If we accidentally drop our expensive iPhone or Android phone in the water, we use to panic at first instance. Don’t We? After the phone is wet, we rush to a service center or try our own experiments to dry it. During our DIY steps, we generally make the matter worse which makes the phone irreparable. In this tutorial, I will guide you through some first aid tips, do’s and don’ts, and some quick fixes to revive or fix a wet phone.
Do’s and Don’ts to Fix a Wet Phone
The foremost step in fixing a wet phone is to dry it as soon as possible. But before trying to dry a cell phone, you need to Do these steps as quickly as possible.
- After you realize the phone is wet or still dipped in water, the first step is to move the phone out of contact with water as soon as possible
- Do NOT try to check the phone by pressing any of the buttons on the phone.
- Now your next move should be to stop the power to the electronic circuitry of the phone. So immediately remove the battery and if the battery is inbuilt, switch off the phone by pressing the power button.
- Remove accessories like back covers, SIM, or memory cards from the phone.
What Not to do (DON’Ts)
Blow Air
Do not use any air dryer or air compressor to dry the wet smartphone. This equipment blows air at high pressure and will push the water droplets further deep inside the phone and can cause severe damage to the phone.
Disassemble Phone
Taking the phone apart will not only void the warranty of the phone, but will also only exaggerate the problem. So do not try to unscrew the phone yourself to peep inside the cell phone.
Shaking phone
Do not try to shake the phone to get rid of the liquid from the phone. In case some liquid has managed to enter the phone, shaking the phone will spread this liquid to more areas.
Heat the Phone
Never try to cook your phone over the flame and do not even think of bizarre ideas like keeping the phone in the oven. I did it with my Nokia 3310 , many years ago and damaged it badly. There are very thin tracks on the printed circuit board used in mobile phones. Exposing the phone to heat will burn these tracks.
Also Read: How to Fix Touchscreen of Android Phone
Steps to Fix Wet Phone (DOs)
Wipe phone
You should wipe the wet phone with a dry cloth and try to keep the position as straight as possible in order to prevent the scattering of water inside the phone.
Vacuum your Phone
Instead of blowing the air directly on phone, I recommend using a vacuum cleaner instead. The basic idea behind using the vacuum is to suck as much moisture as you can from a wet phone.
Exposure to Heat(controlled)
By controlled heat, I mean to say that it either uses the sunlight or keeps the phone under the lamp bulb. Again, our motto is to evaporate the moisture from the phone. Try to keep the phone under a lamp for at least 12 hours.
Rice Treatment
Well! I am serious here. Raw rice is a great absorbent of moisture. If you are at home, place the phone in a rice container. To prevent the rice from entering USB or other ports, cover the phone with thin tissue paper. Keep it inside the air-tight rice box for at least 24 hours to get better results.
Silica gel
These are one of the best moisture absorbents available at a reasonable price. Silica gel comes in small packets. In order to remove moisture from the wet phone, you need to store the phone and 3-4 packets in an air-tight container. If you cannot find silica gel packets at home, you can buy them online.
Readymade Drying Kits
There are phone drying pouches available at both local and online stores like Amazon ( Check Price). The pouch consists of a fast desiccant that absorbs the water from the phone when you put it in the pouch. The water extraction time depends upon the water retained by the wet phone.
Isopropyl alcohol (for Advanced users)
99% isopropyl alcohol is an excellent absorbent of moisture. Pour it into a tray and dip the phone in the alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol not only evaporates the water at a quick pace, but it also removes any greasy or sticky residues on the phone.
“Note: The isopropyl alcohol is available at various concentrations ranging from 70% to 99%(by volume). The higher the percentage of alcohol better is the evaporation rate. So buy only 99% Isopropyl alcohol to fix a wet phone.”
Be patient to fix a wet phone
Patience is the key here. Don’t panic and just follow the steps mentioned in this article. To be on the safer side, buy a quality waterproof case for your expensive phones. These days you can also buy water-resistant phones from some brands like Apple, Samsung, or Sony.
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