Chances of saving a water-damaged phone are very slim, as there is no guarantee that it will regain its normalcy. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile in putting in efforts to try and rescue it, more so if it contains crucial data that helps you run your daily businesses.
Switched On Insurance have created a useful blog post outlining what to do and not to do should you drop your phone in water. Below are some important tips from the post to help you rescue your phone:
Remove it from water and switch it off
React quickly and remove the phone from water to increase its chances of survival. If it is still on, turn it off, and then place it on a flat surface. Do not plug it on, neither should you press any key, shake nor blow it. This prevents water from spreading inside it. When water enters the phone, it spreads to the sensors, is trapped under and around the battery as well as on the electronic shields.
Disassemble the phone
All the user-removable parts such as the cover, sim card, SD card and if possible, the battery should be removed and placed on a flat surface like a paper towel. If you have the technical know-how about the phone, you may as well proceed and disassemble the whole gadget to help it dry faster.
Vacuum clean the phone
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck off drops of water from the phone, taking caution not to move the phone around as it will risk it. Please not this is a sucking process, and not blowing it. The vacuum cleaner used should be as small as possible.
Dry the exterior
Using a paper towel, remove all the excess water around the exterior of the phone. Due diligence should be taken not to the phone. Dry everything out gently, and with very minimal movement.
Leave it to dry
Leave the phone to dry for some time. If you want to communicate during this time, then put the disassembled sim card in another phone when it is completely dry. You can leave it to dry on top of a counter, or place under conditions that will ease its drying like in a Ziploc bag of rice. This is because rice readily absorbs humidity from the air, thereby speeding up the phone drying process.
Reassemble the phone
After a few days, and when you’re certain that the phone has dried, take it out and put it together. Plug it in and turn it on. If it powers on, observe it for some time for any odd behaviour. Check it components such as the microphone, the speaker and the earphone to ascertain if they are functioning.
What to do if the phone does not respond accordingly
The phone may still not function after following the above procedure. The battery could be corroded or swollen; or the electric sensor could have burned out. You will, therefore, have option but to seek professional assistance to see if it can be repaired by a credible or certified technician. If you had insured it, then this could also be the moment to claim it. If not, then you may seek cheap phone insurance service for the next phone that you buy.
What to do to protect your phone in future
One way of protecting your phone from water damage is by covering it with a waterproof case. This will go a long way in saving you from replace costs or repair bills. You should always have your important data secured in a backup such an external hard drive, or online storage platforms.
Read the full blog post here: What to do if you drop your phone in water.