Ever dropped your cell phone in the sink, or even
worse... the toilet? Did you ever leave it in
your pocket and run it through the washer? Did
you ever swim with your cell phone in your
pocket? Getting your cell phone wet usually means
you have to replace it, but sometimes if you're
fast enough, you might be able to save the phone!
Follow the steps outlined in this article to try
and save your wet cell phone.
!! Steps !!
_ Remove the phone quickly from its watery source Take the phone
out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell
phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short
period of time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less. Grab your phone
quickly! Don't switch the phone on, as this can cause it to short
circuit – if it has been in water, assume it needs drying
immediately whether or not it is working.
* If you can't get to the phone in time, your best bet is to remove
the battery while it is still under water. Water helps to
dissipate heat from shorts that can damage the phone, so most
damage occurs when the inside of the phone is wet and connected to
a power source. This can go both ways, however. Being under water
is more likely to short the battery to even more sensitive
contacts, so be careful.
* Possibly how you're feeling but act first, cry later! Don't
panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you take it
out of the water right away. A longer period of immersion, such as
being in the washing machine cycle, will be cause for more alarm
but it is still worth trying the following steps before giving up
completely.
Remove the battery as soon as possible Remove the battery. This
is one of the most important steps. Don't take time to think
about it; electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your
phone is a crucial first step in saving it. Many circuits inside
the phone will survive immersion in water provided they are not
attached to a power source when wet.
* To find out if the phone is truly water damaged, check the corner
near where the battery is – there should_ be a white square or
circle, with or without red lines. If this is pink or red, your
phone has water damage.
* Quickly read the manual to your phone if you're not sure how to
remove the battery.
* _ Remove the SIM card to at least save its contents Remove the
SIM card if you have a GSM carrier. Some or all of your valuable
contacts (along with other data) could be stored on your SIM. For
many people, this could be more worth saving than the phone
itself. SIM cards survive water damage well, but some of the
following steps might damage it, so getting it out immediately
makes good sense. Just pat it dry and leave it aside until you
need to connect your phone to your cellular network. (This step
does not apply to CDMA carriers such as Verizon, Alltel, US
Cellular, Sprint, etc.)
* Remove any peripherals or covers Remove all other peripherals
and covers that can be removed. Remove any covers and external
connectors to open up as many gaps, slots, and crevices in the
phone as possible.
Use a towel to dry the phoneDry your phone. If there is even one_
drop of water left inside, it can ruin your phone by corroding it
and making the wrong contact. Obviously you need to remove as
much of the water as soon as possible, to prevent it from easing
its way into the phone:
* Gently wipe off as much water as possible without dropping the
phone. Avoid shaking or moving the phone excessively, so as to
avoid moving water through it.
* Wipe down using a towel or paper towel. Ideally, try not to clog
the wet paper in the gaps and grooves of the phone. Keep wiping,
to gently remove as much of the remaining water as possible.
* (Optional): If you pulled the battery out in time, cleaning the
inside of your phone with cleaning alcohol (alcohol will displace
the water) or contact spray might remedy the problem.
* _ Wipe with something soft and dryDry any remaining excess
moisture by moving your dry or mitten-clad hand across the
surface.
Vacuum gently and avoid touching phoneUse a vacuum cleaner if
possible. If you want to try and suck the liquid out of the inner
parts of the phone, try using a vacuum cleaner. Remove all
residual moisture by drawing it away with a vacuum cleaner held
over the affected areas for up to 20 minutes, in each accessible
area (take it in turns with a friend). This is the fastest method
and can completely dry out your phone and get it working in
thirty minutes. However, unless the exposure to water was
extremely_ short, it's not recommended to attempt to turn your
phone on this soon. Be careful not to hold the vacuum too close
to the phone, as a vacuum can create static electricity, which is
even worse for the phone.
* _ Contrary to common advice, it is *not*
recommended that you use a hair dryer (not even on the "cold"
mode) to dry out the phone. Using a hair dryer may force moisture
further into_ the small components, deep inside the phone, as the
air blows inward. And if it is too warm, it will likely melt them.
