Samsung Water Damage: What Actually Saves Your Phone

A guy came in last month holding a Galaxy S24 Ultra in a bag of rice. "It's been in there three days," he said. "Still won't turn on." The rice had done nothing except waste three days while corrosion spread inside his phone. Water damage is one of the trickiest Samsung repairs—for other common issues, see our complete Samsung repair guide.

We opened it up, cleaned the corrosion with ultrasonic cleaning, replaced one damaged component, and the phone worked perfectly. But those three days cost him extra damage and a more expensive repair. Time matters more than rice ever will.

Warning

Skip the rice. It doesn't work. Studies show rice absorbs moisture too slowly to prevent corrosion, which begins immediately when water enters your phone. Professional ultrasonic cleaning is what actually saves phones.

Did You Know?

Our Samsung Water Damage Recovery Results (2025)

• • 89 water-damaged Samsungs treated - toilets, pools, rain, drinks
• • 71% full recovery rate - phone working normally
• • Within 24 hours: 82% recovery rate (vs 54% after 3+ days)
• • Rice first: 0% of rice-treated phones fully recovered without our help
• • Data recovery: 94% - even when phone couldn't be saved
• • Most common cause: Toilet drops (41%), then rain/puddles (28%)

Data from celltech repair logs, January-December 2025

First 5 Minutes: What to Do

If your Samsung just got wet, do this immediately:

1. Turn it off - If it's still on, power it down immediately
2. Don't try to turn it on - If it's already off, leave it off
3. Remove the case - Cases trap water against the phone
4. Remove the SIM tray - Helps water drain and air circulate
5. Shake out excess water - Gently, with the charging port facing down
6. DO NOT charge it - Charging a wet phone causes short circuits
7. DO NOT use heat - Hair dryers damage components

Then get it to a repair specialist as quickly as possible. Every hour matters.

The Rice Myth

We need to be clear about this: rice does not save water-damaged phones.

The idea is that rice absorbs moisture. It does - but far too slowly to matter. Corrosion begins within minutes of water entering a phone. Rice might absorb some surface moisture over 24-48 hours, but by then, the internal damage is already done.

What Rice Actually Does

• Absorbs some surface moisture (very slowly)
• Can introduce rice dust and starch into the phone
• Wastes critical time while corrosion spreads
• Gives false hope that you're "doing something"

What Actually Saves Phones

• Immediate power-off (prevents short circuits)
• Professional ultrasonic cleaning (removes all water and contaminants)
• Isopropyl alcohol treatment (displaces water, inhibits corrosion)
• Component-level inspection and repair (catches damage early)

Our Recovery Process

Here's what we do when a water-damaged Samsung comes in:

1. Immediate disassembly - Get the battery disconnected to prevent further damage
2. Visual inspection - Check for obvious water and corrosion under magnification
3. Ultrasonic cleaning - Submerge components in specialized cleaning solution with ultrasonic agitation
4. Isopropyl treatment - Displace remaining moisture and inhibit corrosion
5. Controlled drying - Use professional equipment, not heat
6. Component testing - Check each component individually
7. Repair/replace damaged parts - Only what's actually damaged
8. Full system test - Ensure everything works before reassembly
9. Reassembly and final test - Put it back together and verify functionality

The whole process takes 2-4 hours for straightforward cases, longer for severe damage requiring component replacement.

What Determines Recovery Success

Factors in Your Favour

• Turned off immediately (or was already off)
• Brought to us within 24 hours
• Fresh water (not salt water, pool water, or other liquids)
• Brief exposure (dropped in and retrieved quickly)
• Didn't try to charge it while wet

Factors Against You

• Left powered on while wet
• Tried to charge it
• Salt water, chlorine, coffee, or other liquids
• Extended submersion
• Waited days before seeking help (rice bag time)

Did You Know?

What we typically see: The majority of water-damaged Samsungs brought to us within 24-48 hours can be fully recovered. Quick action is the biggest factor – phones left in rice for days have significantly worse outcomes than those brought in immediately.

If your phone recovers but the screen shows damage, read our guide on why genuine Samsung screens matter – aftermarket screens after water damage often have additional issues with fingerprint sensors and brightness.

Water Damage Repair Costs

About Samsung Water Resistance

"But my Samsung is IP68 water resistant!" We hear this constantly. Here's what IP68 actually means - and why phones still fail:

What IP68 Means

IP68 certification means the phone survived testing in fresh water, at a specific depth (usually 1.5m), for a specific time (usually 30 minutes), under controlled lab conditions, when the phone was new.

Why IP68 Phones Still Fail

• Seals degrade: The rubber gaskets wear over time
• Drops damage seals: Even without visible damage, impacts can compromise water resistance
• Testing conditions: Fresh, still water is not the same as pool water, salt water, or pressure
• Age: A 2-year-old phone doesn't have the same resistance as new

We've seen IP68 phones fail from brief splashes and phones with no rating survive full submersion. The rating is a guide, not a guarantee. Water damage can also affect battery health over time – if your Samsung starts draining faster after water exposure, see our Samsung battery replacement guide.

Samsung Got Wet?

Time is critical. Don't wait, don't use rice - bring it to us as quickly as possible. The sooner we can clean it properly, the better your chances of full recovery.

Visit us: Byte, Dovehouse Parade, Solihull.
Emergency: Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed.