Can a Watch Battery Leak?
Watch batteries can leak even if they are dead. Alkaline batteries are particularly vulnerable to this problem, since they can leak potassium hydroxide, a corrosive compound.
Alkaline batteries eventually leak and discharge. However, most people will replace their disposable batteries before they leak.
Hydrogen gas is produced when a battery discharges.
The gas increases the battery’s pressure. However, excessive pressure eventually leads to the rupture of the seals or outer metal canisters.
The rupture causes potassium hydroxide to leak from the battery, which absorbs carbon dioxide from air.
This creates feathery corrosion, which you might occasionally see in the battery compartment of your watch or other electronic device with old batteries.
What Are the Dangers of Leakage?
Leakage of batteries can cause damage to your watch, as well as skin and eye irritation if exposed to corrosive substances.
Potassium carbonate is formed when potassium hydroxide leaked absorbs carbon dioxide. Potassium carbonate, a crystalline structure of potassium hydroxide, spreads from the battery to metal components within the device.
The corrosive substance can damage the watch’s components. It can also prevent a replacement battery contacting the positive or negative terminals of the battery compartment.
How long does it take for a watch battery to leak?
It all depends on the quality of the battery’s construction.
However, the average watch battery lasts 3-5 years. Therefore, a watch battery can start to leak around 3-5 year old.
Some brands may not leak at all or only leak towards their end of life, but that is normal.
How Can a Watch Battery Leak Be Prevented?
You can avoid two major causes of battery failure. First, most batteries leak from heat or pressure.
Keep your eyes open for extremely hot temperatures.
The risk of a battery exploding or leaking can be increased by heat exposure.
Keep the watch out of direct heat and always remove unused or dead batteries.
Remove the battery from your watch if it stops working.
It is important to remove all watch batteries from your watch before you store it for long periods, even if they are not fully charged.
Wear watches with a low water resistance rating while swimming or diving. Watches that are subject to excessive pressure from the outside can be damaged by water.
You also have a higher chance of the battery leaking because of the pressure.
How Can a Watch Battery Leak Be Fixed?
If the leakage isn’t severe, you might be able clean the corrosive material out of the battery compartment or internal components. You should never touch corrosive materials or corroded battery cells with your naked hands. Protective equipment such as gloves and safety glasses should always be worn.
First, you must get rid of the old battery. Before you dispose of the old battery, place it in a bag.
Analyze the spread of corrosion after removing the battery.
Most cases of corrosion are limited to the contacts within the battery compartment. The watch may not be able to charge a new battery because of this corrosion.
White vinegar or lemon juice can neutralize alkaline leakage. Use a cotton swab to dip in the liquid to gently remove the corrosion.
You can try dipping an old toothbrush in white vinegar or lemon-juice if the corrosion is not easy to remove.
The vinegar or lemon juice should cause the alkaline to start to bubble when you apply it. Use a dry cloth to remove any remaining corrosion once the fizzing has stopped.
You may also experience corrosion spreading to internal parts. To find out if this is the case, you will need to take apart the watch.
You don’t want to further damage your watch. Instead, take it to a professional jeweller or watchmaker.
They should be equipped with the necessary tools to remove the corrosion safely.
What Types of Watches Are Prone to Battery Leakage?
Watches that use an alkaline battery are more susceptible to battery leakage.
Digital watches and quartz watches both need to be replaced every one to two years. The battery will eventually start to leak if it is not removed.
Both manual and automatic watches don’t use batteries, so there is no risk of battery failure.