Water damage is one of the most undesirable problems that can ever affect your electronic devices. We all know that water and electrical devices never go together because they are complete enemies. While electricity cannot do any harm to water, water can cause the most irreparable damages to electronic devices. But there are methods to repair them without the help of professionals, depending on how your electronic devices got in contact with water.
Smaller electronics are easier to dry than bigger ones. Cellphones, pages, beepers, radios, clocks, portable DVD players, portable game consoles, and other handheld and compact electronic devices can be saved if they have not been submerged in water for more than a minute. Once you find your device soaked in water, immediately remove it from the water. Remove all the casing pieces, accessories, and other add-ons to the main electronic device, as well as the battery. Removing the battery is important because keeping it on a wet device can cause the battery to create a short circuit in the device which can result to permanent damage that you can no longer do anything about.
Once the batteries and all other accessories have been removed, wipe the device dry using a soft cotton washcloth. Make sure that all the moisture on the device is completely dried up by the washcloth. Shake it slightly to see if any water that seeped in the device comes out. Wipe it again and shake it until there’s no more apparent sign of water or moisture.
After doing this, get a bag of uncooked rice or silica. Since uncooked rice is easier to get, it is more commonly used, but silica in truth is much more absorbent. Place the device in a bag, bowl, or whatever container filled with uncooked rice or silica. Keep it in the container for 24 hours or more, the length depending on how long your device was submerged in water. After you’ve done this, you can now take your device and wipe off any excess moisture. If there’s no more sign of any moisture or wetness, try to check if it will turn on. Replace the batteries and casings and turn it on. If it works normally, then you’re successful in your rescue mission.
For bigger devices though, there is much more work to be done. Firstly, appliances like computers, telephones, fax machines, controllers, copiers, medical equipment, and sound equipment are very sensitive to water damage, and even the slightest submersion in flood water can cause permanent damage to the device. Appliances like these should be acted on promptly so that they can still be saved even if you need to take them to the technician. It’s best not to work on these appliances yourself especially if you have no knowledge about electronics. Leave it to the experts to avoid any further damage.
Other appliances may be saved faster and easier than those previously mentioned like TVs, refrigerators, electric fans, and others. Since most of them are elevated on a rack like TVs, or have metal stands like electric fans, the only method you need to do is to remove the appliance from its current location and transfer it to a more secure area. If there are some parts of the appliance that got wet, just wipe it dry.
But for other appliances that actually got wet, the first thing you need to do is to remove the plug. Turning off the main power supply of the convenience outlet might also be a good way to secure you from getting electrocuted. Pull the plug and tie it to prevent it from soaking. Move the appliance from the water and wipe it dry. If the environment is humid, use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity of turn on an electric fan or air conditioner. Excessive humidity can add moisture to the appliance and worsen the damage.
The worst damage that can happen to an appliance due to water damage is corrosion. When the internal metal parts get wet, they can corrode and the entire device will no longer function. To know if corrosion has occurred, you might need other equipment like a pH tester. If you don’t have these, then it’s best to leave the job to the experts.
In unavoidable instances that your electronic devices have been subjected to water damage, make sure that you don’t panic and be attentive enough to save your appliance immediately to prevent any further damage. Even if you can’t repair it yourself, at least hiring a technician might be able to do it. This can be less expensive than having to buy a new electronic device.