If moisture is driven deeper inside, corrosion and oxidation may
result when minerals from liquids are deposited on the circuitry.
Using a hairdryer might be a temporary fix, but this will
eventually cause component failure inside the phone.
_ Place the phone into something absorbent Use a substance with a
high affinity for water to help draw out moisture. Leave the phone
in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice would absorb
any remaining moisture.
* If available, it is preferable to use desiccant instead. Desiccant
will absorb moisture better than rice. If you use this method,
slip the cell phone inside a plastic bag that can be sealed or a
plastic container (airtight). Add the desiccant packet (often
found with shoes, noodle packets, etc.) in with the cell phone.
Leave as long as possible (overnight) to absorb the moisture.
* Rotate the phone to a different position every hour until you go
to sleep. This will allow any water left inside to run down and
hopefully find an opening to escape.
Leave untouched to dryLet the phone sit on absorbent towels,
napkin, or other paper. After removing the phone from the rice or
desiccant (or if you were not able to use either method), place
the phone on absorbent material. Remember that the goal is to
evacuate all of the moisture and humidity, not to trap it or add
even more.
* Check the absorbent material every hour for 4 to 6 hours. If
moisture is evident, repeat the vacuuming step and desiccant
steps.
Check the phone Test your phone. After you have waited at least
24 hours, or longer if possible, check to see that everything on
and in your cell phone is clean and looks dry. Re-attach the
battery to the phone. Try turning it on.
* If your phone still does not work, try plugging it into its
charger without the battery. If this works, you need a new
battery.
* If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer.
Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has
been wet – there are internal indicators that prove moisture and
they're more likely to be able to help you if you explain exactly
what has happened.
If you're going to take your phone apart, be sure to know what
you're doing! Take the phone apart if your phone doesn't turn on
at all. If you feel comfortable doing this, try taking it apart.
First, make sure that you have all_ of the right parts and know
_exactly_ where they go. Be sure to put everything back in its
proper place once finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each
individual part dry with a small towel and use the vacuum cleaner
once more on the crevices (but be careful not to accidentally
suck up any loose parts – keep them well to one side). If this
doesn't work, or you're too unsure about undoing your phone, get
help from cell phone professionals.
* If your phone is powering up but still acting strange after you've
dried it, then it's probable that you've missed some liquid, or
that the corrosion has already occurred. Dis-assembly and cleaning
with a toothbrush and appropriate solvent may fix it. For the
fainthearted, a skilled technician or engineer can often fix such
an issue easily and quickly.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Being *on* _and_ wet at the same time can short out the phone's
circuitry. If you're able to turn your phone off before it fries,
you may well be able to resuscitate your drowned phone!
* Excessive heat can damage your phone even more! Most phones have
warnings about leaving them in your car or exposing them to heat.
The main point is to completely dry the phone before applying
power. Be patient! Use a vacuum cleaner to rapidly draw all the
residual moisture out, this usually takes about 20 minutes of care
and patience turning the phone every few minutes to ensure all
holes and outlets get accessed.
* If your phone falls in the ocean or another form of salt water,
rinse it with fresh water before salt crystals can form in the
phone after the removal of the battery.
* It is possible to purchase commercial "wet cell phone emergency"
kits. It's probably best to buy one "just in case" as you can
waste valuable time going to the store to buy one.
* If your phone has been subjected to salt water crystallizing,
gently tap the board and the chips with a plastic object (the back
of a small screw driver for example). The vibration of the taps
will set some of the foreign objects free and they will fall out.
Be careful and don't smash the board or the chips. A sharp enough
blow will break the chips. Tapping very gently multiple times in
multiple locations, especially around the chips, is a preferred
method. And follow up with appropriate solvent cleaning afterwards
to clean away any oxidation residue.
