Remove The Battery Immediately
No matter what you do, do not turn on your phone; if it is wet it will fry the circuit board and you will have very little hope of recovering the device. Removing the battery immediately will ensure that there is no power source for the mobile phone and can hopefully prevent damage to circuitry. There’s another reason this is important, explained below with step two.
Let The Components Air Dry
Not only will removing the battery reduce the chances of your phone’s circuits experiencing an early demise, it also allows the insides of the phone to air dry and hopefully get any hidden water out from any little nooks and crannies. Most modern phones will only have the battery to remove, but if by chance yours has other pieces that be removed (such as SIM or SD cards), remove them and lay them out.
Use Rice To Absorb The Moisture
Some swear by placing a water logged cell phone in a sealed bag with dry rice where the moisture will be drawn out from the phone and absorbed by the surrounding rice. It’s not a speedy fix: you may need to leave the phone in the rice overnight to give it enough time to absorb moisture. Another desiccant capable of drying out your water damaged phone is silica gel (you’ll usually find them in the pockets of new clothes), however it’s highly unlikely you’ll have enough, if any, stashed away for just such an event.
Try A Bheestie Bag
Water damaged phones are such a common problem that there are products available specifically designed to help dry electronics damaged by water. Products like the Bheestie Bag promise to dry out any electronic device, and aren’t all that cheap. However, in comparison to buying a new mobile phone it could be money very well spent. There are plenty of electronic stores and online retailers that carry Bheestie Bags and similar products.
Use Air To Force Out Water
Ideally you want to remove as much water as possible from inside the phone housing. Get a canister of pressurised air and try to blow internal water out of the phone. Not everyone has a spare can of compressed air just sitting around, so failing that, try sucking water out using a hoover. Either way, get as much water out as fast as you can
Be Patient With The Drying Process
When something is wet, it seems logical that heat would dry it. After all, isn’t this the principle we follow with our clothing, our hair etc? Well, that rule doesn’t apply to electronics so keep the hair dryer away from your mobile. The oven or dryer are not good options either, just in case you were thinking of those alternatives. Heat damages electronics – end of story!
Put It Back Together & Give It A Try!
If you’ve tried any or all of the above tips for drying out your water damaged phone, put the components back together and give it a try. Remember to out the phone’s functions through a range of tests: just because it’s turned on, doesn’t mean it’s fully operational. If your phone still isn’t working to your satisfaction, try the tips below.
Find Replacement Parts
If only parts of the phone have suffered water damage, either your phone provider or an electronics supplier might be able to identify and sell the parts required to get the mobile work again. If your phone is out of warranty then try eBay for parts as there are many broken phones listed for cheap: all you need to do is find one that has the part you require.
Send It To The Manufacturer
If you’ve tried everything else and your phone still just won’t work, send it back to your cell phone provider. They might be able to take a look at it and repair it by replacing parts or working their magic. Assuming that you’re out of warranty, you should expect to foot a fairly hefty bill for their work, but it just might save the cost of a brand new phone.
Buy A New Phone
When all else fails, get a new phone. If you’re on a term contract, try and negotiate with your cell phone provider and see if you might be eligible for a plan renewal discount or another offer, even if they shouldn’t be available to you yet. If you explain the situation, you might have a chance, but don’t count on it!
Dry The Phone With Alcohol
One theory (that you should try as a very last resort) states that instead of air drying, another method is to place the cell phone, with the battery and any removable cards detached, in a container that’s a bit bigger than the device. It should be filled with alcohol (nott the drinking type) to help remove any water that might have found its way into hidden spots on the phone that air drying might not reach. Let’s make this 100% clear: this is a risky option as alcohol is a solvent that could wreak havoc with the adhesives used in the construction of the phone. Only attempt this if you have no other option, have a backup of your data and do not care if the phone is permanently damaged!
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