I recently dealt with a flooded basement where my tools were left in different states of wetness, ranging from just damp to fully submerged. I took out the batteries right away and let them dry out for a few weeks. One battery showed some serious blue corrosion, so I'm definitely not using that one. The other battery looked fine and worked for all my tools, but I'm a bit worried about safety here. The charger also took a dive into the water. I know these tools might fail sooner than usual, but I'm really concerned about potential risks when using or charging them. I'm okay with them dying; I just want to avoid any hazardous situations that could lead to a house fire. So, is it safe to use tools, batteries, and the charger despite possible unseen water damage?
4 Answers
You might want to disassemble some of the tools and give them a good clean with electrical contact cleaner. It works wonders for moisture damage! I've used it successfully on lots of stuff, from old cameras to car electronics.
I once had a gas can spill into my bucket of tools, and they were submerged in gas for a long while. Shockingly, both my M12 impact and its battery still work like a charm! Just be prepared for some weird smells at first, though. ?
I think you'll be fine! I had a charger get soaked in a mud puddle (without a battery in it) and after rinsing it off and leaving it on a dehumidifier, it worked perfectly. Just don't wait too long to test them, or you might end up with some corrosion locking things in place.
Honestly, give it a shot! Worst case scenario, you might smell something burning if they don't work, but it won't just combust by itself because it was submerged. Just make sure everything is dry and keep an eye on it while you test things out.