TECHNOLOGY: Summer is here and it’s off to the beach for most of us, but what happens if you accidently take your phone for a swim as well? When it happens, it can feel like the end of the world. But it doesn’t have to be.
There are plenty of ways to save your smartphone from oblivion. Here’s the Alphatronic step-by-step guide to rescuing your phone from water damage.
Because some phones can’t be opened up by owners without undoing the screws, we’ve also got some tips for owners of those handsets too.
- Switch it off
If the phone still appears to be working after it’s taken a dip, then switch it off immediately. Don’t push any other buttons or keys, as this may cause short circuits within the phone, leading to further internal damage.
- Remove what you can
Open the SIM card tray and remove it as soon as the phone is off. Modern smartphones usually come with a small pin to open the tray up, but if you’ve lost this or can’t locate it, a sewing needle, paper clip or safety pin will do.
If you can remove the back of your smartphone, do so, and take out the battery. Phones from Samsung and LG tend to use microSD cards for storage. These can be located beneath or next to any removable battery, or in a slot along the side of your phone. Make sure you take this out too.
- Gently dab off any excess water
Don’t be tempted to rub your phone vigorously to get rid of any liquid. Instead, dab excess water with a kitchen towel. If water seems to be leaking from any open ports, carefully dab these too, but don’t shake your phone as this can cause water to travel deeper inside the device towards vital components that could easily stop working when they come into contact with liquid.
- Get some rice
Rice soaks up water and it works especially well if you put your phone in a sealable freezer bag and surround it with the stuff. Cover your phone with as much rice as you can squeeze in, seal the bag and leave it somewhere warm like a hotpress for ideally 48 hours. Some companies sell dedicated plastic phone bags, complete with the silica gel packs you find in a box with new shoes, to dry the phone out. Rice combined with low heat works well though and is obviously much easier to lay your hands on.
- Remove and power up
After a couple of days, give your phone a go. If it doesn’t turn on, then you need to drop it into us at Alphatronic 38 Port Road Letterkenny 074 91 13445. If you have insurance as part of your contract, your network may be able to provide you with a new device, be aware you will need to pay excess charges. The same applies if your phone is covered under a home contents insurance policy.
- I’ve got an iPhone, how do I remove the battery?
iPhones don’t have a removable battery. In fact, you’ll only be able to get the SIM card out of these phones. The same applies to top of the range models from Samsung. That said, the same rules apply for rescuing these handsets from water damage. So dab off excess water and place the phone in a freezer bag with silica gel or rice and put it somewhere warm like the hotpress as soon as possible.
- How can I waterproof my phone?
Companies such as Otterbox and Griffin sell dedicated waterproof cases for a wide–range of smartphones. They may make your smartphone look bulky, but they’ll protect it from most spillages. These cases are mostly splash proof and would not allow you to submerge your phone in water for sustained periods.
The other option is to buy a smartphone with waterproof certification. These phones will have an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. An IP68 certificate means a phone is fully waterproof to a particular depth and for a certain period of time. There are also IP67 certificates for phones which offer a modicum of protection from splashes and brief dunks in the drink.
Some Samsung Galaxy models and a number of Sony’s Xperia models have waterproofing as standard and can easily be bought in your local phoneshop.
Apple’s iPhones are not waterproof don’t be tempted to see if it can hold up to being immersed as you will regret it.
By Sean Bonner – Alphatronic Repair Technician
Alphatronic 38 Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Contact me 074 9113445 or email sean@alphatronic.ie
