If your business in Jackson, MS has suffered water damage in a storm or flood, there’s a good chance your technology wasn’t spared. To ensure your safety, you should always hire a professional to repair flooded electronics, but there are a few measures you can take ahead of time to maximize the likelihood of recovering your devices. Remember, you should never attempt to plug in or use electronics that have been exposed to water.
Types of Water Damage
Understanding what kind of damage has affected your devices will help you determine how to prepare them for repair while you wait for a restoration professional. There are three main categories.
• Submersion
• High Humidity
• Rain or Splash
Submersion
If your flooded electronics are still plugged in, do not attempt to retrieve them from standing water. Instead, contact your utility company and ask it to turn off the power. Unfortunately, electronics that were still running at the time of submersion likely short circuited and stand little chance of recovery. Generally, it’s best to simply replace them. Professionals can sometimes rescue hard drives, but call as soon as you can: The longer the drive was exposed to water, the greater the chances that irreversible damage occurred.
High Humidity
Flooding and inclement weather often create high humidity conditions that can create electronic damage. When coupled with dust, excessive moisture forms a sediment that clings to and corrodes circuit boards. Once you’ve disconnected your devices from power, remove the circuit boards and place them on paper towels while you wait for a technician to arrive.
Rain or Splash
Technology that has taken a hit from rain or leaks may continue to function once dried, but water often leaves behind minerals that will cause corrosion to circuit boards if left untreated. Once you have turned off the power in your building, unplug any wet electronics and remove them from the water’s path so that they can begin to dry.
Remember, when it comes to recovering flooded electronics, it’s best to act quickly. Take necessary precautions and call a professional as soon as you can.