If a liquid (such as coffee or soda) causes damage to an iPhone or iPod, Apple’s One-Year Limited Warranty does not cover the repair of the liquid damage. Nonetheless, you may have legal grounds under certain consumer laws and insurances.
We know that accidents happen, and although a water-damaged iPhone is any Apple enthusiast’s worst nightmare, there are a few steps you can take to keep the devastation at bay.
In this helpful guide, we explain what steps to take once your iPhone has been exposed to liquid and how to work around water damage.
How Do You Identify a Water-Damaged iPhone?
Built inside every iPhone and iPod model released after 2006 is a special indicator that lights up if the device has come into contact with liquid. This is called the Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI).
The indicator is generally white or silver in appearance, but when it comes into contact with liquid, it becomes bright red.
What Do You Do When Your iPhone is Water Damaged?
Your device coming into contact with liquid is never a good thing, and the best course of action will always be taking it in for professional assessment and repair. But before then, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the damage.
Power Down: Press and hold the power button. Then, when requested, move the button at the top of the screen to the right. If you are able to power down your iPhone immediately, there is a better possibility that it can be recovered.
Take your iPhone out of its cover. The cover on your iPhone might be trapping moisture. Taking it off will give the phone a chance to dry off and for the components to breathe.
Sim Card Removal: Remove the iPhone’s SIM card and its tray. Do this by inserting a SIM removal tool or paperclip into the SIM tray’s slot. Remove the tray completely; this also helps any trapped liquids to drain out.
Dry Off Excess Moisture: The best way to dry off your phone is by using a dry, absorbent cloth to help remove any remaining moisture. Take special care to dry the charging port, the volume controls, the headphone jack, and any other openings on the device.
Use a cotton swab and a toothpick to clean the ports. Wrap a toothpick in a single layer of cotton fabric, such as an old shirt. This will help absorb any moisture in your device’s charging port or earphone jack.
The iPhone has to be stored in a warm, dry place. If your iPhone has been submerged in water, you should allow it to air dry in a warm environment for as long as possible.
Placing your iPhone in a container of rice, as recommended by several how-to articles, is supposed to help remove excess moisture. However, this often leads to residual build-up. Allowing your iPhone to dry naturally is the best course of action. Wait 48 hours for the phone to dry out before attempting recovery and repair. Some experts even suggest a full 72 hours.
Tips for Using Your Water-Damaged iPhone
After this period, it’s time to assess whether your phone is salvageable or needs professional repair. There are a few ways you can work around water damage:
- Back up your phone as soon as it switches on to avoid data loss.
- Use assistive touch functionality if your home button has stopped.
- Use Bluetooth speakers or headphones if your speakers have stopped working.
- Keep your iPhone fully charged at all times if your power button has malfunctioned.
Advanced repairs should always be undertaken by a professional. The corrosion that can occur on your device’s internal components can happen quickly and cause permanent damage that necessitates replacement.
Time to Call in the Professionals
When it comes to iPhone repair in Toronto, Canada, Ask Computers is your best bet. One of our technicians will be able to assist you in-store or online.
At Ask Computers, we provide comprehensive iPhone repair services in the event of a water-damaged iPhone, including the replacement of screens, batteries, charging ports, and data recovery.
Contact us today to resolve your iPhone issues!
