How a steam generator works: principle, structure of a household steam generator with an iron

If you dream of perfectly ironed clothes, or you just have a lot of laundry to iron and you can’t handle it with a regular iron, then it’s time to pay attention to such a useful household appliance as a steam generator.

Professional studios and clothing stores have been using it in their work for a long time. We will talk about the main types and functions of steam generators, their advantages and differences from steam cleaners, as well as how to use and properly care for this useful household appliance to increase its service life.

What is a steam generator and what is it for?

A steam generator is a universal household appliance that generates a powerful release of high-temperature steam (up to 140°C), due to which it is used to solve many household issues:

Ironing clothes is perhaps the most popular use of a steam generator. With its help, you can quickly smooth out even very wrinkled linen and items with numerous folds. At the same time, the fabric does not shine as if it were ironed. The device smoothes both thin and delicate as well as the thickest fabrics and several layers of linen well.
Clean, disinfect and remove unpleasant odors from clothes that are difficult or impossible to wash. For example, to clean and give a presentable appearance to a product made from natural fur or to put in order a men’s suit.
Cleaning tiles, bathroom tiles on the floor and walls, including cleaning seams and corners from dirt and limescale.
Removing grease and dirty stains from the surface of kitchen furniture, aprons, stoves and household appliances.
Clean upholstered furniture and carpets from dirt without any problems.
Give a fresh look and remove dust from drapes and curtains without even removing them.
Complete cleaning of all surfaces and removal of unpleasant odors in the car interior will become an easy task for car owners.
The steam generator will also provide invaluable assistance when removing old wallpaper during the renovation process.
Disinfection and hygienic treatment of furniture, mattresses and bed linen to get rid of pathogenic bacteria and insects, such as linen mites and bedbugs.

Do you have a steam generator?
Not really

Additional features

In addition to ironing clothes, steam generators have a number of additional capabilities. They can be used for inhalation, boiling water, killing moths and even boiling eggs.

Inhalation

Steam inhalation is a traditional method of treating colds and nasal congestion.

Boil eggs

If desired, you can boil an egg in the hand steamer tank.

Boil water for tea

Hand steamers are suitable as a replacement for a travel electric kettle. If necessary, you can boil water for tea in them.

Remove sticker

The steam generator is suitable for removing stickers or tape from surfaces; it does not leave any traces of glue. It is necessary to heat the surface with the sticker with steam, pry it off with a paper clip and remove it with a light movement. If necessary, if the sticker breaks, heating should be repeated.

Refresh fur products

The dry steam produced by the steam generator allows you to clean and refresh fur products, bringing them to their original condition.

Restore original appearance to artificial flowers

The steam generator is suitable for processing artificial flowers. Over time, their petals become wrinkled and droop due to dust, and steaming can restore them to their original appearance. You just need to turn on the device and place the bouquet under the stream of steam.

Destroy the moth

Steaming clothes and furniture helps get rid of moths.

Design and principle of operation

All steam generators on the market today have a similar design and differ in their basic technical characteristics and set of additional functions.

Depending on the steam supply speed, steam generators are:

Boiler rooms are the most popular type of steam devices.
Without a boiler - a device of low power and size.
Continuous water supply - The device contains two reservoirs to ensure a continuous supply of water and is mainly used in professional and industrial applications, such as car washes.

What does a steam generator consist of:

Boiler. Typically made of stainless steel or heat-resistant plastic, it consists of a water tank with a thermostat, a heating element and a fuse to protect against overheating.
Heat-resistant hose for supplying steam from the boiler to the iron.
An iron with holes in the soleplate to supply steam. The sole material of the iron can be made of different materials, for example steel or cermet.
Additional attachments for different functions.
Iron stand with control panel for switching between supply and steam temperature modes, as well as lights and indicators. Often contains a compartment for storing the power cord.

The operating principle of all devices is also approximately the same:

in the boiler, water is heated until steam is formed;
dry steam enters the iron through the hose;
When you press a special button, steam comes out of the iron's holes under pressure, thereby smoothing the fabric.

About contradictions

In the industry, steam generators are special devices for generating steam, so officially it is worth using the phrase iron with a steam generator. In industry, the generated steam drives, for example, the turbines of nuclear power plants. The unit (steam generator) weighs tens of tons and is the size of a small house. Avoid throwing around terms thoughtlessly.

In light of the definition of the concept “steam generator”, the described devices include one in their composition. Therefore, the division takes place at the everyday level: it is easier for people to understand the apparatus under discussion.

It is important to note that steam generators have two power buttons:

One is an iron.
The second is a steam plant.

