont mess with the phone too much. Gently dry everything out without moving things around too much. All this water can still make its way inside the phone, which isnt good news.

You could try a vacuum cleaner

Of course, there are areas the paper towel cant access. And while we told you not to blow anything into the phone, we didnt tell you not to suction the water out. In fact, a vacuum cleaner can suck off bits of water from the phone without too much risk. Just make sure the suctioning doesnt make the phone move around excessively.

Step 3: Time to dry out the water damaged phone

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

The hardest part is now, because it involves leaving the phone alone for some time. We know that simply waiting isnt easy, but its necessary. If you have another phone or one you can borrow, ensure the SIM card is completely dry and stick it into the working handset. Otherwise, resort to smoke signals, public phones, and all that archaic stuff.

So, how do you dry your phone out? You could leave the phone on the counter or inside a drawer, but some people like giving it a little help. The idea is to put it in an environment that will ease its drying process. Next to a window works great, as airflow (if the window is open) and sunlight might help a bit. It could also help to put the device close to a fan or air conditioning vent.

Uncovering the rice myth

A very common practice is putting the phone in a Ziploc bag full of rice and letting it rest. Why rice? Mainly because it is something readily available in most homes. Rice is dry, and hence very good at absorbing humidity in the air, making the phones environment drier and helping dry out the device. Or, at least, that is the theory.

We would like to emphasize using rice is not recommended, though! Rice has starch, dust, and other small particles that may cause more damage than good. In fact, Apple has gone as far as addressing the whole rice myth, just to make sure users stop doing this.

Safe things you can use

Lily Katz / Android Authority

With that said, if you can make your way to a store, there are better alternatives. Among better options are silica gel packs, which are those little packets you often find in shoes or electronics boxes (and you cant eat). Its not like we all have these lying around, but if you think ahead, you could get good deals on Amazon.

And while we are on the topic of thinking ahead, you could also buy a water rescue kit. I happen to like Kensingtons EVAP bundle, which includes a special bag and silica gel packs. Kensington states this is 700% more effective at drying moisture than rice is, though its hard to say how true its claim is. Still, it might be worth the investment.

Step 4: How to safely turn on a water damaged phone

Austin Kwok / Android Authority

So you did everything you could, and a few days passed. Its time to see if all your efforts paid off. Take the phone out of wherever you left it and put it all together. Then plug the phone in and try to turn it on. If it works, you have succeeded! Stay on the lookout for any odd behavior, though, at least for a few days. Also, test all the components. Make a call to see if the microphone and earphone work, test the speaker, check the buttons, etc.

Now, if the phone doesnt work, its time to accept defeat, take it to a professional, and see if it can be salvaged. You can also claim insurance if you have it. Not to sound like a doctor, but after this point, we have done everything we could. Sometimes, you have to let the phone go.

FAQs

Its not guaranteed, and despite the fact that the theory makes sense, rice can actually harm your device. Rice has starch, dust, and other small particles that can harm your device.

Using rice to try to salvage a wet phone is not the best solution. In fact, it may be harmful. Silica packs are more efficient.

While it may sound like a good idea, blow drying a wet phone can often do more harm than good. This is because blowing air into electronics can push moisture further inside. Additionally, excessive heat can harm electronics.

Phone warranties dont commonly cover water damage. This is often the case even when a phone is said to be waterproof. Most phone insurances do cover water damage, though.