Having a phone damaged by water is a common problem that many phone owners face. Water can cause serious damage to the internal components of a smartphone. However, there are some steps you can take to try and fix a water damaged phone yourself.
What causes water damage in phones?
There are a few main causes of water damage in phones:
- Dropping the phone in water – This could happen if you drop your phone in the sink, toilet, bath, puddle, or any other source of water.
- Getting caught in the rain – Getting stuck in a rainstorm can cause water to seep into your phone.
- Spills – Accidentally spilling a drink on your phone is a common way water damage occurs.
- Condensation – Condensation from temperature changes can build up inside the phone and cause corrosion.
Water can damage several internal components of smartphones including the circuit board, connectors, speakers, microphone, and screen. The water causes corrosion and electrical shorts which can render the phone unusable.
Can rice fix a wet phone?
A common DIY solution for wet phones is to submerge the device in uncooked rice. The claim is that the rice will absorb the moisture from the phone and dry out the internal components. However, this method is not as effective as you may think.
While rice can help absorb some surface moisture, it does not pull water from inside the phone. Rice is not designed to extract water from small crevices and internal components. Any remaining water left inside can still cause major damage.
One study by Gazelle subjected water damaged phones to a 48 hour rice bath. They found that phones submerged in rice for 48 hours had a success rate of less than 10% at powering back on. Rice may help dry out some moisture, but is not an effective fix on its own.
Remove battery and SIM card
If your phone gets wet, one of the first things you should do is remove the battery and SIM card. This helps prevent further damage from any moisture:
- Removing the battery disconnects power from the phone which stops electricity flowing where water may have gotten in.
- Taking out the SIM card protects the chip and data stored on it from water damage.
Many modern smartphones have built-in batteries that can’t be removed. For these phones, powering the device completely off is recommended to disconnect the battery.
Dry out the phone
After removing the battery and SIM card, dry out the phone thoroughly. Here are some methods to help remove moisture:
- Use a microfiber cloth to gently blot or rub the outside of the phone to absorb excess moisture.
- Leave the phone to air dry for at least 24-48 hours to allow time for moisture to evaporate.
- Place the phone in front of a fan to speed up drying time.
- Invest in moisture-absorbing products like silicone bead packs to place near the phone.
- You can also try a desiccant like rice, couscous or kitty litter – just don’t submerge the phone fully.
Be patient and allow the phone to dry out completely before powering it back on. This gives time for water to evaporate so it doesn’t short circuit the electronics.
Clean with isopropyl alcohol
Use 99% isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush or cotton swabs to gently clean the phone after drying. Focus on scrubbing the charging port, audio jack, buttons, seams and other areas vulnerabe to moisture.
The isopropyl alcohol helps displace any remaining water and also evaporates quickly without leaving residue. Be careful not to get any moisture in the phone’s openings while cleaning.
Absorb moisture internally
To help draw moisture out from the inside of the phone, you can try placing moisture-absorbing packs into the device openings:
- Place silica gel packs into the SIM card slot, headphone jack, charging port etc. to absorb moisture inside.
- Packets labeled as anti-static and non-toxic work best. Phone repair shops may carry varieties made for electronics.
- Leave the packets inside the openings for at least 24 hours before removing to give them time to absorb water.
Use a wet phone repair service
For professional water extraction, wet phone repair services use vacuum systems to manually pull moisture from inside devices. This is more effective than DIY options:
- Specialized vacuum pumping systems are designed to manually extract water from the interior of electronics.
- Some systems use heat as well to evaporate and dry out the phone’s components.
- The equipment pulls moisture from crevices that rice or drying cannot reach.
Phone repair shops with water extraction systems have the highest success rates for reviving wet phones. The machines can extract water even days after the damage occurs.
Should you turn on a wet phone?
It’s important not to prematurely turn on a phone that got wet. When powered on, electricity flows through components that may still be wet.
This can cause short circuiting which leads to further damage. Only try turning on the phone after it’s completely dried out.
Some tips before powering up a wet phone:
- Wait at least 24-48 hours after drying before turning it on.
- Watch for signs of moisture like fogging under the screen glass.
- Connect to charger first to see if phone accepts charging.
- Power on without SIM card inserted to avoid damaging it if moisture remains.
If phone won’t turn on or shows signs of water damage, more cleaning and drying is needed. Leaving it powered off prevents shorts and gives more time to dry out.
Use moisture-absorbing storage
Once your phone is dried out, store it in a moisture-absorbing environment while not in use:
- Place phone in a sealed bag or airtight container with desiccant packs.
- Silica gel or other moisture-absorbing beads work best for storage.
- This prevents any residual moisture from damaging the phone over time.
Replace moisture absorbers regularly to keep the storage environment effectively dry. Phone repair shops may sell specialty drying containers.
What damages water the most in phones?
While all components are at risk from water exposure, here are a few key parts often damaged:
- Circuits – Water can bridge connections and cause shorts, corrosion, or complete failure of electronic circuits.
