There are many different ways that we end up causing damage to our smartphones. Despite having protective cases, iPhones and Androids have a way of always being in the line of danger, somehow. One very common way that phones get ruined is by water damage. However, water damage doesn’t necessarily have to be so disastrous. There are many ways to repair smartphones that have been exposed to water, so that you don’t have to write your phone off just yet. Here’s some information about smartphone water damage…
Immediate damages that happen
The most immediate and obvious damage that will happen when you drop your smartphone in water is that water will flood into the speaker, which will cause any sound, whether music or phone calls, to have immense distortion that warps the sound as if it is under water. The water can also get into the headphone jack, making it dysfunctional. If ignored, this can also cause unwanted static in your sound down the line. Aside from sound, being submerged in water can ruin the connection to the charging port, meaning you won’t be able to charge anymore. In a worst case scenario, water can get into the motherboard, which can ruin the phone entirely. However, the worst damages may not be so immediate. The initial water is damaging to the phone because of the electricity in certain components. However, rust and corrosion are what end up being most damaging to iPhones and Androids, as they can cause long-term damage and destroy vital functions over time.
What you can do, yourself
If your phone happens to be submerged in water, there are several things to remember. The first is to absolutely never let your phone air dry, naturally. All this will do is let water seep further into your phone’s interior components. By leaving the water alone, you’ll let rust buildup on the coils and resistors that make your phone work. Rather, dry off the exterior of your smartphone with a towel, immediately. After that, get a bowl of rice (or silica, if you happen to have any lying around). Submerge your phone in the rice/silica and let it dry in there. The silica and rice absorb moisture, and will make sure that the water on the inside of your smartphone is dried quickly.
Take it in
If your phone happens to become completely submerged in water, it is very rare that just drying it in rice will fix it completely. Usually, some moisture may remain trapped inside, which will cause your phone to fail over time. Rather than submit your phone to this destructive state, it’s usually much better (and cheaper) to take it into a phone repair company. Because of their tools and experience, it’s incredibly simple for a professional to figure out if any damage has been done, and what needs to happen to fix it right away.
