Every day, people face the unfortunate consequence of water damage to cell phones. They flop into the toilet bowl, swim in the backyard or public pools, and enjoy days at the beach. Many stay in pants pockets and go through the washing machine cycle. No matter the cause, you will likely find that if your cell phone gets wet, it will stop working. Whether or not it can be repaired rather than replaced depends on the phone and often the amount and type of water involved.
Why is this happening? It is because the vast majority of cell phones are not waterproof. They are an electronic device and inside there are small circuits and chips that make them work. All water is disastrous for a phone.
Your home water contains small traces of chemicals, including chlorine and other minerals. These have a corrosive effect. Even if you have a filtration device on the faucet, the water can still damage your phone. When liquid enters the phone, it short-circuits internal components. Getting your phone wet on the beach is harmful not only because the water is liquid but also because it contains salt. Even your backyard pool water is corrosive because it contains chlorine and other chemicals.
When you bought the cell phone, the manufacturer gives a guarantee. If the phone stops working because it is faulty, you can bring it in for a replacement. However, you will find that cell phone water damage voids the warranty. If you open the back of the case and look at the battery compartment, you will see a sticker. That sticker is usually white. When wet, the sticker changes to a red color. This alerts the dealer and manufacturer that water damage to the cell phone caused the malfunction.
Some consumers buy insurance with their phone. If you purchased insurance, many policies cover a replacement phone. In some cases, however, the exact same model is not issued. A replacement or used model is delivered to the consumer. You should check your insurance to see the company’s obligations for any claims. Assuming your cell phone has been water damaged and there is no insurance for replacement, your other options are to dispose of the phone and buy a new one or try to get it repaired.
The faster you get it out of the water, the better. This decreases inward penetration. If it’s off, don’t turn it on. This activates electronic operation and can cause a short circuit. Contrary to popular opinion, do not put it in the microwave. This can cause the corrosive effect of the elements in the water to add damage beyond the liquid itself. You should immediately remove the battery. This ensures there is no power to the phone and minimizes that potential source of damage.
If the phone contains a separate GSM carrier, remove the card. The card itself contains the important information similar to a USB drive on a computer. If you have to get a replacement phone, at least your contact and other information could be saved. If you have to replace the phone, find one that supports the same card you used before.
Dry the phone by shaking it and draining the water. Then dry as much of the inside of the battery compartment and on the face and body as possible. Do not use a hair dryer to dry it. This will simply push the moisture deeper into the narrow cracks inside. Instead, try using a vacuum cleaner. This will remove the water instead of pushing it out. Let it sit on absorbent material to allow the natural evaporation process to occur.
Once it appears dry, put the battery back in and test to see if it works. If this does not fix the cell phone water damage, you can replace it or send it to a professional repair shop. To make that decision, you need to consider the cost of a new phone versus the cost of repair. If you’re at a point in your contract where you can renew, you’ll be able to get a new phone with the usual discounts available for new or extended contracts.