Spilled coffee on your laptop? Dropped your phone in the pool? Left your external drive out in the rain? If you’re dealing with a soaked device, don’t panic—but don’t delay either. Water damaged data recovery is possible, but only if handled the right way from the start.

At PCS Recovery, we’ve seen it all: smartphones dropped in toilets, laptops soaked in storms, and USB drives that went through the washing machine. This guide walks you through what causes damage, how to avoid making it worse, and how we can help recover your data safely.

💧 What Happens When a Device Gets Wet?

Most modern electronics aren’t built to handle moisture. Even a few drops in the wrong place can short-circuit internal components. But the real danger often comes after the device dries—when corrosion starts attacking the metal inside.

The faster you act, the better your chances. Letting a wet phone or drive sit for days or attempting DIY recovery tools can permanently destroy your data.

🧯 What NOT to Do After Water Damage

Here are the most common (and dangerous) mistakes people make after water exposure:

  • ❌ Don’t turn the device back on
  • ❌ Don’t plug it in to “test” if it works
  • ❌ Don’t shake or blow dry it (this spreads water)
  • ❌ Don’t use recovery software—it’s not designed for electrical or corrosion-based damage

Turning a wet device on—even briefly—can cause a surge that fries the circuitry or damages the storage chip.

✅ What You Should Do Instead

If your phone, hard drive, or USB gets wet:

  1. Power it off immediately (if it’s still on)
  2. Unplug any cables or accessories
  3. Remove the battery if possible (laptops, cameras)
  4. Gently dry the exterior—do not open the device
  5. Place it in a sealed bag with silica gel packs (not rice)
  6. Contact a water damaged data recovery service like PCS Recovery right away

🔧 Our Process for Water Damaged Data Recovery

PCS Recovery uses specialized tools and techniques to rescue data from soaked devices, including:

1. 🧪 Diagnostic Inspection

We perform a non-destructive inspection to assess the extent of internal corrosion, PCB (circuit board) damage, and data chip condition.

2. 🧼 Ultrasonic Cleaning

We use lab-grade ultrasonic cleaners to remove corrosion and contaminants at the microscopic level—far more effective than wiping or drying.

3. 🔬 Component-Level Repairs

In cases of circuit failure, we can repair or replace key components to power up the device just long enough to retrieve the data.

4. 💾 Chip-Off Recovery (for mobile devices)

For phones or flash drives, we can remove and directly extract data from the memory chip, bypassing failed electronics entirely.

5. 🔒 Secure Cloning

We create a sector-by-sector copy of your data onto a stable medium to begin the logical recovery process.

📱 Devices We Recover from Water Damage

We handle water damaged data recovery for:

  • 💻 Laptops (Windows & Mac)
  • 📱 Smartphones (Android & iPhone)
  • 💾 External Hard Drives
  • 🧠 Solid State Drives (SSDs)
  • 🔐 USB Flash Drives & SD Cards
  • 📷 Camera memory cards

📊 Success Rate Depends on Fast Action

Water damage recovery isn’t guaranteed—but the chances are dramatically higher if you don’t turn the device on, don’t attempt repairs, and send it in quickly. Waiting weeks or trying to dry it yourself often leads to irreversible damage.

💬 Real Client Example

One client spilled tea across her laptop keyboard. It wouldn't boot after drying for 2 days. We recovered her business files, invoices, and family photos by repairing the shorted board and cloning the SSD—within 48 hours of arrival.

🚫 Beware of Mail-In Scams

Many large “recovery” companies are actually just middlemen. They collect your device, mark up the price, and send it to a third party—often overseas. Always verify that your recovery provider handles repairs in-house.

🔐 PCS Recovery: Trusted Nationwide

PCS Recovery is an independent U.S.-based lab offering expert water damaged data recovery. We never outsource, and we treat every device with care:

  • ✔️ Cleanroom inspections
  • ✔️ Ultrasonic cleaning & board-level repairs
  • ✔️ No data = no charge guarantee
  • ✔️ Secure, insured shipping nationwide

📞 Need Water Damaged Data Recovery Help?

If your phone, drive, or laptop got wet, submit a case or call us at (716) 539-9555. PCS Recovery can help you recover what matters most—quickly, safely, and with no upfront cost.