iPhone Water Damage Repair Melbourne — Dropped in Water, Won't Turn On, Data Recovery

An iPhone dropped in water is an emergency — and the single most important thing you can do is turn it off and bring it in quickly. Do not charge it, do not turn it on repeatedly to check, and do not put it in rice. The damage from water isn't just the water itself; it's the corrosion that forms on the logic board over the following hours and days as the moisture reacts with the board's components.

At STS, we treat water-damaged iPhones with ultrasonic cleaning that removes corrosion from the entire board — far more thorough than drying or rice. The sooner the iPhone reaches us, the better the chance of full recovery. Many "dead" water-damaged iPhones are revived.

Why speed matters: when an iPhone gets wet, the water carries dissolved minerals (and salt, if it's sea water or sweat) that leave a conductive, corrosive residue on the logic board. Within hours, this residue begins corroding the tiny component legs and copper traces. Within days, corrosion can permanently damage components. An iPhone cleaned within hours of getting wet has a much higher recovery rate than one left for days "drying out" in rice. Bring it in immediately.

Free water damage assessment: bring your iPhone in and we assess it at no charge. We check the liquid contact indicators, open the iPhone, inspect the board for corrosion, and advise on the treatment needed and the likely outcome before any work begins.

Ultrasonic board cleaning: the core water damage treatment. The iPhone logic board is removed and cleaned in an ultrasonic bath that uses sound waves to dislodge corrosion from under chips, between component legs, and in places a brush can't reach. This is the professional standard for liquid-damaged boards and is far more effective than manual cleaning. Ultrasonic clean from $99.

Component repair after water damage: some components fail from water exposure even after cleaning — the battery, charging IC, audio IC, or display connector can be damaged. We diagnose and replace or repair the affected components. Battery replacement (commonly needed after water exposure) from $79. Board-level component repair from $149.

Data recovery: if your priority is the photos and data, we first try to revive the iPhone enough to power on and back up — the best outcome. If the iPhone can't be fully revived, board-level data recovery may access the storage by repairing the specific components needed. iPhone data recovery from $149. Reminder: if you had iCloud Backup or a computer backup, your data is already safe.

Honest assessment: water damage outcomes vary — some iPhones are fully recovered, some need component replacement, and occasionally the damage (especially salt water left for days) is beyond economical repair. We tell you honestly at the assessment. There's no charge to find out.

Our workshop is at Shop G69, 250 Somerton Road, Roxburgh Park. Open 7 days, 9am–5pm.

Ready to get started?

Don't wait and don't use rice — bring it in now, turned off. Every hour increases corrosion. Free assessment. We'll tell you honestly if it can be saved. (03) 8339 0014 · Shop G69, 250 Somerton Rd, Roxburgh Park. Open 7 days, 9am–5pm.