Dropped it off the dock, the boat, into the pool, or got caught in the rain? What you do in the first few minutes matters. Here are plain-language tips from Compumax LLC in Chapin, right by Lake Murray — where we see a lot of water-damaged phones.
200 Lexington Ave, Suite A, Chapin, SC 29036 • Mon–Sat 10 AM–6 PM • Closed Sunday
Follow these steps in order. They work for iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other phones.
Grab it fast and turn it off right away. Don't press buttons to test it, play music, or check if it still works. Electricity plus water is what causes short circuits.
Leave the charger, cable, headphones and accessories out. Plugging in a wet phone can damage the charging port and the board. If your iPhone shows a liquid-detected alert, unplug and wait.
Take off the case, any screen-protector wallet or pop socket, and pop out the SIM tray if your phone has one. Water hides under cases and around the tray.
Pat it with a soft, lint-free cloth. Gently tap the phone with the charging port facing down to let water drain. Don’t use a hairdryer, oven, microwave or a hot dashboard — heat can warp parts, damage the battery and loosen adhesive seals.
If the phone still turns on later, back up your photos and contacts (iCloud, Google, or a computer) as soon as possible. Water damage can get worse without warning.
Even if the phone seems fine, minerals and residue left behind can corrode the circuit board over days or weeks. The sooner it’s opened up and checked, the better the odds.
Putting a wet phone in a bag of rice is popular advice, but rice doesn’t really dry the inside of a phone any faster than open air. It can also leave dust and starch in the charging port, speaker and microphone openings. Even Apple advises against it. Skip the rice and use the time to get it to a repair shop.
Clean tap water is the least harmful. Lake Murray water carries dirt, sediment and minerals; pool water contains chlorine; and salt water is especially corrosive. All of these leave residue behind when the water dries, and that residue keeps corroding the board. If your phone went in anything other than clean fresh water, don’t wait.
Newer iPhones can show a “Liquid Detected in Lightning/USB-C Connector” alert when you plug in. Unplug the cable and leave it unplugged until the port is dry. Avoid using the emergency override to charge unless you truly have to. A repeating alert can mean liquid or residue is still in the port.
IP ratings like IP67 or IP68 are tested in still, fresh water in a lab. They don’t cover lake or salt water, pressure from jumping in or jet skiing, or seals that have aged, been dropped, or been opened for repair. Treat any water exposure seriously, even on a newer phone.
Boats, docks, tubes and pool days are where most of the wet phones we see come from. A little prevention goes a long way:
Compumax LLC has repaired phones and computers in Chapin since 2007. Power your phone off, keep it off the charger, and bring it to 200 Lexington Ave, Suite A, Chapin, SC 29036. Call (803) 345-3528 before you head over. See also our cell phone repair and iPhone repair pages.
No. Rice does not pull water out of a phone any better than leaving it in open air, and it can leave dust and starch in the ports and speaker openings. Power the phone off, dry the outside, and bring it in.
Don’t charge it or plug anything into it while it may still be wet. Power and moisture together can cause short circuits and speed up corrosion. iPhones may also show a liquid-detected alert on the charging port; take that warning seriously.
Yes. Water resistant is not the same as waterproof. Resistance ratings are tested in fresh water under lab conditions, and seals can weaken with age, drops and repairs. Lake water, pool water and salt water can still get inside.
Lake water carries dirt and minerals, pool water has chlorine, and salt water is especially corrosive. All of them can leave residue behind on the circuit board after the water dries, so get the phone checked even if it seems to work.
It’s a good idea. Corrosion can keep building for days or weeks after the phone dries, and problems sometimes show up later. Back up your data while the phone still works, then have it looked at.
Compumax LLC is at 200 Lexington Ave, Suite A, Chapin, SC 29036, near Lake Murray. We are open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM, and closed Sunday. Call (803) 345-3528.
Drop off, pickup, or we'll come to you.