Water Damage–You don’t have to drop it in a bucket of water

It can’t be water damage, I didn’t get it wet!

We have all heard of someone who has dropped their phone in the sink, in a bucket of water, in the river or even in the toilet.  The result usually is the death of the phone or electronic device that came into contact with the water.

However the increased time we spend with our phones and electronic equipment means that more devices are being damaged, often beyond economical repair as a result of water damage.

Now it is fair to say that most products like smartphones and tablets should and often will survive the odd water splash be it from a tap or the rain.  However, unless specifically sold as waterproof or water resistant then the devices are still prone to water damage. Even those sold as waterproof can be subject to water damage under certain circumstances.

Manufacturers are doing more to protect devices.  Making stronger seals and even coating products to be water resistant but this will not always stop water.

It is often under estimated or forgotten that our phones spend so much time with us.  At home, at work, in the garden, during sports, at the beach on holiday etc.

Each location has different humidity’s and something like taking your phone into the bathroom that may be hot from the steam, can and does ingress into your phone through the smallest of gaps.  Running with the phone in our hand as a music player and GPS logger, sweat can drip and sit on the phone. This moisture has to go somewhere and it can settle on the main board of the phone, the expensive bit that gets damaged and is uneconomical to repair!

Now this is somewhat of a contentious issue because equipment should be able to survive our modern lifestyles but a phone can’t be designed to suit everyone’s uses and as phones get more capable, as well as older, more worn and abused

All of these give rise to a wealth of potential opportunities for water ingression and damage to occur.

I know this is a contentious issue and water damage can write off for many of us £500 which we can not afford to replace.

However, I wanted to just gently remind you to be considerate to the things your phone goes through on a daily basis and question, if your phone were to become water damaged, but you haven’t dropped it in a bowl of water, why that might be.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Whatareandroidphones