When your device comes into contact with water, it can cause significant damage resulting in data loss. Whether you’ve dropped your phone into the bathtub or spilled liquid on your laptop, you need to act fast if you want to avoid losing all your data.
At Ontrack, we perform data recovery from water damaged devices of any make, model, brand, or operating system. We have remained the world’s leader for recovering from all types of data loss for 35 years. Let the experts at Ontrack help get your data back.
How does water affect devices?
When water comes into contact with electronic devices, it affects both the external and internal hardware and can even potentially cause corrosion.
Water damage can generally be classified in three categories – general water damage, flood damage, and saltwater damage. General water damage differs from flood damage in that the device is generally exposed to water for a shorter amount of time – when a phone is dropped in the sink, for example. What’s more, the water is likely to be cleaner than that found in flood damage. Saltwater damage has the potential to be far more damaging, as it speeds up the process of corrosion.
Ontrack can get your data back
At Ontrack, we understand that no two recoveries are the same. Our dedicated data recovery specialists will work with you to determine the best course of action for your data recovery. From the initial consultation to ongoing support, we keep the process
straightforward and transparent, ensuring you’re kept up to date every step of the way.
We are authorized to perform data recovery on the hard drives of most major manufacturers without voiding the warranty, including Western Digital, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Samsung, and Toshiba.
How fast do you need your data back?
We understand that when data is lost, timing can be critical. So we offer different services to meet your needs.
Please note: These average turnaround times and can vary depending on the severity of the water damage, the quantity of data, and data transfer speeds.
Standard
10 business daysPriority
Average of 3 business daysEmergency
Average of 12-24 hoursWhat should I do if my device has water damage?
Time is of the essence when it comes to recovering data from water damaged hard drives.
If your device has been submerged for hours, days or longer, the water has more of a chance of filtering through the outer layers to vital components inside. Once it reaches these components, it can cause further damage, adding another level of difficulty to the recovery.
However, if the same level of exposure only happens for seconds, even if it causes the hard drive to fail, it’s more likely that the internal components can be repaired, and the data successfully recovered.
- If your device has been damaged by water, do not try to dry out your hard drive!
- Drying out your device after water damage starts the corrosion of the media, which increases the risk of data loss. Instead, put it in a secure plastic bag with a damp paper towel so the moisture stays in the device.
- Then ship it to us so we can take care of the data recovery and repair process, right from the start. Doing this within a week of the initial damage will help prevent corrosion. If the device starts to corrode, it lessens the chance of a successful data recovery.
Tips and Tricks – what to do if your media gets wet
When your equipment gets wet, not only can your all your belongings be ruined, but in many cases, an overlooked major loss is that of your data. Here we provide you with some tips in case your equipment gets damaged.
How the data recovery process works
Four straightforward steps to recover your lost data
Consultation
Contact our specialist team for a free phone consultation. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We’ll work with you to determine the most cost-effective recovery method and turnaround time based on your needs.
Evaluation
Once we’ve received your device, our engineers will inspect it free of charge. We’ll then provide a quote for the labor and confirm a timeframe for data recovery.
Recovery
As soon as you’ve given us the go-ahead, we’ll use specialist tools and techniques to recover your data.
Return
Once your data has been recovered, we’ll send it back to you on a brand new hard drive, encrypted for security and shipped via next day delivery.
Leave it to us…
Eagerness to access lost data leads many people to attempt to fix their devices themselves or take them to general IT support providers rather than experienced data recovery experts.
While you might think it’s ‘worth a try’ before committing to anything more serious, these methods can cause more harm than good and may even lead to permanent data loss.So, before you try putting your liquid damaged device into the freezer for a ‘quick fix’ or opening it up at home, give us a call – we’ll be more likely to get your data back if we’re starting from scratch.
Common Questions Related to Water Damaged Devices
Have more questions? Contact us directly and our customer service team will gladly help with data recovery for your water damaged device.
Join over a half million people and businesses who have trusted Ontrack to recover their data.
Start your data recovery now with a free consultation.
We'll collect your device and perform an evaluation, free of charge.
Data recovery for single drives and smartphones starts from £600.00 (inclusive of VAT). The final price will be determined at the end of the evaluation, according to the complexity of the work involved and the urgency required.
To begin, start by clicking on the type of media from which you need data recovered. The evaluation time for single hard drives (HDD and SSD) is four hours*, and within 24 hours for RAID systems*. Other media, such as mobile phones do not require an evaluation to provide an accurate quotation.
*These are typical time frames and apply within normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). For an out of hours, emergency service, or for further assistance, please contact us on +44 (0)1372 741999.