Evo Screen Water Damage. What should I do?

[jedisrus]

The same thing happened to my Evo. So do you guys think that if I took it to the Sprint store (even though I bought it from Best Buy), they would give me a new one? Or should I take it to Best Buy?

In the 1st 30 days you need to return it to where you bought it.

 

[kellte2]

I highly doubt stores are going to exchange a unit with obvious water damage. I simply got a droplet of water on my indicator during installation of an invisible shield and best buy mobile more or less told me that my warranty was shot. Buy TEP now or regret it later, would be my advice.

 

[mikeli689]

If I were to return my Evo at Best Buy since I'm within the first 30 days because of some sort of defect, would I be able to go to say Radio Shack or Sprint to re-sign up for another Evo?

 

[rem_kujawa]

It's an electronic device and it does not say water proof. That's why I only use seideo's ultimate screen guards, also boxwave makes a real nice one.

 

[timlot]

I'm having my evo replaced at bestbuy for a dead pixel issue that was spoted when the sales rep handed it to me but there were none to exchange it for at the time. I've been you using my current evo without a screen protector and I since I knew I was getting a replacement I've been putting it through a pretty good daily use pocket test. I've come to the conclusion that the glass is screen is durable enough not to even need a screen protector.

Now as far as bestbuy replacing it for your issue it never hurts to try. You are within a 30 day return period so unless they can prove the screen damage was caused by you and not something that developed over the past week it should not be a problem. Push come to shove I would just ask for a refund.

 

[tmac4life#CB]

Depends on how the liquid got under the screen. I've seen at least a dozen reports of people putting screen protectors on and having this issue. The screen should be sealed properly, thus adding the minor amount of solution to put a screen protector on shouldn't leak into the screen, but this has happened.. So in that case, I believe he has every right to return the phone.

Yes this occurred when applying the phantom skinz protector. I agree that the screen is not properly sealed and thus the issue with the phone. Thanks tntsniper for understanding

First of all what happened? Why? Because a lot of people are putting on screen protectors and realizing that water got into their screen.. if this is what happened, please let other people know. This isn't a one way street, we all like to share info, not only to help you out, but to help others.
Second.. I would def try and get a replacement asap. This most likely will not go away and if it looks like it did, it may come back to haunt you another day.

As stated above this was due to phantom skinz which requires water to be used to wet the adhesive. So this is a warning for those who are apply invisible shields of sorts that require water or solution, be prepared to have a towel in hand, try to block all liquids around the screen. I've learned my lesson.

Good news though some parts of screen are drying up though, so only a matter of time, just putting in sun or rice.

 

[batfastard]

Yes this occurred when applying the phantom skinz protector. I agree that the screen is not properly sealed and thus the issue with the phone. Thanks tntsniper for understanding



As stated above this was due to phantom skinz which requires water to be used to wet the adhesive. So this is a warning for those who are apply invisible shields of sorts that require water or solution, be prepared to have a towel in hand, try to block all liquids around the screen. I've learned my lesson.

Good news though some parts of screen are drying up though, so only a matter of time, just putting in sun or rice.

I bought PhantomSkinz for my two Evos and installed them with water and had no issues at all. I was careful to try and keep as much water off as possible, but I wasn't letting it worry me. I'd just get Sprint's TEP insurance to have if it doesn't clear up. $100 deductible and you'd be good to go with a new device. I have insurance on both of mine and it is nice to know it is there for occasions such as this.

Also, can anyone confirm that the liquid sensor on the inside under the back cover is white with red diagonal lines on it? (When not activated)

 

[batfastard]

I bought PhantomSkinz for my two Evos and installed them with water and had no issues at all. I was careful to try and keep as much water off as possible, but I wasn't letting it worry me. I'd just get Sprint's TEP insurance to have if it doesn't clear up. $100 deductible and you'd be good to go with a new device. I have insurance on both of mine and it is nice to know it is there for occasions such as this.

Also, can anyone confirm that the liquid sensor on the inside under the back cover is white with red diagonal lines on it? (When not activated)

Here is an answer to my own question - yes, it is white with red crosshatch lines on it. Here is a nice image I found:
http://imgur.com/z3cQ0.jpg

 

[mikeli689]

So do you guys think it will or will not be possible to get a replacement device under warranty for a "not-so-tightly-sealed" glass on top of the lcd?

