So, what is the best thing to do if a phone get water damaged? Our phone experts at Carlcare centres are asked this question often while helping our TECNO, itel and Infinix customers with all of their smartphone care needs. Their first advice is to act fast & right! Water damage is a critical situation, and if you don’t take the right steps at the right time, you may end up losing your dear smartphone. But worries not, most of the things are easy and can be done without expert assistance.
If your device takes an unexpected dive, it's crucial to act swiftly and smartly.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you mitigate water damage and salvage your phone:
- Immediate Removal from Liquid: The longer your phone remains submerged, the greater the risk of damage. Retrieve it from the liquid promptly to minimize exposure.
- Power Off and Stay Off: Once removed, power off your device immediately and refrain from turning it back on. Continuing to use it can exacerbate damage.
- Remove Protective Case: Take off any protective case to facilitate better airflow and access to internal components.
- Extract Battery, SIM, and MicroSD Card: If feasible, open the back and remove the battery, SIM card, and microSD card (if applicable). This helps prevent further damage to vital components.
- Gentle Drying: Use a soft cloth or paper towel to gently dab your phone dry. Avoid rubbing, as this can push liquid into sensitive parts. For submerged phones, consider gently vacuuming around creases and openings to remove excess water.
- Avoid Heat Exposure: Resist the temptation to use heat sources like direct sunlight or hairdryers, as they can cause further damage. Instead, keep your phone in a cool, dry place.
- Silica Gel Packets: Skip the rice method and opt for silica gel packets, which are more effective at absorbing moisture. Place your phone in a plastic zip-top bag filled with silica gel packets and leave it for 24–48 hours.
- Power On After Drying: Once fully dried, attempt to power on your phone. If it doesn't turn on immediately, fully charge it before trying again.
- Monitor Functionality: Even if your phone powers on, keep an eye on it over the next week or so. Some features may not work as they did before, indicating underlying damage.
If you've tried these steps and still need a little help, we're right around the corner. Schedule a repair at the nearest Carlcare authorized service center, and our certified experts can get your device back up and running as soon as possible.
How can you tell if your phone has water damage?
Identifying water damage on your phone involves checking for several tell-tale signs:
- Visual Indicators: Look for any visible presence of water, evaporation, or dried water markings behind the screen or within the device's interior.
- Corrosion Marks: Inspect ports for any signs of corrosion, which may appear as discoloured or rusted areas.
- Liquid Damage Indicator (LDI): Check the LDI, typically located in areas like the headphone jack, battery compartment, or SIM tray slot. If water damage has occurred, the LDI will change color, often appearing red or maroon.
Does rice fix water-damaged phones?
Effectiveness of Rice: While placing a water-exposed device in rice may absorb some moisture, it can also introduce potential issues. Dry starch and dust, by products of rice, may enter the phone's cracks and crevices. Additionally, rice grains may become lodged in the charging port or headphone jack, posing difficulty for removal as they swell when exposed to liquid.
Can you blow-dry a water-damaged phone?
Blow-drying Method: Using a blow dryer on a water-damaged phone is not recommended. Although it may help remove surface moisture, it does little to address internal moisture. Moreover, the heat from the blow dryer can cause irreversible damage to the phone's internal components.
How to Remove Water from Charging Port?
To eliminate water from your phone's charging port, follow these steps:
- Turn off the device.
- If your phone is in a case, remove it.
- If possible, take out the battery.
- Gently wipe the device with a dry, absorbent towel.
- Use compressed air or blow carefully to remove excess fluid.
- Let the phone dry out with open ports facing downwards.
Getting Water Out of Phone Speakers:
To remove water from your iPhone or Android phone speakers, try these methods:
- Use a cotton swab to gently swab around the speaker area.
- Power off the device and position it upright, with the speakers facing downwards. This encourages excess water to drain out.
Does your TECNO, itel & Infinix warranty cover Water Damage?
Typically, dropping your smartphone into liquid voids the manufacturer’s warranty automatically. Although water damage is not covered, our repair services for TECNO, itel, and Infinix phones use genuine spare parts and ensure quality repairs, even if they fall outside the warranty period.
When it comes to repairing water damage on your TECNO, itel, or Infinix device, choosing Carlcare is the smart choice. As the official service center for these brands, Carlcare ensures that your device receives the highest quality repair using genuine spare parts. Our certified technicians are well-equipped to handle water damage issues efficiently and effectively, restoring your device to its optimal functionality.
With Carlcare, you can trust that your device is in good hands, and you'll receive reliable service that you can depend on. Plus, our hassle-free repair process and convenient online reservation system make it easy to get your device fixed quickly. Choose Carlcare for TECNO, itel, and Infinix water damage repair and experience peace of mind knowing that your device is being taken care of by experts.