It is allowed to iron things in the usual manner without steam, and use the product as a steamer. It is possible that there are models without heating. For gentle ironing, it is recommended to purchase a product with a silicone coating.

An interesting model has been invented - a manual steam generator-steamer. A small plastic iron into which water is poured. Avoids getting warm, it only gives off steam. Works exclusively in a vertical position.

Advantages and disadvantages of steam generators

It would seem, why not use a regular iron with a steam function for ironing clothes, what is so good about a steam generator and why do many housewives dream of this device?

The advantages of the steam generator are obvious:

Increase ironing speed by 5 times. Steam released under pressure has a stronger effect on the fabric, and ironing becomes much easier.
Compared to an iron, the steam generator has a much larger water capacity, so you don’t have to constantly refill it and often be distracted from the ironing and cleaning process.
Ease of handling the iron is ensured by the location of the water reservoir separately from the iron itself.
Dry steam will never leave water marks on clothes, unlike a regular iron.
Vertical steam supply allows you to flawlessly iron things on hangers or curtains directly on the curtain rods.
You cannot accidentally start a fire by leaving the iron on the fabric, since the soleplate does not heat up.
Easy and fast ironing of bed linen due to powerful steam that can pass through several layers of folded fabric.
There is no risk of burning synthetics and delicate fabrics or damaging decorative elements of clothing.
Suitable for working with fur and leather goods.
Multifunctionality. High-pressure steam can not only iron, but also clean and disinfect, remove odors and destroy insects, and can also be used in other areas, as much as your imagination allows.

But we can’t help but mention some of the weaknesses of steam generators that need to be taken into account when considering purchasing this device:

Large dimensions. The most bulky part is the water boiler stand, which can take up quite a lot of space when used and stored.
A thick steam hose can interfere with the ironing process and may not seem very convenient.
During operation, the device makes noise when water boils and steam is supplied to the unit.
If the laundry is wet, you won’t be able to dry it with the soleplate of the iron.
High price. Devices, especially from well-known manufacturers, are much more expensive than conventional irons. Some sole materials and additional features also significantly increase the cost of the device.
Like all devices that heat water, the steam generator needs to regularly remove scale from the heating element and the soleplate of the iron.
It is not always possible to find consumables on sale or their cost is significantly high.

Life example “on fingers”

Of course, it is acceptable to walk around ironing curtains with a steam generator in your hands, but the device is simply not designed to perform such operations. To demonstrate, let’s imagine how an iron with a steam generator or a steamer worked in this situation:

A mobile “vacuum cleaner” can be easily brought to the place where the curtains hang. You just need to start the steamer, move the brush from side to side - the job is done. There is no need to remove the product from the eaves; on the contrary, it will look better in a canopy.
Now let's imagine: there is no steamer. We will place the heavy steam generator on a fairly high table, trying to be sure to reach every corner of the curtain. Only if the product is completely clean! Otherwise, the algorithm looks more complicated. You will need to wash the curtains first, then iron them. The ironing board is not suitable for large fabric sizes. Giant curtains cannot be ironed at all. Therefore, the product is hung back, and a long tedious walk around the square begins with an “iron” in hand and a table standing nearby.

The second example concerns a pleated skirt. A steamer can create creases, but at what cost? Difficult process. How is a steamer different from a steam generator? Constantly hovers in the air above the thing. Take it and try to secure the clothes properly for ironing and not get burned by the steam.

The steam generator is another matter. Carefully go through fold after fold in a natural manner; if necessary, use steam to enhance the effect. Success is secured with a hot sole pressing down on the surface. A steam generator, a steamer are different things, the examples given fully reveal the aspect.

Functions and important characteristics of the device

Differences in the main parameters of the steam generator and the set of functions can affect the scope and cost of the device.

The main function of the steam generator is, of course, ironing clothes using dry steam, which gives better results than ironing with a regular iron.

Attention! The vertical steam function allows you to wash windows, iron things without removing them from hangers or curtains without removing them from curtains.

The device can disinfect and clean surfaces; for this purpose, special attachments for cleaning tiles, carpets and upholstered furniture are added to the kit.

To be able to use it in different conditions and on different materials, the device must be equipped with a stepwise or smooth function for adjusting different temperature modes and steam supply speed:

temperature - mode adjustment from 90 to 160;
intensity is adjustable from 0 to maximum.

