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Encore TeleSolutions has all sorts of ways to help you with your telecommunications challenges. This week’s blog is about one of those challenges that we hope will not affect you, but unfortunately, accidents do happen.

Before you drop your phone in water you should consider backing up all your phone numbers and data frequently, or just write them on a piece of paper like in the old days! You already did this before your phone got wet, right? If you have an expensive smart phone, this little piece of hardware might be more important than what is actually stored on the phone.

So you dropped your cellphone in your drink? Your little one thought flushing it down the toilet might be fun? As you were taking a romantic stroll along the beach while texting your sweetheart it fell in the water? Don’t panic, but keep in mind that time is of the essence!

To reduce the possibility of destroying your phone and data, immediately take out the battery and, if you have one, the SIM card. Taking away the power source will reduce the risk of a short circuit.

If your cell phone has fallen into water that is dirty, you may want to try immersing it in distilled water to rinse away contaminants or mineral deposits.

There are several different approaches you can use to dry it out. In doing so, you want to avoid static electricity, so avoid dragging your feet on carpet before operating on your phone. You can even wear a grounding wrist strap like a computer technician uses.

Dismantle the phone as much as practical, or at least remove the covers. Remember how to put it back together! You can use a towel, shake it, use a wet/dry vacuum, use cool forced air or you can put it in the sun to dry. Putting it in the oven or using a heat source that is excessive can damage or destroy the electrical components and is not advisable. Microwaving your phone is not a good idea either!

You can also try putting your phone in a bowl of dry rice or use silica gel packets to soak the moisture out.

It is likely that your battery will not work again and may need to be replaced. Using a new battery also reduces the risk of leaking battery acid.

As much as you need to use it right away, it is always best to leave the cell phone to dry out for a few days before attempting to use it again. This will greatly increase your chances of a successful salvage.

Good luck!!!