A water-damaged iPhone is a stressful situation, but not a hopeless one. At the MacLife service centre we specialise in rescuing Apple devices after contact with water — with 19 years of experience and specialist equipment, we recover even severely damaged phones. What matters most, however, is what you do in the first minutes and how quickly the device reaches a service centre.
After your iPhone gets wet: turn it off immediately, remove the SIM card, don't dry it with a hair dryer, don't put it in rice and don't charge it. Get it to a service centre as soon as possible — corrosion starts within just a few hours. At MacLife the basic diagnosis is free, and the full water damage diagnostics — including logic board cleaning and electronics diagnosis — costs 250 zł (we deduct it against the repair cost); further repairs and component replacements are quoted individually. We use ultrasonic cleaners, microscopes and BGA stations; we recover over 80% of water-damaged devices, usually within 24–48 hours.
What to do right after your iPhone gets wet
The first minutes are crucial. Do the following, in order:
- Turn the phone off immediately — don't try to switch it on or charge it.
- Remove the SIM card — open the tray and let the inside ventilate.
- Place the phone screen-up in a dry place and don't move it unnecessarily.
- Get it to a service centre as soon as possible — time is the most important factor.
Important! The faster your water-damaged iPhone reaches MacLife, the better the chance of a full recovery. Corrosion starts just a few hours after contact with water — so it's not worth waiting for it to "dry out on its own".
What NOT to do
Most permanent water damage is the result of home "rescue" attempts. Avoid them:
- Don't turn it on and don't charge it — under voltage, water causes short circuits and destroys the logic board.
- Don't dry it with a hair dryer — hot air spreads the moisture and can make the damage worse.
- Don't put it in rice — that's a myth; rice doesn't draw moisture out of the interior, and the dust can clog the ports.
- Don't shake the phone — you'll only spread the liquid to more components.
How we repair water-damaged iPhones at MacLife
Water damage repair is work at the microelectronics level — simply "drying" the phone is not enough. We carry it out in five steps:
Step 1: Professional diagnostics
We disassemble the iPhone and assess the extent of the damage. We inspect the logic board under a microscope, identifying areas of corrosion and short circuits.
Step 2: Ultrasonic cleaning
We use professional ultrasonic cleaners with dedicated electronics-grade fluids — the most effective method of removing deposits and corrosion from the logic board.
Step 3: Microelectronics repair
We repair damaged components on the board — capacitors, resistors, integrated circuits — using BGA soldering stations and microscopes.
Step 4: Replacement of damaged components
If a part can't be repaired (battery, speaker, charging port), we replace it with a new one — original or a high-quality replacement.
Step 5: Final testing
We test all functions: display, touch, camera, microphone, speaker, charging, Face ID/Touch ID and the sensors.
Water damage repair price list
- Basic diagnosis: free (0 zł)
- Water damage diagnostics — logic board cleaning + electronics diagnosis: 250 zł
- Further repair and component replacement: individual quote after diagnostics
The water damage diagnostics (250 zł) already include logic board cleaning and electronics diagnosis — afterwards you know the exact cost of any further repair. We deduct the diagnostics fee against the repair cost. We always inform you of the costs before starting work and wait for your approval — we do nothing without your consent. Why is cleaning necessary even when the phone still works? We explain it here: cleaning after water damage. If the phone won't turn on and you care about its contents, also ask about data recovery.
Why MacLife
- 19 years of experience — we've been repairing Apple equipment since 2007,
- specialist equipment — ultrasonic cleaners, microscopes, BGA stations,
- high success rate — we recover over 80% of water-damaged devices,
- fast turnaround — most repairs within 24–48 hours,
- warranty — 3 months on the completed water damage repair.
Similar problem with a laptop? See also: MacBook water damage diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
Can a water-damaged iPhone still be saved?
In most cases, yes — we recover over 80% of water-damaged devices. The chances are better the faster the phone reaches a service centre and the less it was switched on or charged after the water damage.
Does rice really help a wet phone?
No. It's a popular myth — rice doesn't draw moisture out of the phone's interior, and the dust can get into the ports. Only professional ultrasonic cleaning of the logic board is effective.
How much does iPhone water damage repair cost?
The basic diagnosis is free. The water damage diagnostics — including logic board cleaning and electronics diagnosis — cost 250 zł and are deducted against the repair cost. Replacement of damaged components (e.g. the battery or charging port) is quoted individually after diagnostics.
The phone worked after the water damage — do I still need to bring it in?
Yes, it's worth it. Even if the iPhone works for now, corrosion progresses out of sight and can cause a failure after days or weeks. Early cleaning significantly increases the chance of saving the device for good.
Summary
A water-damaged iPhone doesn't have to mean the end — but time matters, and so does what you do not do. Turn the phone off, remove the SIM card, don't charge it, don't dry it with a hair dryer and don't put it in rice, then get it to a service centre as soon as possible.
At MacLife the basic diagnosis is free, and the water damage diagnostics (250 zł) already include professional ultrasonic cleaning of the logic board — with a recovery success rate of over 80%. Come to Warsaw or Poznań, or order a door-to-door courier — the sooner, the better.
Water-damaged iPhone? Don't wait!
Free basic diagnosis, professional ultrasonic cleaning and microelectronics repair. The faster you act, the better the chance of a full recovery. Come to Warsaw or Poznań, or order a door-to-door courier.
[2] MacLife – iPhone service and repair
[3] Apple Support – what to do if your iPhone comes into contact with liquid
The success of a water damage repair depends on the extent of the damage and your reaction time. Prices are indicative — the final quote comes after the free diagnosis.