Other additional convenient functions that expand the capabilities of the steam generator:

Dry ironing - this function will be useful if you just need to iron the item without using steam.
The sprayer makes it possible to moisten the fabric while ironing.
Automatic shutdown after some time of inactivity ensures safe operation of the device.
Anti-drip system - a function to protect water leakage from the boiler.
Self-cleaning or anti-scale function. The name speaks for itself - one of the most useful functions that extends the life of the device. Protection can be implemented in the form of replaceable filters or cartridges for water purification, and the self-cleaning program can itself monitor the moment of the need to remove scale and notify the need to start the mode.

Main technical parameters and characteristics that affect the functionality and scope of application, as well as convenience for large volumes of work:

Heating time. The heating time is usually shorter for models without a boiler, where the steam is heated at the surface of the iron; for boiler models it can reach 15 minutes.
Power. The more powerful the device, the more steam it produces in less time and copes better with the tasks. The power range of household steam generators is from 0.8 to 2.5 kW. Less functional inexpensive models have a power of no more than 1.2 kW; in expensive models with many functions, the power value starts from 1.5 kW and higher.
Steam pressure affects the degree of steaming and can be from 2 to 8 bar; for domestic needs, an average of 5 bar is more suitable.
Boiler volume - affects the performance and operating time without adding water; the size of the tank can vary from 0.5 l to 4 l, but for domestic use about 1.5 l is enough.
The transparent body material and measuring scale provide better control over the amount of water in the device.
The material of the iron sole affects the durability, convenience and cost of the device. The best and most expensive soles are made of Teflon, the cheapest and most unreliable are made of aluminum. Ceramic is comfortable but easily damaged, while steel is durable but prone to high heat.
Parameters such as the shape of the handle, the weight of the device only affect the comfort of use, and the length of the cord and hose depend on the layout of the room in which the device will be used.

Criterias of choice

The use of the unit in the house determines its model. Why take expensive and powerful equipment if you only iron one blouse or dress a day?

Professional equipment is needed for a large volume of diverse work. When choosing a steam generator, you need to take into account the technical characteristics of the equipment:

volume of water tank;
dimensions of the device;
functionality;
steam pressure, supply method;
power;
operating modes;
price;
Extra options.

Once a week, a set of bed linen can be ironed by hand. A steam cleaner is enough to tidy up your clothes.

Water tank volume

The larger the volume of water is poured into the container, the longer the equipment operates without interruption. If there is a removable tank, there is no need to wait for the station to cool down, the time of continuous operation increases to several hours.

Even if a lot of water evaporates per minute, with a 2-liter tank you can spend an hour without distractions and work in any mode.

Dimensions

Dimensions are important in small apartments, where storage space is an issue and when traveling frequently with steamers.

Typically, the more powerful the equipment and the larger the tank, the larger the size of the station body. Models with built-in steam generators are the most compact.

Functionality

The main indicator when choosing a steam generator is its functionality.

If there is a lot of cleaning in the house, you need to pay attention to the attachments and functions:

washing the floor;
windows and mirrors;
nozzle for chrome-plated plumbing fittings;
textile cleaning;
tile cleaning nozzle;
washing countertops;
nozzle for cleaning drain holes.

Flower lovers need an irrigation attachment. To tidy up your clothes and disinfect them, especially in the off-season, you need a steam iron.

Steam pressure and supply method

Steam pressure can be minimal in manual models; it is simply supplied by gravity as it forms.

In steam generators, steam is collected in a container and supplied from it constantly with the pressure set on the regulator through the hose. Usually the run-up is from 3 to 7 Bar.

Power

Power 700 – 800 W. For home equipment with free-standing stations, the power reaches up to 2000 W.

Professional steam stations heat up quickly, supply steam under high pressure, and have a power of up to 3000 W.

The more powerful the unit, the more energy it consumes, the faster the housewife gets the job done. With regular use, energy savings reach 25%.

Operating modes

All steam appliances have modes. When ironing thin chiffon fabrics, set the minimum pressure to 3 bar.

Smoothing the sides of the jacket, cleaning the table top and apron requires a mode with a large supply of dry steam and a pressure of 5-6 bar.

Prepare outerwear in the spring for seasonal storage and disinfection - pressure from 5 bar.

Multifunctional professional steam generators with automatic mode setting using laser sensors. They instantly switch and allow you to iron vertically everything, chiffon and denim, without sorting by fabric sensitivity.

Price

Manual equipment can be bought from 2000 rubles, the simplest models with a built-in tank. Work from 10 min. The upper limit for household appliances is RUB 3,600.

A simple floor-standing vertical steamer is estimated by manufacturers at a little more than 2000 rubles, multifunctional ones reach 9000 rubles.

