Posted on October 17th, 2025. 

  A MESSAGE FROM JERSAIN AFTER MORE THAN 18 YEARS OF REPAIRING WATER-DAMAGED PHONES

After more than 18 years repairing phones, one of the most important things I can tell you is this — phones were never designed to live in water. I know many commercials show phones near pools, beaches, waterfalls, and even underwater, but what many people don't realize is that water resistance is not the same thing as waterproof.

Every year customers come into our shop telling us the same thing — "I thought my phone was waterproof." The reality is that manufacturers install seals and protective barriers to help reduce damage from accidental exposure, but those seals are not permanent. Over time they wear out from normal use, heat, drops, impacts, repairs, opening the device, daily charging, and simple aging. A phone that resisted water when it was brand new may not offer the same protection one, two, or three years later.

WATER RESISTANT DOES NOT MEAN WATERPROOF

This is probably one of the biggest misunderstandings in the smartphone industry.

Water resistance means the phone may survive limited exposure under controlled testing conditions. It does not mean the phone was built to be taken swimming, diving, snorkeling, boating, or used underwater regularly.

As of 2026, there is still no phone that I personally recommend intentionally submerging in water. Technology continues improving every year, and maybe one day manufacturers will create a truly sealed device designed for underwater use, but today every phone we repair still contains sensitive electronic components that can be damaged by liquid exposure.

The safest phone is always the one that stays away from water.

KEEP YOUR PHONE AWAY FROM OCEAN WATER AT ALL COSTS

If there is one thing I wish every customer knew before going on vacation, it would be this — keep your phone away from ocean water.

Fresh water is bad enough.

Salt water is much worse.

From an electronics standpoint, exposing a phone to ocean water can be almost like hitting it with a hammer because the damage starts immediately.

Ocean water contains salt and minerals that conduct electricity and accelerate corrosion extremely fast. Even after the phone appears dry, the salt remains inside attacking motherboard components, charging circuits, battery connections, camera systems, Face ID components, microphones, speakers, antennas, and internal connectors.

Many times customers believe the phone survived because it still turns on after being exposed to salt water. Then a few days later the charging stops working, the speakers sound distorted, the battery drains rapidly, Face ID fails, or the phone begins shutting down unexpectedly.

The damage often continues long after the water is gone.

DON'T TRUST PLASTIC BAGS OR CHEAP WATER POUCHES

Another mistake we see frequently is customers placing their phone inside a plastic bag and assuming it is protected.

Unfortunately, plastic bags are not designed to guarantee water protection for expensive electronics.

A small hole, a weak seal, pressure from movement, humidity, or a tiny amount of trapped moisture can still expose the phone to water.

Many customers have discovered too late that their "waterproof" pouch wasn't waterproof at all.

If you're going to the beach, the safest place for your phone is inside your hotel room, inside a secure dry location, or far away from the water itself.

BEACH SAND CAN BE JUST AS DAMAGING

Most people worry about water but completely forget about sand.

Beach sand is one of the most common causes of charging port contamination we see every year.

Those tiny particles can enter charging ports, speaker openings, microphones, SIM trays, buttons, and small gaps around the frame.

Once sand enters these areas it can cause charging issues, distorted audio, microphone problems, stuck buttons, and long-term wear inside the device.

Some of the charging port repairs we perform started with nothing more than a day at the beach.

IF YOUR PHONE GETS WET, DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES

After thousands of water-damaged phone repairs, these are the mistakes we see most often:

Don't put it in rice.

Don't use a hair dryer.

Don't use a heat gun.

Don't leave it outside in the sun.

Don't place it on a car dashboard.

Don't try charging it.

Don't keep turning it on and off.

Don't assume the phone is safe because the outside looks dry.

The real danger is almost always inside the device where you can't see it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO INSTEAD

Turn the phone off immediately.

If it already turned itself off, leave it off.

Remove the case.

Keep it away from heat.

Stand the phone upright and allow gravity to help move moisture downward.

Most importantly, bring it in as soon as possible.

The sooner a water-damaged phone is professionally inspected, the better the chances of preventing corrosion and recovering important components before additional damage develops.

WHY TIME IS THE BIGGEST FACTOR

One thing I've learned after repairing phones since 2008 is that time is everything when it comes to liquid damage.

The phones that arrive quickly usually have a much better chance of recovery.

The phones that sit for days hoping to "dry themselves out" often arrive with significantly more corrosion and internal damage.

Water damage does not stop when the phone feels dry.

In many cases, that's when the real damage begins.

As moisture evaporates, corrosion starts forming and continues attacking sensitive circuits inside the phone.

The longer it sits, the lower the chances of a complete recovery.

HOW WE HANDLE WATER-DAMAGED PHONES AT EXPERT PLUS CARE

When a water-damaged phone arrives at our repair center, we understand that every minute matters.

That's why we begin evaluating many devices within minutes of receiving them.

Our technicians inspect the motherboard, charging system, battery, cameras, Face ID components when applicable, microphones, speakers, charging port, sensors, display connectors, and other critical systems throughout the device.

We don't guess.

We inspect.

We test.

We evaluate.

Then we contact the customer and explain exactly what we found.

Most water-damage evaluations are completed the same day, and many devices can be inspected within approximately two to three hours depending on the severity of the exposure.

FINAL ADVICE FROM JERSAIN

If you truly want your phone to last longer and avoid expensive repairs, keep it away from water whenever possible.

Keep it away from pools.

Keep it away from rivers.

Keep it away from lakes.

Keep it away from the ocean.

Keep it away from unnecessary moisture.

The best water-damage repair is the one you never need.

And if an accident does happen, don't panic, don't waste time with internet tricks, and don't assume the phone will recover on its own.

Bring it to experienced professionals as quickly as possible because after more than 18 years repairing phones, I can tell you that quick action, proper equipment, and expert diagnostics often make the difference between saving a phone and losing it completely.