 

[kkacatin]

As stated above this was due to phantom skinz which requires water to be used to wet the adhesive. So this is a warning for those who are apply invisible shields of sorts that require water or solution, be prepared to have a towel in hand, try to block all liquids around the screen. I've learned my lesson.

Yes using a new and clean microfiber absorbent towels work very well.

A quick dip in the water solution is enough for any skin.

It will not be a perfect install as tiny bubbles and air pockets will occur.

Give it a week for everything to evaporate.

On very poor installations, I found that two to three weeks is needed for the skin to properly work itself out.

 

[xSIN1134x]

They do have some really good static cling screen protectors.

thats what i got from seidio with an innocase...great combo

 

[fonefanatic]

Thats why I had the zagg shield installed for me at Best Buy. If something like this happened it would be there fault and they would have to exchange the phone ! Anyway hope it works out for you

 

[tmac4life#CB]

Hi everyone, thanks for the input but looks like my evo is drying out nicely! All the black spots and water marks are disappearing. I had been placing it in rice and silica gels over night, sun bathing it here and there, and now all the moisture is about done.

So people, if your evo gets wet, take out battery, dont turn it on, keep it in rice and silica gels in bag close it up, sun bathe it for a little bit at a time, and have patience! Thus far it seems to be in perfectly working order. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[malibu23]

im lost what happend? u soaked ur pohine with that zagg solution spray?

 

[slopokdave]

FYI:

This happened to me too!!!!! I did not spray the phone, only my fingers and the actual screen guard.

Display is now all blotchy and slowly dying/blacking out. This absolutely sucks.... I have to wait for my best buy to get more in now to exchange.

 

[jellybeanks]

I had phone in my lunch box i took phone out and the humidity was very high that day and my phone started dripping with water from the inside of the phone. I felt sick to my stomach. My phone screen looked like the one in the first post. phone didn't even turn on for a day. All is well now but wow i never would have thought humidity would do that.

 

[nickknaack]

I've read through this whole thread and unfortunately have fallen into the same trap with my screen protector. I put it in front of a fan for a few hours today and it made almost no difference. I just threw it in some rice and will leave it there for at least 24 hours before I check it out again.

I have a few questions, however... for those that were not able to get it to clear up/dry up, what did you end up doing exactly? Did you return it to where you got and were you refunded or granted an exchange? For those who did, what exactly did you try besides rice? I only have until the end of the week with my 30 days, so I will probably get the insurance as a backup for now.

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[nickknaack]

Apparently, water damage isn't even covered with the insurance. See the middle column of the terms and conditions: http://shop2.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/support/forms/esrp_brochure.pdf. So now I have no idea what I'll do if the rice doesn't work.

 

[uh60james]

Apparently, water damage isn't even covered with the insurance. See the middle column of the terms and conditions: http://shop2.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/support/forms/esrp_brochure.pdf. So now I have no idea what I'll do if the rice doesn't work.

The insurance does cover water damage if you got the $7 a month T.E.P. you will just have to pay a $100 deductible. The brochure you linked to is only half of T.E.P. Both coverages are available separately but they are not really advertised separate so unless you specifically asked for ESRP or the other insurance you should be good.

On another note I had no issues at all with installing my Zagg invisibleShield. I didn't even use half of the liquid in the spray bottle and I would wipe up any excess after every wipe with the squeegie. I only let my phone sit 30 minutes before powering it back up too.

 

[Kerst#AC]

Another solution to dry out phone -

Another solution to dry out the phone if the rice etc doesn't seem to be working:
Keep the battery out of it of course and place the phone, or rather loosely wrap the phone, in a heating pad with a portion of the phone sticking out to get a little circulation.
I did this to a Treo 800w that took a several day vacation directly in the rain and was pretty soaked. I kept the back/battery cover off the phone as well and this worked much better than the rice trick. The heating pad won't get too hot to damage the phone (unless your heating pad is rated as some kind of dangerous death blanket or something).
The idea was given to me by someone that works on the guts of cell phones and knows about the temperatures required to melt anything off the boards.

Good luck!