Water Damage Assessment: What’s Salvageable and What’s Not

GET MORE REPAIR GUIDES

Water damage is one of the hardest repair categories for wireless dealers and repair shops—because the customer wants a yes/no answer, but liquid damage repair is all about probabilities. Your job is to assess risk fast, protect your shop from comebacks, and give the customer a clear decision: attempt a water damaged phone repair, recover data, or replace the device.

This guide breaks down a practical intake workflow, what’s usually salvageable, what’s not, and how to communicate expectations in a way that builds trust (and protects your margins).

First Rule: Stop Power and Stop Charging

If a customer walks in with a wet phone, your first instruction should be simple:

• Power it off immediately.

• Do not plug it in. Charging a wet device is how small corrosion becomes a short.

• Do not “test it one more time.” Every power cycle can increase damage.

Quick Intake Questions (60 Seconds)

Before you open anything, get the story. These questions help you estimate severity and set expectations:

• What liquid was it? (fresh water, salt water, soda/coffee, pool water, toilet, rain)

• How long was it exposed? (splash vs. submerged)

• How long ago did it happen?

• Was it powered on during exposure?

• Did they try charging it after?

• What’s the goal: data recovery or full repair?

Step 1: External Inspection (2 Minutes)

• Check the screen for flicker, lines, dim backlight, or ghost touch.

• Check ports for moisture, discoloration, or debris.

• Smell test: sugary drinks often leave a sweet odor; corrosion can smell “metallic.”

• Look for fogging in camera lenses (common after submersion).

Step 2: LCI Check (Liquid Contact Indicator)

Most phones have LCIs that change color when exposed to moisture. Common locations include the SIM tray area and internal frame points.

• White/silver: typically no moisture detected

• Red/pink: moisture exposure detected

Dealer note: LCIs are a signal, not a verdict. Some devices show LCI changes from humidity or old exposure, so always confirm with internal inspection.

Step 3: Open and Inspect (If You’re Equipped)

If your shop performs liquid damage repair, open the device and inspect for corrosion patterns. If you don’t do board-level work, this is where you decide whether to refer out.

What Corrosion Usually Looks Like

• White/green residue on connectors or shields

• Rust-like staining on screws or brackets

• Dark spots or “burn” marks near power/charging circuits

• Sticky residue (common with soda, coffee, sports drinks)

For tools and cleaning supplies, source from repair equipment distributors and repair diagnostics distributors.

Phone Water Damage Fix: Practical Triage Workflow

Use this workflow to quickly decide whether the job is a good candidate for repair.

Tier A: Best-Case (Often Salvageable)

• Fresh water splash (not submerged)

• Device powered off quickly

• No charging attempt after exposure

• Minimal/no corrosion inside

Typical outcome: cleaning + drying + connector inspection may restore normal function.

Tier B: Moderate Risk (Sometimes Salvageable)

• Submersion in fresh water

• Device stayed on during exposure

• Some corrosion on connectors or shields

• Intermittent issues (charging, audio, camera, touch)

Typical outcome: cleaning + parts replacement (battery, screen, charging port flex/sub-board) may be needed. Quote with risk language.

Tier C: High Risk (Often Not Worth Full Repair)

• Salt water / pool water exposure

• Sugary liquids (soda/coffee) that leave residue

• Heavy corrosion on the board

• Device was charged while wet

• Repeated boot loops, no power, or overheating

Typical outcome: data recovery attempt may be the best value. Full repair can become a money pit.

What’s Usually Salvageable (and Why)

These components are often replaceable at a reasonable cost, depending on the model:

• Battery: if exposed, replace—water + lithium batteries = unpredictable behavior

• Screen assembly: if showing lines, flicker, or touch issues

• Charging port sub-board/flex: common failure point after moisture

• Speakers and microphones: can fail from corrosion or residue

• Cameras: fogging or corrosion can kill autofocus and clarity

For replacement components, start with reputable repair parts distributors to reduce comeback rates.

What’s Often NOT Salvageable (or Not Profitable)

• Severely corroded motherboard: especially around power management and CPU areas

• Salt water damage: corrosion spreads aggressively and continues over time

• Multiple failing subsystems: screen + charging + cameras + no service = high risk

• Low-value models with high labor time: repair cost can exceed resale value

Step-by-Step: Basic Liquid Damage Cleaning (Shop-Level)

If your shop offers liquid damage cleaning, keep it standardized:

1. Power off the device and disconnect the battery (when possible).

2. Remove shields and disconnect visible flex cables.

3. Inspect connectors and board areas for corrosion.

4. Use 90–99% isopropyl alcohol and a soft ESD brush to clean corrosion.

5. Dry thoroughly (controlled airflow, not high heat).

6. Reassemble enough to test: power, charge, touch, cameras, audio, Wi-Fi/cellular.

7. If unstable, stop and move to “data recovery / replace” recommendation.

Important: Avoid promising a permanent fix. Liquid damage can “come back” weeks later as corrosion spreads.

Testing Checklist After Cleaning

• Charging stability (does it charge at multiple angles?)

• Battery drain and heat during charge

• Touch response across the full screen

• Rear/front camera focus and clarity

• Speaker/mic test (voice memo + call test)

• Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connectivity

• Cellular signal + SIM detection

How to Quote Liquid Damage Repair (Without Getting Burned)

Water damage quotes should be structured as a diagnostic + attempt, not a guaranteed repair.

Recommended Quote Structure

• Step 1: Liquid damage assessment fee (non-refundable)

• Step 2: Cleaning attempt (priced separately)

• Step 3: Parts approval only after testing results

Customer Communication Script (Simple and Clear)

• “We can attempt a phone water damage fix, but liquid damage is unpredictable.”

• “Our goal is to stabilize the device and test it. If it passes, we’ll discuss parts.”

• “Even if it works today, corrosion can cause future issues. That’s why warranty is limited on liquid damage repairs.”

When to Recommend Replacement Instead

Recommend replacement when:

• Repair estimate approaches 60–80% of the device’s replacement value

• Salt water or heavy corrosion is present

• Customer needs reliability (business phone, emergency use)

• Multiple core functions fail after cleaning

Salvage Options: Trade-In, Parts, or Buyback

If the phone isn’t worth fixing, you can still recover value:

• Sell usable components to LCD buy back distributors

• Use it as a parts donor (if board isn’t contaminated)

• Offer a trade-in credit toward a replacement device (customer retention win)

Final Thoughts

The best shops don’t “guess” water damage—they run a repeatable assessment process, document findings, and communicate risk clearly. When you treat liquid damage repair as a structured diagnostic service, you protect your time, your margins, and your customer relationships.

Need better tools for faster assessments? Explore repair diagnostics distributors and repair equipment distributors inside the WDG directory.