PSA: If your cell phone gets wet!

amhough · April 2009

Because hearing stories like Hollijade's break my heart a little, I thought I would just post this little tidbit of knowledge I have gleaned from my experience in the cellphone business.

If you drop your phone in liquid or it gets wet, fish it out ASAP and then as fast as your fingers will move rip the battery out of the back! Do not attempt to turn it on or wait to see what happens. You have to get the battery out to prevent the phone shorting out internally (a condition from which there is no recovery).

Once the battery is removed the best way to get the water out is to submerge the phone in rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol, and no, vodka doesn't work). I know this is counter intuitive, but it is far less harmful to the phone than water and will drive most of the water out of the insides. Then place the phone in a bowl of uncooked rice overnight to draw out any lingering moisture.

I have seen this work on more than one occasion, including the last time I dropped my phone in the sink full of soapy dishwater.

And, Hollijade, I feel for you and hope your day gets better. This is such an incovenient thing to have happen!

taelir · April 2009

Okay, but playing devil's advocate here (and I worked for a cell carrier a few years back):

If that DOESN'T work, you've basically screwed yourself out of the insurance. The phones have built-in "stickers" that change when hit with liquid. This is how they can verify water damage, and as a result can deny your insurance claim.

ladyalmalthea · April 2009

My mom's phone broke once.

She called Verizon, and said it had fallen in the ocean during a boat excursion with her son. All she had to pay was a little replacement fee, got the same style phone.

PizzaBride · April 2009

Haven't you already screwed yourself out of the insurance by dropping it in the first place?

amhough · April 2009

Taelir, you're right, the sticker will change to indicate water exposure and then you've voided your manuf. warranty, but a lot of those stickers will change if the phone gets condensation on it even. And I should be clear that my advice was geared toward incidences when your phone has already been submerged and it's all but a lost cause anyway. If it just gets some water spilled on it or gets a little damp just taking the battery out and wiping it off may be enough to salvage it.

Also, if you are paying for cell insurance above and beyond the manuf. warranty and it DOESN'T cover water damage than you are wasting your money, IMO.

taelir · April 2009

PizzaBride:
Haven't you already screwed yourself out of the insurance by dropping it in the first place?

Not always - I've seen phones get 'rescued' by quickly removing the battery and wiping everything clean.

Sure, sometimes it's a crapshoot anyhow. But if you can get the inside of the battery housing dry uber-quickly, there may be no need to risk further damage by the alcohol deal.

browneyes_24b · April 2009

taelir:
Okay, but playing devil's advocate here (and I worked for a cell carrier a few years back):
If that DOESN'T work, you've basically screwed yourself out of the insurance. The phones have built-in "stickers" that change when hit with liquid. This is how they can verify water damage, and as a result can deny your insurance claim.

This. I worked for a cell carrier 2 years ago and agree.

taelir · April 2009

And amhough - you're right about insurance and water damage.

But the sad thing is that a lost of the insurance companies (unless they've changed their policies recently) still won't cover water damage. And that's BS in my opinion.

blairsgirl · April 2009

I dropped my phone one time, removed the battery and placed the phone in the refrigerator to dry it out. Left it there overnight, replaced the battery in the morning, and it worked fine for another year.

magdusia · April 2009

taelir:
Okay, but playing devil's advocate here (and I worked for a cell carrier a few years back):
If that DOESN'T work, you've basically screwed yourself out of the insurance. The phones have built-in "stickers" that change when hit with liquid. This is how they can verify water damage, and as a result can deny your insurance claim.

haha.. i've changed that sticker once and got a new phone! I took a new sticker from a work phone and put it on mine. beautiiiiful!

ArcticFox · April 2009

Ditto on the sticker that changes color (if you are expecting a new phone).

And I lost my phone and the insurance on my phone covered a REFURBISHED one.. I got 2 refurbed phones that broke before they gave in and gave me a new one.

Resa77063 · April 2009

I have to add that you aren't screwed out of insurance if you get your phone wet...that's what the insurance is for. However, you are screwed out of a warranty claim (free)...this is when the wet strip comes into play. Of course with insurance there is a deductible...in most cases it's $50 to $125, depending on your contract. Insurance will give you a refurb, if they have them available. But depending on how new the phone is you may get a brand new one.

Also with AT&T if you dont have insurance and the warranty wont cover it, ask about doing an exception upgrade. Basically you have to sign a new 2yr contract, but get the phone at the 1yr price. This is better than paying full price for a phone. However, the exception is given only by the approval of the store manager, or manager on duty.

Most wireless carriers use Ausrion as their insurance carrier....and as far as I know they do cover water damage. I would recommend going directly to Ausrion's website to make a claim if you are told by the carrier water damage is not covered.

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PSA: If your cell phone gets wet!

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