So you’ve had the unfortunate misfortune of your iPad somehow meeting its worst enemy, water.
If you are the kind of person who has a mini heart-attack when you actually have iPad water damage you probably find yourself anywhere between panic and despair.
The most important question you need to know the answer to is: “Is there any guaranteed way that I can get it up and running?”
The answer is that there is no sure-fire way that will fit all cases. This is because it really depends upon the type of damage that your device has undergone.
But we will run over the vital first steps that you must take to at least guarantee that you have a chance to get it up and running again.
Rice, Yes Or No?
Before we get into the first steps we can’t help but discuss the elephant in the room.
Should I put my iPad in rice and leave it there?
This is something that everyone has heard at least once in their lifetime. So is there any truth to it?
In a word, no. While people may insist that it has worked for them, any mobile technician worth their salt will tell you that this is a bad idea.
The idea is that the granules will absorb the water molecules through the air however it won’t do this enough for it to effectively reach the internals of your device.
What will likely happen instead is the rice dust which is small enough to penetrate its insides will, if there is enough water inside your iPad, leave a gross sludge on the inside doing more damage than good.
But what about your friend who is instant that it worked for them? If it did then the iPad probably would have worked without the rice bath in the first place.
This also applies to any advice telling you to use your hairdryer to dry the iPad or anything that blows air into it.
The heat from the hairdryer is extremely hard to regulate and as you know if you have ever left your iPad in the Sun, heat is another enemy of your iPad. If you were to use cool air, this would potentially push water deeper into your device.
So what should you do?
Ipad Water Damage 101
Firstly, if you’ve only spilled water on it, then your priority should be to dry it as soon as possible. The best means to do so is by using a microfibre cloth.
Also, you will need to take off the case, along with the SIM card (if it has one) as water can be retained inside.
Next, you will need to visually assess if any water has entered the iPad. This could be through the camera, speakers, lightning port, or home button.
Assessing water damage is hard because apart from the original iPad new models do not possess any LCI’s (Liquid Contact Indicators), unlike the iPhone. But look out for any water visible in any of the aforementioned areas.
If you had a case covering your iPad and you cannot detect that it has penetrated the home button and most importantly it is already on and working then you may be home and dry!
If it didn’t have a case, or your iPad fell in the water your next steps are slightly different.
Action To Take If You Have Ipad Water Damage
The biggest issue with an iPad being submerged in water is the potential damage to the battery. Corrosion can happen to any part of the metal inside however once it happens to the battery it is a confirmed game over.
For this reason, the most accepted guidance is to turn it off immediately. This will avoid your iPad water damage being made worse by the circuits being made to work through its use.
To get the inside as dry as possible, one option to use instead of the rice are silica gel sachets. These are the little sachets that you often find in shoe boxes and anything else that moisture could damage in transit. Most throw them away but there is good reason to keep some handy as you can see.
The silicon grains are silicon dioxide which draws water molecules towards it via a process called desiccation. This means that it is one of the most effective means to help the process of drying out your phone.
After wiping off all excess water you can place in a ziplock bag and keep it there for 24 to 48 hours. Placing it there vertically is an advantage as gravity can aid in getting any deeply embedded water out over time.
If you don’t have the silica gel pack to hand, not to worry. Leaving your iPad to dry in any place should be enough if the damage to the circuit boards inside wasn’t critical.
Patience, Patience And More Patience
As you can see patience is your one and only friend and in the case of iPad water damage only time will tell if your iPad will be able to work as before.
The main reason that it can seem to be such a kiss of death to many is that Apple does not cover water damage in their warranty. But it’s also important to note that if you are technically minded enough to open your iPad to assess the damage and help it dry this voids your warranty also.
Therefore it is always best if you wish to have a proper assessment of the damage leave it to the professionals. Be sure to click here to easily find an approved technician in your area.
