How to restore electronics damaged by flood
- Get link
- Other Apps
By
Timi Oni
-
dw
Floods, whether due a major pipe burst in your basement, a torrential spring rainfall or a hurricane, are a devastating event.
According to www.restorationmasterfinder.com, the massive amounts of water involved in a flood permeate every nook and crevice of a home, seeping into electronics and destroying its capacity for usage.
While it’s understood that water and electronics don’t mix, most of us rarely ask why. After all, water is a natural part of the environment and essential for the survival of all life. What makes water so destructive to technology?
Water in its purest form, such as distilled water, is rather harmless. However, impure water, which includes a hefty dose of minerals, salt and other ions, is ruinous to electronics. Tap water and drinking water are examples of impure water. When these tiny minerals and salts infiltrate your device via a flood of impure water, they settle inside the electronics, creating false connections and upsetting the internal circuitry.
Pure water can still pose as a hazard to your electronics, especially when the water is mixed with materials like paper capacitors that dissolve in water.
Conductive water will also damage electronics. Water, when pooled with minerals, salts and ions, becomes more conductive, thereby posing as a risk to technology.
Corrosion is another major cause of damage to electronics. When water, in combination with oxygen, comes into contact with a metal, it forms a chemical reaction that leads to the gradual breakdown of the metal.
So how do you tackle flood-damaged electronics?
Take safety precautions
Safety is the first precaution. Since water and electricity is a dangerous combination, it’s important to be careful when handling wet or water damaged technology. Aside from injuring yourself, a lack of know-how can lead to further damage to the device itself. Experts suggest that average consumers not attempt to fix their water-logged electronics, but rather take them to a professional. Plus, you might benefit if you check your device’s warranty before handing over the repair to a pro.
In the event you’re willing to try to salvage your technology, there are a few steps to take that might breathe life back into your devices.
Stop power to the device
Turn off the device, and remove the batteries or power connectors first. Without power, your gadget will not be able to short circuit, thereby improving the chances that it may be restored. You’ll also prevent injury to yourself while handling the wet electronics.
Lithium ion batteries, such as those in a laptop or phone, that have been exposed to huge amounts of water will die immediately. The alkaline elements within these types of electronics react in a catastrophic way.
Rinse the electronics
The efficiency of rinsing electronics is highly dependent on the type of electronics at stake. Smaller electronics, for instance, will unlikely benefit from further wetness. Handheld electronics are able to function when the compartments remain thoroughly dry.
However, some experts recommend flushing large electronics with clean, pure water to dislodge the salt and mineral sediments. Major technology that has been exposed to water damage is unlikely to be further ruined by a clean water rinse.
Clean the corrosion
The extent of corrosion eating away at your device depends on the length of time the device was exposed to water and even on how the device was manufactured. Corrosion takes time to develop. Plus, corrosion may not be visible from the outside of the device.
Green or encrusted areas along the device, battery connectors, charging ports and similar metal connectors should be cleaned off. Cotton swabs dipped in a cleaning solution, like isopropyl alcohol, will cleanse the device of the corrosion. Plus, the alcohol will quicken the water evaporation process.
Large electronics should be cleaned of any contaminations and oxidised materials resulting from the flood.
Dry the gadget
If your device is small, you can gently shake out the water to remove as much moisture as possible. If you are tech savvy, you might be able to remove a few panels to dislodge any remaining water.
You can also use a hair dryer on its coolest setting. Experts warn to never apply heat to dry out the technology.
A soft cloth can also remove excess moisture from the electronics.
Once the device is thoroughly dry, it is safe to attempt to replace the battery or power it on.
Technology damaged by water offers no guaranteed fix, especially if corrosion has set in. The above steps may increase the chances of repair, but it’s more than likely that water-damaged electronics will require a professional restoration.
If your electronics were completely submerged in water, the internal circuitry is likely to be beyond repair. Damaged parts can be replaced; however, the cost of the parts and repair is likely to be exceptionally high. Submerged electronics are better off being replaced. In such instances, notify your insurance company for each of the damaged devices.
Have your electronics professionally restored
Remember that tinkering with electronics poses as an inherent danger. It is best to leave the repair service to companies experienced in restoring electronics damaged by water. The water damage restoration professionals are fully equipped to restore the water damaged goods in your home. If your property is inundated with flood water, specialists will remove your belongings, including electronics, to a safe and dry facility for cleaning and storage. These pack-out services ensure that your items are not further damaged by the moisture inside your home or business. Your items are stored in a climate-controlled storage area until your property is thoroughly dried and ready for the return of your goods.
THE PUNCH
- Get link
- Other Apps
Popular posts from this blog
Arsenal has initiated contact regarding a potential deal with Osimhen.
By
Commypage
-
Arsenal, a prominent team in the Premier League, has reached out regarding a potential transfer for highly sought-after Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. They aim to secure his move from the Italian side Napoli. The 25-year-old has established himself as a prolific striker in Europe during his three-and-a-half years with Napoli, scoring 67 goals in 119 appearances across all competitions. Osimhen, who won the Golden Boot last season with 26 goals in 32 Serie A matches, played a crucial role in Napoli clinching their first Scudetto title in three decades. Despite signing a contract extension until June 2026 in December, the player is expected to leave Napoli in the summer, with interest from top European clubs such as Real Madrid and PSG. In the Premier League, Arsenal and Chelsea are believed to be the main contenders for his signature.
2019 World Tuberculosis Day: ‘It’s time’
By
Timi Oni
-
World TB Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day and World AIDS Day. World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year, was designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. In 2012, 8.6 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.3 million died from the disease, mostly in low and middle-income countries. According to World Health Organization , “Each year, we commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way toward
Some Governors are enjoying Insecurity in South East – Imo House of Reps member, Ugochinyere Ikenga, says
By
Commypage
-
A House of Representatives member representing Ideato Federal Constituency in Imo state, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has said that some South-East governors have failed to bring an end to the crisis in the region because they are benefiting from it. Ugochinyere made the allegation while appearing on Arise TV on Wednesday morning, July 12. “There’s so much power that the president has in the constitution that he could use to bring this matter to a close within the shortest possible time. But the South-East leaders need to sit down to find a common ground over this issue of insecurity. The most important thing is that we want peace in the South-East because everywhere is devastated. Erosion is killing us. Infrastructure has collapsed. And then we cannot even sleep because our houses are being burnt and our people are being killed. This is not good. Any leader that wants the progress and unity of Nigeria definitely will open his doors to allow stakeholders to come in to allow stakeholders to fi
Comments