My non-water-resistant phone fell into shallow water—should I have it inspected?
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MellowCedar47
My phone, which has no water-resistance rating, fell into less than two inches of water. I pulled it out within about eight seconds, powered it off, dried the exterior, and removed the SIM tray, where I noticed some water. I used a shoebox and a PC fan to circulate air around it for roughly 48 hours and avoided using rice. Afterward, I powered it on briefly and tested the features; everything seemed to work normally. I shut it down again because I'm worried about hidden moisture and corrosion causing problems later. Should I take it to a reputable technician to open it, disconnect the battery, and inspect or clean the inside?
Answers
The fact that it powered on is encouraging, but it doesn’t guarantee that everything is safe. Even a small amount of water can move around inside and create a short or cause corrosion later. Don’t keep testing it; professional inspection is the safest option.
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Replacing it would be ideal if that’s practical, but a working phone can often be worth saving, especially when replacement costs are high. Since this model has no IP rating, having it professionally opened and cleaned gives it the best chance of lasting.
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Keep it powered off and take it to a reputable technician as soon as you can. Since the battery isn’t removable, a technician can open the phone, disconnect the battery, check for trapped moisture—especially around the corners and connectors—and clean away any residue before corrosion develops.
MellowCedar47: I’m already trying to arrange help from a technician friend, so I’ll send it to him as soon as possible. Hopefully I haven’t waited too long.
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MellowCedar47: I’d replace it immediately if I could, but phones are expensive where I live, so I need to keep this one working until I can afford a better model.