How to repair a water damaged phone
One of the commonest ways to damage your phone is by dropping it in water. It has been estimated that nearly a half of all mobile phone users in the UK have damaged their phones with water in the past.
The most common accident is dropping the phone down the toilet - this is because people keep their phone in the back pocket of their jeans, then as they get up off the toilet and pull their jeans up the phone falls out and down the toilet. Other accidents involve simply dropping the phone outside and it landing in a puddle or phones being left in clothing when it gets washed.
Remember that the manufacturers standard 12 month warranty will not cover your phone against water damage. Most mobile phone insurance policies do cover this type of damage but often the excess payable on the claim can be more than a local phone repair shop will charge and certainly more than the DIY method detailed below.
How does water damage a phone?
Well contrary to popular belief it rarely causes a short circuit in the phone and nor does it damage the screen unless it is already cracked. In fact the water itself does not cause the problem, it is the minerals and impurities within the water that attack the delicate electronic components. These minerals attach themselves onto the circuit board containing the phones processor and effectively stop the electricity in your phone getting to where it needs to be.
The good news is that in many cases of water damage the phone can be restored and all your data - contacts - photo's -music recovered. You can repair a water damaged phone up to about 30 days after the phone was immersed.
Try this first:
If the phone is still not working you will need to move onto this advanced method:
(If you are not confident to do this then your local phone repair shop will carry out the procedure for a fee).
Remember never try to take your phone to pieces (other than removing the back and battery) unless it is a old phone out of warranty and you accept that you might damage it further. They are complex and easily damaged and you will invalidate any manufacturers warranty you currently have on the phone.
In order to fix your phone you will have to use a special solution of alcohol which you need to buy, this is how phone shops repair water damage using a pure form of alcohol called ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL. This must be pure and by that we mean 99%, Do not use any diluter forms like 75% which you can also buy.
The most common accident is dropping the phone down the toilet - this is because people keep their phone in the back pocket of their jeans, then as they get up off the toilet and pull their jeans up the phone falls out and down the toilet. Other accidents involve simply dropping the phone outside and it landing in a puddle or phones being left in clothing when it gets washed.
Remember that the manufacturers standard 12 month warranty will not cover your phone against water damage. Most mobile phone insurance policies do cover this type of damage but often the excess payable on the claim can be more than a local phone repair shop will charge and certainly more than the DIY method detailed below.
How does water damage a phone?
Well contrary to popular belief it rarely causes a short circuit in the phone and nor does it damage the screen unless it is already cracked. In fact the water itself does not cause the problem, it is the minerals and impurities within the water that attack the delicate electronic components. These minerals attach themselves onto the circuit board containing the phones processor and effectively stop the electricity in your phone getting to where it needs to be.
The good news is that in many cases of water damage the phone can be restored and all your data - contacts - photo's -music recovered. You can repair a water damaged phone up to about 30 days after the phone was immersed.
Try this first:
- Remove the phone from the water immediately.
- Switch the phone off.
- Remove the back of the phone.
- Remove the battery and dry it.
- Next remove the sim card and if fitted remove any microSD memory cards you have fitted - Lots of your contact details, photo's, songs and video will be stored on these little cards.
- Gently dry the phone on absorbent paper kitchen towels - DO NOT use a hairdryer - it will force the water deeper into the phone.
- You can try a vacuum cleaner to draw moisture out if you have one to hand.
- Place the phone in a bowl or dry rice or if you have them - silica gel crystals.
- Place the bowl in an airing cupboard or on top of a radiator set to a low heat and leave for at least 12 hours.
- Reassemble the phone, putting back the sim card and battery, put the phone on charge and test it.
If the phone is still not working you will need to move onto this advanced method:
(If you are not confident to do this then your local phone repair shop will carry out the procedure for a fee).
Remember never try to take your phone to pieces (other than removing the back and battery) unless it is a old phone out of warranty and you accept that you might damage it further. They are complex and easily damaged and you will invalidate any manufacturers warranty you currently have on the phone.
- The following advanced method does not require you to take the phone to pieces
In order to fix your phone you will have to use a special solution of alcohol which you need to buy, this is how phone shops repair water damage using a pure form of alcohol called ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL. This must be pure and by that we mean 99%, Do not use any diluter forms like 75% which you can also buy.
How does it work?
The pure alcohol removes all the impurities from the phones electronic circuit board, effectively giving it a deep clean. Isopropyl is also used as an antiseptic in surgery so it's good at cleaning! Once the impurities are removed your phone should be able to operate normally.
You can buy this from chemists or from Amazon using this link here. Please be careful, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL is extremely flammable, no not smoke or use it near any naked flames. Wash it off exposed skin immediately.
This is what you will need to do:
1. Remove the phone from the water as soon as possible
2. Switch it off, take the back of the phone off and remove the battery
4. Fill a small bowl with the alcohol (large enough to contain your phone)
5. Place your phone without the back or battery into the solution and leave it for two hours
6. Remove the phone and dry it by placing it in a another bowl with dry rice or if you have it some silica gel for 24 hours.
7. Remove the phone, put the battery back in and recharge and your phone should now work.
The pure alcohol removes all the impurities from the phones electronic circuit board, effectively giving it a deep clean. Isopropyl is also used as an antiseptic in surgery so it's good at cleaning! Once the impurities are removed your phone should be able to operate normally.
You can buy this from chemists or from Amazon using this link here. Please be careful, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL is extremely flammable, no not smoke or use it near any naked flames. Wash it off exposed skin immediately.
This is what you will need to do:
1. Remove the phone from the water as soon as possible
2. Switch it off, take the back of the phone off and remove the battery
4. Fill a small bowl with the alcohol (large enough to contain your phone)
5. Place your phone without the back or battery into the solution and leave it for two hours
6. Remove the phone and dry it by placing it in a another bowl with dry rice or if you have it some silica gel for 24 hours.
7. Remove the phone, put the battery back in and recharge and your phone should now work.
If you would like to buy a kit which contains everything you need including the alcohol solution and a drying pouch along with a simple step by step guide for this then we recommend Reviveaphone and you can purchase it here. They even offer a money back guarantee if it does not restore your phone.
