What To Do When Your Smartphone Falls into Water

Accidents can happen anytime and at unexpected times. Like getting caught in the rain, or falling into a pool with your smartphone. Therefore, know a series of things to do, and things to avoid when your smartphone falls into the water. So that your smartphone is not damaged.

Smartphones are essential devices to support daily activities, and are a must-carry for some people. Sometimes, accidents when carrying a smartphone come at unexpected times, like getting wet in the rain for example. Although smartphones are getting more advanced, waterproof features such as IP 68 rating are still a rare feature and only available for some high-end and flagship smartphones. If the smartphone is only splashed with water, it can be immediately dried with a cloth or tissue to absorb the splashes of water. But what if the water is too much or even the smartphone is falls into water?

Water that enters a smartphone can cause damage to its components inside. The smartphone may not function properly, or even completely dead. If this happens, it will definitely interrupt various jobs. Then what is the solution? There are several ways to overcome a smartphone that is entered by water, you can do it yourself easily without having to panic. Check out how to do it here:

1. Remove from the water immediately:

The first thing to do when your smartphone falls into water is to get it out of the water immediately. Most people may feel panic when their smartphone is falls into water. However, don't panic for too long and immediately take the smartphone out of the water. Keep in mind, the longer the smartphone is in the water, the more chances of water to enter and cause damage to it.

2. Turn off the smartphone immediately:

After removing the smartphone from the water, check whether it is still turned on or not. If your smartphone is still turned on, then turn it off immediately to avoid further damage. This aims to avoid the spread of component damage due to an electrical short circuit. If your phone is covered with a case, remove the case immediately. Do not forget to dry and clean the smartphone using a cloth or tissue, starting from the screen, to ports such as the audio jack and charger port. Be careful when trying to remove water from the port hole, lest the water gets further.

3. Remove All Components:

Once the smartphone is turned off, immediately remove all removable components, such as the SD card, SIM card, and battery (if possible). This is to prevent the components from suffering further damage. It is also worth noting not to shake the smartphone which can make water enter the device even more.

4. Remove any liquid:

If your smartphone is falls into pure fresh water, you can open the back and remove the battery, then dry the inside using a soft cloth or tissue. However, if your smartphone is falls into carbonated liquids or chemicals, do not attempt to open the back of your smartphone as this may cause greater harm. Try wiping with a dry towel or cloth to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. You can also use a special USB vacuum cleaner to make it easier to remove the water. The air suction from the vacuum can pull the water out of the smartphone. If your smartphone is falls into seawater, there’s less chance to be saved. Seawater is easier to damage electronic components because it contains salts and other minerals that can conduct electricity and promote corrosion of metals. When seawater sticks to electronic components, the salts and minerals contained in it can interact with the metals inside the electronic device, causing corrosion and damage.

5. Keep the smartphone in a container filled with dry rice or silica gel for a few days:

After removing the liquid, you can store your smartphone in a container filled with dry rice or silica gel for a few days. This is because both have a fairly high absorption capacity, so that they can help absorb the remaining water in the smartphone. You can easily buy rice, or use silica gel which is usually found in shoe boxes. Make sure not to turn on your smartphone for a few days during the drying period. For maximum results, store the smartphone around 2-4 days.

6. Take it to a service center:

If your smartphone is still not working properly after doing the steps above, the last option is to ask a professional for help. You can take the smartphone to an authorized service for repair. They may be able to help fix your smartphone or suggest the best option to take. However, keep in mind that these repairs will cost money depending on the severity of the damage, so prepare some money first, also in some cases water damage may not be repairable.

By following the tips above, you can most likely avoid permanent damage to your smartphone. Also keep in mind that there are some things that should not be done to a smartphone that has just been immersed in water, including:

Charge the smartphone, this can trigger an electrical short circuit.
Pressing buttons carelessly, as it may push the water go further.
Shaking the smartphone, this can also trigger water to go further.
Blowing on the smartphone, this can also trigger water to go further.
Drying the smartphone with sunlight, this will cause overheating and damage the smartphone.
Dry the smartphone using a hair dryer, because the heat from the hair dryer will actually damage and even melt some of the components.
Putting the smartphone in the freezer, the water contained in the smartphone will not come out and freeze. This risks the cellphone will die completely.