How to Fix a Smartwatch with Water Damage

Water Damage Recovery: Tips For Removing Water From Your Smartwatch

Assessing the Damage

Water damage to a smartwatch can be a distressing experience, but with a systematic approach, you can mitigate the potential harm and restore your device to working condition. Before taking any action, its crucial to assess the extent of the damage to determine the best course of action. Here are the steps to evaluate the damage:

• Power Off: Immediately power off the smartwatch to prevent electrical shorts and further damage. If the device is already off, do not attempt to turn it on.
• Remove from Water Source: Carefully remove the smartwatch from the water source to prevent continuous exposure.
• Assess Visible Damage: Inspect the exterior of the smartwatch for visible signs of water damage, such as water droplets under the screen or in crevices, and corrosion on the charging ports.
• Check for Functionality: If the smartwatch is still on, check for any abnormal behavior, such as flickering screens or unresponsive buttons. These are signs of internal damage.
• Assess Water Exposure Time: Consider how long the smartwatch was exposed to water. Longer exposure increases the likelihood of damage.
• Assess Water Type: If the smartwatch was exposed to saltwater or other liquids, the damage may be more severe due to corrosive properties.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can gain a clearer understanding of the damage and make informed decisions about the next steps in the water damage recovery process.

Removing the Water

Once you have assessed the damage to your smartwatch, the next crucial step is to remove the water from the device as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Prompt action can significantly reduce the risk of long-term damage. Heres how to effectively remove the water from your smartwatch:

• Drying Cloth: Use a soft, absorbent cloth to gently pat the exterior of the smartwatch, soaking up any visible water. Avoid wiping or rubbing, as this can push the water further into the device.
• Absorbent Materials: If the water has seeped into crevices or ports, use absorbent materials such as cotton swabs or a clean, dry toothbrush to soak up the moisture.
• Gravity Drainage: Open any ports, such as the charging port, and position the smartwatch so that the water can drain out naturally. Avoid shaking the device, as this can spread the water to other internal components.
• Rice or Silica Gel: Place the smartwatch in a sealed container with uncooked rice or silica gel packets. These materials can help absorb moisture from the device over time. Leave the smartwatch in the container for at least 24-48 hours.
• Vacuum Method: If the water damage is extensive, consider using a small handheld vacuum with a narrow attachment to gently draw out moisture from the smartwatch without directly touching the device.

Its important to be patient during this process, as thorough water removal is essential for preventing further damage to the internal components of the smartwatch. Once you have removed as much water as possible, proceed to the next step of drying the smartwatch.

Drying the Smartwatch

After successfully removing the water from your smartwatch, the next critical phase is to ensure thorough drying to prevent residual moisture from causing damage to the internal circuitry. Proper drying methods can aid in the restoration of functionality. Heres how to effectively dry your smartwatch:

• Air Drying: Place the smartwatch in a dry, well-ventilated area at room temperature. Avoid using heat sources such as hairdryers or direct sunlight, as excessive heat can further damage the device.
• Use of Desiccants: If available, you can place the smartwatch in a sealed container with desiccants such as silica gel packets. These materials can help absorb any remaining moisture from the device.
• Patience and Time: Allow the smartwatch to dry naturally for at least 24-48 hours before attempting to power it on. Rushing this process can lead to irreversible damage.
• Intermittent Checks: Periodically check the smartwatch during the drying process to ensure that no moisture remains. If moisture is still present, continue the drying process until the device is completely dry.

Its crucial to exercise patience and thoroughness during the drying phase, as any residual moisture can compromise the functionality of the smartwatch. Once you are confident that the device is completely dry, proceed to the next step of testing the smartwatch to determine its operational status.

Testing the Smartwatch

After completing the water removal and drying process, its essential to conduct thorough testing to assess the operational status of your smartwatch. Testing will help determine if the device has been successfully restored to full functionality. Here are the steps to effectively test your smartwatch:

• Power On: Carefully power on the smartwatch and observe its startup sequence. Look for any unusual behavior, such as flickering screens or unresponsive buttons, which may indicate lingering damage.
• Check Functionality: Test all the essential features of the smartwatch, including the touchscreen, buttons, and sensors. Ensure that all functions are responsive and operating as expected.
• Charging Test: Connect the smartwatch to a power source and verify that it charges normally. Check for any signs of overheating or irregular charging behavior.
• Water Resistance Test: If your smartwatch is designed to be water-resistant, perform a simple water resistance test to ensure that the device can still repel water effectively.
• Monitor Performance: Use the smartwatch over the next few days and monitor its performance closely. Look out for any signs of deteriorating functionality that may have been caused by the water damage.

By conducting these comprehensive tests, you can gain a clear understanding of the smartwatchs current condition and identify any lingering issues that may require further attention. If the smartwatch exhibits persistent problems after testing, it may be necessary to seek professional assistance for a more in-depth assessment and repair.

Water Damage: What to do if your watch gets wet?

