It’s something you never want to see happen to your favorite gadget—your headphones. You spend hours scouring the internet for the perfect pair, only to find them in an inescapable puddle of water.
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What happens when Headphones get into the water?
When headphones get wet, they can potentially short out and shock you.
Headphones that are not properly waterproofing themselves and cables which run through the earbud or into your device can allow moisture to seep into the earbuds and cause an electrical breakdown.
When this happens, and enough water gets inside of your headphones, they can short out and shock you. This can happen over time as sweat gets trapped inside the headphones itself.
Additionally, water still could make its way down inside of your headphone audio cable as well as other audio cables as well (such as those used for music players such as iPods), causing further damage to your audio equipment.
How so?
For example, if your headphone cable is running through a small hole with tons of moisture inside the cable, the moisture could short out the entire cable.
How to Fix Water-Damaged Headphones:
Using a soft towel or tissue & rice:
If you have a waterproof headphone that is causing you problems, be sure to check the headphone’s warranty first. If it’s still under warranty, you can find support on the manufacture’s website.
The next thing to do is use a soft towel or tissue to wipe away moisture from your device. Be sure that the towel or tissue is clean and not dirty though, otherwise you could potentially spread residue on your headphones instead of drying them out.
Lastly, you can try placing the headphones in a container of rice. Rice naturally absorbs water and can be used to get out moisture from certain items usually. Be sure to place this container in a safe place where it won’t get disturbed for at least 24-48 hours.
The reason why you should choose rice over cloth is because cloth may not get wet enough inside of the container, but rice will do so, thus making it more effective in removing moisture from inside your device.
Using a hair dryer:
Turn on the hairdryer and set it on high heat. Wrap your headphones in a towel and place them on the dryer. Watch for any signs of your headphones becoming too warm, which could be a sign that damage has been done.
Be sure to periodically check on your headphones and see if they need to be dried out anymore. If you won’t need to dry them out more, put them back in their case and store them safely away from moisture and the sun’s rays of the sun.
Using a vacuum:
Another option you can use to get out moisture from your headphones is to use a vacuum. Steer clear of using the upright type of vacuum though because it may pull dirt and other things into the headphone’s insides.
The bag type of vacuum works much better though at sucking out any moisture and other debris like dust or dirt that could make its way inside of your headphone. Be sure to throw away all air and bag filters after you complete this step, because they can ruin sensitive electronic equipment like headphones if they get wet too.
What not to do when Headphones get Water-Damaged:
Never use a paper towel or napkin to try to dry out your water damaged headphones. Paper is very brittle and the fibers could potentially get stuck in your headphones and cause more problems with it. Not only that, but it could potentially tear the metal inside of the headphone itself.
Avoid shaking or hitting your headphones in a frustrated manner after a headphone gets wet. This can cause further damage to the inner electronics of the device.
Never try drying them out in direct heat. The high temperature can eventually damage sensitive components within your headphone, eventually causing them to short out completely.
How to avoid Water-Damaged Headphones:
Always take good care of your device and make sure it always stays in a dry area. Also, if you want to purchase a waterproof case for your headphones, make sure to play around with the case and see how well it works for you.
Make sure the headphone’s warranty is up before purchasing a waterproof case though. If not, finding a waterproof case that is compatible with your headphones will cost you more money.
In addition to this, always be sure your device is never in direct sunlight when it has been outside too long. The sunlight can cause your device to overheat, thus causing it to blow up, which is something you definitely want to avoid.
Conclusion:
So in conclusion, when your device gets wet it is important to take action in order to prevent further damage. Water-damaged headphones can become costly if you do not take care of them right away.
If this happens to you, be sure to keep an eye out for any electronic stores that may offer water removal or repair services. If they can’t help you, contact the manufacture of your device immediately and see if they offer any kind of warranty extension or replacement program for your product.
FAQ:
Q: How to fix water damaged earphones?
A: Hold both earbuds drivers firmly with their components by your hand and shake them several times to remove water droplets as much as possible, thus to expedite the drying process.
Q: How to fix earbuds that won’t turn on?
A: Immediately remove any attachable parts such as foam or silicone tips and sleeves from your earbuds, put them aside on a soft towel to get dry. Now the main focus should be on the main part of the earbuds which are the drivers themselves, those parts which they might damage if you do not proceed with the next steps.
Q: How to prevent your earbuds and headphones from being wet?
A: To prevent your earbuds and headphones from being wet you need to have a disciplined habit of storing your earbuds in a proper saving bag every time you finish using them and not by keeping them always in your pocket or putting them here and there.
Q: Can you wear headphones in water?
A: Headphones or earphones that have soaked into water should not be used like usual, they have electronic circuits inside of them including the speakers so those electric circuits will be having a short circuit if they have power while they are wet, hence instantly they will get damaged.