* Place the phone in a vacuum chamber (found at many high schools
and universities) and activate the chamber. Typically universities
and specific industries will have a vacuum chamber available if
you happen to know the right person. Water "boils" at room
temperature, given enough time, meaning that it evaporates through
bubbles even though it isn't heated. This method should be
successful when the vacuum is maintained at room temperature for
about 30 minutes. That will dry out parts you can't access as will
the tip above regarding a vacuum cleaner if you have no vacuum
chamber available.
* Try holding a compressed air can _*straight*_ (upside down,
sideways, or at an angle will shoot out a freezing liquid) and
shoot into the crevices, speaker, mic, and keypad. Any excess
water stuck should come out. If the can gets cold and you're not
done, let the can sit a while before continuing, as cold air could
make excess moisture condense onto parts deeper inside. This
process should be followed by the other methods that use a vacuum
chamber or vacuum cleaner to more thoroughly remove any deeper
residual moisture and humidity as the phone must be totally dry
inside to ensure no further failure later on. *The contents of
many "canned air" products can be poisonous. Follow all
recommendations on the can label.*
* Since your warranty is void anyway, if you have further problems
with your phone's functions after trying the above methods to dry
it out, then buy Torx screwdrivers to open the phone's case, since
these are almost always specialized. (For example, the RAZR needs
Torx #4, #5, and #6). Pick up a can of contact spray (electric
contact cleaner)and douse the inside. It dries rapidly. Scrub any
residue with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Spray with compressed air,
and/or vacuum it out for several minutes to suck out further
moisture and then carefully put it back together.
!! Warnings !!
* Do not leave your phone wet for an extended period of time. Dry it
out as soon as possible.
* Do not switch the phone on. This is important as it will prevent a
charge from running from the battery to the phone which may
subsequently cause the phone to short circuit.
* Don't heat the battery or it could leak or explode. Lithium-ion
batteries are sensitive. If you use a hairdryer, make sure to
remove the battery first. Note that it is not recommended to apply
heat to the phone.
* If you use alcohol make sure to do so outside, and do not apply
heat in any form, not even the gentle heat of a monitor. Do not
hook up the battery until the alcohol smell dissipates.
* Do not apply too much heat to your phone, as mentioned above. You
don't want to melt or burn your phone.
* Do not put your phone in an oven to dry it out.
* Be warned that manufacturers of most modern cell phones place
liquid damage indicator stickers that will change colors in the
presence of a liquid inside their phones. This helps technicians
know that you have dropped your phone in water, as most cell phone
insurance coverage policies don't cover water damage. Chances are,
if the sticker under the battery is triggered, then the internal
stickers you can't access have probably been tripped as well. This
will result in you paying a voided-warranty fee in the long run.
*You should be aware that warranties don't cover water damage,
only insurance does, and even then, not all insurance companies or
plans will honor water damaged phones.* It is also worth noting
that these liquid damage indicator stickers have been known to
change colors in extreme humidity as well.
* Even if all these steps are followed, minerals dissolved in the
water can precipitate on solder and component pins, causing
corrosion or shorting. Component pins are packed so closely
together in modern cell phones that even a small encrustation can
create a short, rendering the phone inoperable.
* Do not put the phone (or any electronic or metal-containing
object) into the microwave. You will destroy electronic components
and potentially the microwave, and perhaps start a fire in your
house. Not good.
* For the semi-mechanically inclined: remove screws and, at a
minimum, crack the case open to allow moisture to escape. Cell
phones are normally somewhat waterproof, so they can be used in
the light rain and in humid environments. This means that once
moisture has entered the phone, it is very hard for it to dry out.
* Removing your cell phone from the water quickly and immediately
removing the battery gives you the best chance of saving your
phone.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Desiccant such as rice, or desiccant packet (found with new shoes,
noodle packages, etc.)
* Towels, paper towels
* Vacuum cleaner
* Bowl
* Airtight bag or container (optional)
* Contact details for technical repairer if needed
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Get out of a Cellular Service Contract
* How to Find the IMEI Number on a Mobile Phone
* How to Make SIM Card Earrings
* How to Dispute Your Cell Phone Bill
* How to Get a Surf Report from a Cell Phone
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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