Condensation

Condensation occurs when humid air comes into contact with the cold surface of a watch's crystal, which causes the water vapour present in the air to condense and form droplets on the watch's glass surface. If this occurs, wipe the droplets off with a soft dry cloth.

If your watch is inadequately sealed, moisture can become trapped inside the case, forming droplets that drip down to your watch mechanism, leading to corrosion and rusting of internal components.

Broken seals

Several features make a watch water-resistant. The most important are the silicon or rubber hoops, called gaskets, that sit inside the case, crystal, stem, crown, and pushers to form a waterproof seal around the important mechanisms within.

Watch gaskets are prone to wear and tear, compromising their effectiveness over time. Additionally, they can degrade due to exposure to extreme temperatures and certain chemicals.

If a gasket is broken or damaged, the waterproof seal created by the gasket is compromised, which can allow water to seep in and damage the watch's internal components.

Damaged watch glass

A damaged watch glass can result in water damage if it fails to provide a waterproof seal. Small cracks, scratches or chips in the watch glass can reduce its ability to resist moisture, allowing water to seep in and cause damage to the internal components of your watch. Additionally, condensation can form inside the watch case due to temperature fluctuations, which can cause corrosion and potentially damage the electrical components of a quartz timepiece.

Sweat

Sweating is a natural and healthy response of our body. But sadly, through regular wear, sweat can affect the water-resistance of our watches, leading to water damage.

Sweat is composed of water, salt and other minerals, which over time, can corrode the external and internal parts of your timepiece and cause condensation to form.

To avoid having your timepiece's water resistance compromised or water damage caused by sweat, remember to wipe your watch with a dry cloth after use and remove it before exercising or any activity that causes heavy sweating.

Accidents happen

Whether you forgot to take your watch off before having a shower, one of the kids spilt a drink over it, or maybe you dropped your timepiece and damaged the case, accidents happen at the end of the day.

If you believe that your watch has been exposed to water or if you have somehow compromised its water resistance, we recommend you take your timepiece to a professional watch repair centre for examination to prevent any further damage from occurring, which could cost you more in the long run.

Watch stuck in reboot after possible water damage

Hi,

The impurities in the water causes corrosion and provides circuit paths for the electricity which were not in the watch's operating design and could damage the components. The corrosion starts immediately and is ongoing until it is completely cleaned away

First do not try to charge or to turn on your watch and then remove the battery as soon as possible from the watch to minimize any further damage.

Then you need to dis-assemble the rest of the watch and clean all the affected parts using Isopropyl Alcohol 99%+ (available at electronics parts stores) to remove all traces of corrosion and water. If possible do not use "rubbing alcohol" as in some cases this is only 70% IPA or less, can contain additives and is not as effective. If you do have to use it check the label to verify the amount of IPA. The higher the percentage of IPA the better

Here is a link that describes the process. Electronics Water Damage

As always with electronics, especially surface mounted pcb be gentle when handling and especially when brushing away the corrosion. You do not want to remove any components from the board. Remove the shields that may be covering some components as the water may have got in under there. The ends of any flex cables and their connectors need to be cleaned as well

Hopefully after you have done all this the watch might possibly work correctly again.

Here the ifixit Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 guide that may help

If this process seems too daunting, take your watch to a reputable, professional mobile phone or electronics repair service, experienced in liquid damage repair and ask for a quote for a repair. If you decide to do this, do it sooner than later.

How to Fix a Water-Damaged iPhone, Smart Watch or Apple Watch

There are few more frustrating things nowadays then having to deal with a water-damaged iPhone, Apple Watch or Smart Watch. All of these devices have become such an important part of our daily lives that we cant even think about living without them for even a second and thus the chances of water-damage to them are very high.

An accidental dip into the water either while bathing or worse in the toilet is all it take for your wearable devices to become water-damaged. However, there is no need to worry about as the water-damage to such devices can be fixed, although it is not an easy task and is best left to the professionals.

Using the Wet Device Would be a Cardinal Sin

It is best that the wet device is taken out of the water immediately and put aside to dry as it would be a big mistake to try to use it while it is wet. The device must be turned off and all of its accessories including the SIM, if it is a phone, must be stripped and a towel must be used for rubbing it dry.

However, taking apart the accessories of an iPhone or wearable device is not that simple a task and might involve taking out the screen in order to reach it internal parts. This can do even more damage to the device and might also invalidate your warranty as well so it is best that you do not try it on your own and let the professionals deal with it.

The Power of the Rice

One of the tricks that might be used for the purpose of fixing water-damaged iPhone or wearable devices is to store them in a bowl of rice for a day. Since it is an amazing sucker of water, the rice will hopefully leech away all the water and leave your device dry and functioning as good as it was new.

The chances of failure however are very high and there is every likelihood that the iPhone or the wearable device will not turn on even after being kept for 3 or 4 days in the bowl of rice. Silica gel can also be used in place of rice for drying wet iPhone and other wearable devices.

Thus, it is best that the task of fixing a water-damaged device is done be professionals rather than by amateurs using tricks and home remedies.