iPhone and Water Damage
Before you trade in your iPhone to Gazelle, you will want to determine if the iPhone has any water damage. You may ask yourself, “What exactly is iphone water damage” Water damage happens when your iPhone is directly or indirectly exposed to water, vapor, or mist, all of which can set off your phone’s “watermark” indicator. Watermark indicators can be extremely sensitive, so try to avoid using your iPhone in the bathroom or steam room or out in the rain. The slightest bit of moisture has been known to cause iPhone water damage.
Locating the Watermark (Liquid Damage Indicator)
At the base of its headphone jack, the iPhone 2G has an indicator that’s normally white. The newer 3G, 3GS, 4, and 4S models have indicators both in the headphone jack and on the bottom of the dock-connector housing. The new iPhone 5 features one water damage indicator on the inside of the nano SIM card slot. This is located on the right side of the device.
The best way to look at the indicator is by aiming a flashlight or lighted magnifying glass into the jack or SIM slot. If the iPhone has been submerged in liquid or has water damage, this circular indicator would be colored red or pink. If the indicator shows water damage, your Gazelle condition would be “broken.”
What to Do If Your iPhone Gets Wet
- Immediately turn off your iPhone. Do not turn it back on, charge it, or connect it to a computer or other device. Powering on an iPhone with severe water damage may cause more internal damage to the device.
- Second, hand-dry your phone as best you can with a soft, linen-free cloth. Remove your SIM card and pat down any excess moisture. Also make sure to wipe out the headphone and charge ports, as water can collect there, too.
- Next, quickly place the phone in a bag of uncooked rice and let it sit for 48 hours in a dry place. You can also add silica packages to the rice to help the absorption process. The rice will absorb any moisture that remains in the phone.
- After 48 hours have passed, remove your phone, reinsert the SIM card, and try turning it back on. With a little luck you may have saved your iPhone from water damage.
[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]