Can cell phones survive a dip in the pool?

[DawnCt1]

One of my 16 year old DS's friends thought it would be funny to shove him in the pool. He had my Nextel 730i phone in his pocket. Can it survive? Will it be okay when it dries out. They removed the battery right away.

 

[my3kids]

I have found with things like that (but never a cell phone) if you let it dry completely before trying to turn it on, it usually is okay.

I'm not familiar with the cost of that phone, but if it is expensive, your homeowners would probably pay the claim.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by my3kids
I have found with things like that (but never a cell phone) if you let it dry completely before trying to turn it on, it usually is okay.

I'm not familiar with the cost of that phone, but if it is expensive, your homeowners would probably pay the claim.

I have a protection plan for loss and theft and I think it has incidental/accidental damage with a $100 deductable. I also have a service plan but I think it excludes liquid damage. I avoid filing any claim with my homeowners for anything. They are happy to pay and then happy to raise your rates or drop you.

 

[poochie]

Originally posted by DawnCt1
One of my 16 year old DS's friends thought it would be funny to shove him in the pool. He had my Nextel 730i phone in his pocket. Can it survive? Will it be okay when it dries out. They removed the battery right away.

Funny you should ask, my son (17) was pushed into a pool with his cell in his pocket by his friends. We removed the battery, let it air dry for 3 days. Did not work, the lights lite up but no phone use. We even in desperation tried the hair dryer in case something was still wet inside. Still fried.

He had a cricket phone, and they gave him a hard time replacing. Finally after many phone calls and visits to the cricket store he was able to get a replacement. Note if you have a cricket good luck when you need to go to a site, you can buy them everywhere, but when you need to deal with someone direct and not a phone call they are not located conveniently. Ours in downtown in not a good neighborhood.

 

[stinkerbelle]

I accidently put a bottle of water in my purse w/o the top on tight enough.

I had a nokia phone (one of those really tiny ones.)

I took the battery out, let everything air dry...was still useless.

 

[Danauk]

My SIL dropped her Nokia down the toilet (before flushing!!) After fishing it out with a net for the fish tank and wiping it clean it still didn't work!! She got a new one though through her insurance.

 

[poochie]

Originally posted by Danauk
My SIL dropped her Nokia down the toilet (before flushing!!) After fishing it out with a net for the fish tank and wiping it clean it still didn't work!! She got a new one though through her insurance.

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall while she was explaining that one.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by Danauk
My SIL dropped her Nokia down the toilet (before flushing!!) After fishing it out with a net for the fish tank and wiping it clean it still didn't work!! She got a new one though through her insurance.

Which insurance was it? The phone protection insurance?

 

[zurgswife]

I had a phone take a pool dip...I had the phone protection insurance and they replaced it....It is the charge you pay about 2-4 extra a month for....

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Danauk
My SIL dropped her Nokia down the toilet (before flushing!!) After fishing it out with a net for the fish tank and wiping it clean it still didn't work!! She got a new one though through her insurance.

hahah...friend of mine did that. He was rather drunk...put his phone on the back of the tank...was doing his thing, went to flush and then noticed that his phone was in the bowl. hehehe

of course, being drunk - he fished it out bare handed. heheheh

most phones can't survive THAT much water. (heck - half a bottle of Poland Springs killed my phone.)

 

[Snow Dog Mom]

They can't survive Mountain Dew either.

Kim

 

[charabby]

I accidently washed my dh's phone and didn't notice it was in his coat pocket until I heard it banging around in the dryer. It still works, but he occasionally has a really hard time charging the battery.

 

[Danauk]

My SIL took insurance out on her phone from the shop she got it from. They just gave her a new one, no problems.

BTW, she had the phone in her trouser pocket and it fell out when she pulled her trousers back up.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by zurgswife
I had a phone take a pool dip...I had the phone protection insurance and they replaced it....It is the charge you pay about 2-4 extra a month for....

My plan has a $100 deductable. I guess we will see.

 

[bballmom56]

Just had to replace DS's 10 month old phone. It wasn't working. They looked at the battery and apparently could tell it had "liquid or moisture" damage from a colored dot. DS never got it wet, but I can't argue the dot. We didn't get insurance because it was $5 a month. And I was told that even with the insurance, it would cost him $50 additional toward a new phone! I finally got a wonderful csr at Verizon to help me figure out the best way to go. It was really complicated, and Verizon will be getting plenty of my money, but DD got to upgrade her phone, DH got added to the plan, DS got a new phone and I'm out of cash! I can't believe what I'm spending to keep us all "in touch"!

 

[vandergriff4]

I forgot my phone was in my pocket and washed it. I took the battery off right away and let it dry for a week and it still works perfectly.

 

[aprilgail2]

2 years ago we had a LOT of snow...walking to my car it must have fallen out of my pocket....I suspended the service thinking maybe I lost it in the house or my daughter hid it on me....well 2 weeks later after the snow melted, there it was on the ground next to my driveway. I picked it up, turned it on and it worked fine! I STILL have the same phone and its still working great.

 

[emmagata]

It's actually not the water that does the damage, it's the impuritied in the water that does. If the unit was on, it could be toast though.

I dumped a cup of hot tea (complete with milk and sugar) in my old laptop. As quick as I could and after removing the battery, I rinsed the entire laptop keyboard thoroughly with some distilled water . Except for one key, it worked fine after that.

All I can say is good luck.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
2 years ago we had a LOT of snow...walking to my car it must have fallen out of my pocket....I suspended the service thinking maybe I lost it in the house or my daughter hid it on me....well 2 weeks later after the snow melted, there it was on the ground next to my driveway. I picked it up, turned it on and it worked fine! I STILL have the same phone and its still working great.

I am feeling more optomistic. I did buy the phone protection plan and I called to verify what was covered without revealing I might have a problem . Water damage is covered. However when she pulled up my account, it showed that I didn't have the protection plan. She added it but I am very annoyed because I have the original paperwork to show that I added it last month. It won't affect anything going forward but I am calling the store to complain. I could have been out $300 if the thing doesn't dry out.
I do have the paperwork so I am sure I could have dealt with the problem but I shouldn't have to.

 

[ASFCurly]

my brother's phone dropped in the water, and it did dry out and work ok.