- Screen – OLED screens can be permanently discolored or damaged by water seeping behind the display.
- Speakers – Speakers contain membranes and electrical components affected by water.
- Microphone – Moisture in the microphone makes it ineffective at converting sounds to electrical signals.
- Connectors – Ports like the charging port are entry points for water to get inside the phone.
Water alters electrical resistances and conductivity leading to malfunction of virtually all phone components.
What are signs of water damage in a phone?
If a phone has gotten wet, watch for these common water damage symptoms:
- Speaker/microphone issues – Static, inability to hear calls
- Dark spots or discoloration under the screen
- Corrosion visible on ports or metal parts
- Glitchy/unresponsive touchscreen
- Battery charging issues
- Error messages about moisture being detected
- Distorted speakers or audio
- Fogging or condensation under screen glass
- Buttons or ports that don’t work
The above symptoms indicate water has reached internal components and urgent drying is needed. The phone will continue to deteriorate until moisture is removed.
What repairs are needed for water damaged phones?
Depending on the extent of water exposure, phones may require the following repairs or part replacements:
- Replacing corrosion damaged charging/audio ports
- Swapping damaged speakers, microphones or cameras
- Soldering new buttons if originals are unresponsive from water
- Replacing screen if liquid caused shadows or dead spots
- Cleaning or refluxing damaged electronic boards
- Replacing battery if moisture reached battery terminals
Sometimes damaged parts can be cleaned and recovered. Other times, too much corrosion requires completely replacing parts. Phone repair pros have the skills to make the right fix.
Does water damage eventually repair itself?
Water damaged phones do not repair themselves over time. In fact, the damage gets worse if moisture is allowed to remain inside:
- Corrosion continues spreading across electronic components as long as moisture is present.
- Short circuits, malfunctions, and screen damage caused by moisture persists.
- Any remaining water continues to bridge connections and affect phone functions until removed.
- Air drying or rice cannot fully extract water trapped deep inside the phone.
To stop ongoing water damage, the phone needs to be professionally dried out and cleaned as soon as possible after water exposure.
Is it worth fixing a water damaged phone?
It can be worth fixing a water damaged phone in certain situations:
- Phone still powers on – Good sign only minimal water ingress occurred.
- Water damage occurred recently – Quick action can save phone before corrosion spreads.
- Phone has irreplaceable data – Water repair may be only way to retrieve data.
- Repairs are affordable – If fixes cost less than replacing phone.
- Phone is expensive model – Pricier phones often worth the repair investment.
Weigh the projected repair costs vs. replacing the phone. Water repairs average $150-$350 but can exceed $1000 for difficult jobs.
Can I fix slight water damage myself?
Slight water damage with no major symptoms can potentially be fixed yourself at home. Here are some tips for minor DIY water damage repair:
- Immediately power off phone and dry with microfiber cloth.
- Leave in dry environment 2+ days to air out moisture.
- Check for moisture in ports and clean with alcohol/toothbrush.
- Use fan, rice, silica beads to speed up drying process.
- Once fully dry, test phone before putting SIM back in.
Monitor phone closely for any malfunctions or worsening water damage after DIY repairs. Go professional if issues emerge or persist.
How much does phone water damage repair cost?
On average, professional phone water damage repair costs between $150 to $350. However, costs vary based on factors like:
- Phone make and model – More complex builds cost more.
- Type of water damage – Saltwater, soda, chlorine cause worse corrosion.
- Severity of damage – More affected parts means higher cost.
- Parts needing replacement – New screens, boards, ports add expense.
- Data recovery – Pulling data from damaged phone adds cost.
Severe water damage with major component replacement can cost $500 to $1000+. A full diagnostic is needed to determine exact repair cost.
Average Costs of Common Water Repairs:
| Repair | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Motherboard repair | $150 – $350 |
| Charging port replacement | $50 – $150 |
| Speakers – repair/replace | $25 – $100 |
| Full screen replacement | $200 – $400 |
| Digitize touch screen | $100 – $200 |
| Replace battery | $30 – $80 |
Can you prevent water damage to phones?
While accidents happen, you can take measures to help prevent water damage to your phone:
- Use waterproof phone case when going near water.
- Never use phone while washing hands or leaving on bathroom sink.
- Avoid spilling liquids near phone.
- Place phone in ziplock bag if caught in heavy rain.
- Keep repair shops number handy to quickly dry phone if wet.
- Inspect gaskets and seals regularly to ensure no cracks for moisture to enter.
- Turn phone off and remove battery immediately if it gets wet.
Prevention is much easier than curing water damage after it happens. Protect your investment with some simple precautions.
Conclusion
Water damage in phones can happen easily, but doesn’t have to be permanent. With quick action to dry out the phone and proper repairs for any damaged parts, there is a good chance of saving a wet phone. In moderate to severe cases, specialized professional water extraction offers the best results and is worth the cost. Being prepared and cautious about moisture around phones can also prevent many situations leading to water damage in the first place.