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Can Phone Repair Shops Fix Water Damage?

June 2026 · 5 min read · By Curbside Phone Tech

The short answer: sometimes yes, sometimes no — and how quickly you act is the biggest factor determining which outcome you get. Here's the honest picture.

If your phone just got wet: Power it off immediately. Do not try to charge it. Do not put it in rice. Wrap it in a dry cloth and contact a technician as soon as possible. Every hour without proper treatment allows corrosion to spread.

What water damage treatment actually involves

A proper water damage treatment isn't a magic fix — it's a careful cleaning process:

This process costs $80–120. It's not guaranteed to restore full function — that depends on what corrosion has already reached — but it gives the device the best possible chance.

The rice myth — why it hurts more than it helps

Rice absorbs ambient humidity from the air. It does not draw liquid out of electronic components. Placing a wet phone in rice delays real treatment by hours or days while corrosion continues to spread across the circuit board. The false sense of "doing something" makes water damage worse, not better.

The same logic applies to: silica gel packets, heat vents, hair dryers on high heat. None of these address the actual problem, which is liquid contact with the board causing short circuits and oxidation.

What determines if the phone can be saved

What we can and can't fix

We can usually fix: Mild exposure caught quickly, minor corrosion before it spreads to critical components, individual components (screen, battery) replaced after drying.

We typically cannot fix: A phone fully submerged for an extended time, a device that was charged while wet (causes hard shorts), a logic board with already-corroded traces. We'll inspect the board first and give you an honest assessment before charging for work.

Our warranty note on water damage

We don't offer the standard 90-day warranty on water damage repairs because liquid damage is inherently unpredictable — corrosion can continue weeks after treatment depending on what wasn't fully reached. We'll be upfront about the prognosis before starting any work.

Act fast — text or call us now

Water damage is time-sensitive. We serve Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie and the Lake Minnetonka area.

Call (952) 228-7494 →