Steam generators have the greatest variety in functions and cost. Depending on the manufacturer and technical characteristics, you can see a price of 6,000 rubles and an industrial device of more than 80,000 rubles.

Extra options

Additional parameters simplify working with the equipment and make it safer to use in the home, including:

steam supply blocking;
Automatic shutdown in standby mode;
steam boost;
strength of fastening of nodes;
type of heating elements;
removable tank;
presence of a water filter;
self-cleaning;
steam supply adjustment.

The electrical wire must be long and have a fastening for rotation in any direction.

Feedback from a housewife who uses a steam generator.

What is the difference between a steam generator and a steam cleaner?

Although a steam cleaner is sometimes called a steam generator and vice versa, there is a noticeable difference between these devices.

It is quite easy to distinguish devices from each other:

The main purpose of the steam generator is ironing, and cleaning and cleaning are only additional functions of the device, while for a steam cleaner the main and only function is quick and high-quality cleaning of all possible surfaces.
In appearance, a steam generator resembles an iron on a platform, while a steam cleaner looks more like a mop or vacuum cleaner.

Conclusion

The steam generator is a device exclusively for ironing. Ironing is fast, high-quality, with the ability to create folds and creases. The device will allow you to restore order by processing a bunch of laundry in a short time.

A steamer is a cleaning device. A thrifty housewife can quickly clean fabric items: furniture, curtains, carpets. Jackets and trousers are not prohibited. The main thing is that the thing is not afraid of exposure to high temperatures.

Steam generator and steamer - the difference is obvious. The first device is designed exclusively for ironing, the second is designed to restore order and iron in parallel.

Types of steam generators

Having determined in what conditions and volumes you plan to use the steam generator, you can choose the type of device that best suits your needs.

Manual

A compact, inexpensive, low-power option, perfect for taking with you on a business trip or on vacation. In everyday life, such a device can also easily correct the appearance of clothes made from light fabrics or curtains, wash a window, but it is unlikely that it will be possible to carry out global work on ironing bed linen or terry towels due to its low power, and even due to the lack of a boiler and absolutely small water tank.

Floor-standing

Floor-standing steam generators are expensive, large-sized, powerful ironing units, with a large water tank standing on the floor and a clothes rail. The ironing process itself is carried out using a light iron. Such systems are characterized by high productivity and are suitable for large-scale ironing.

Pump steam generators

The operating principle of a pump steam generator is based on a sharp increase in pressure in the steam chamber due to the rapid heating of water in the boiler. Through the release valve, steam comes out sharply and provides better smoothing due to more steam.

Combined

The combination steam generator includes all the best features of a steamer and a steam cleaner.

It is important to know! This is a multifunctional station for the highest quality treatment of all surfaces and ironing of clothes, which contains all kinds of attachments that meet the needs of the most demanding housewives in terms of cleanliness and order. The devices also have a fairly high price.

We weld the tubes

How to make a steam generator with your own hands? Four threaded tubes are additionally installed in the upper part of the cylinder. The automation elements are then screwed onto them, as well as the steam generator filling valve and the pressure relief valve. But that is not all. A tube with a ball valve should be welded on the side. In this case, the location of this element should be at a distance of no more than 10 centimeters from the top point of the cylinder. A tube with a ball valve will serve as a liquid level and open immediately after a certain amount of water has entered the container. As soon as liquid begins to flow from it, this process must be stopped.

How to use the device correctly?

Using a steam generator at home will not cause any difficulties; the main thing is to follow safety precautions, procedures and take into account some operating features.

Filling with water

Before starting work, the first thing you need to do is pour water into the tank:

Follow the scale to ensure you pour enough liquid. The required volume of water is indicated in the instructions for the device.
Water containers can be removable or stationary. You can pour water directly from the tap into the removable tank by disconnecting it from the main device. You will have to pour into a non-removable tank using a glass; you cannot place the device under the tap.
When steaming clothes, do not add various chemical liquids, fragrances or starch to the water.
Try not to fill water above the maximum level.
Monitor evaporation and add liquid in time.
It is advisable not to leave residual water in the boiler for a long time after use.

Warming up and preparing for work

Plug in the device and wait for it to heat up completely, this will take a few minutes. The device is usually equipped with an audible signal or indicator to indicate that the device is ready.

Attention! The steam heats up to high temperatures and, if handled carelessly, can cause skin burns, so try not to use the device close to children and animals and keep your face and hands away from steam.”

After the notification, you can begin ironing or steaming.

Ironing

Before you start ironing, you need to set the mode switch to the position appropriate for the type of fabric, unless the steam generator is equipped with a special mode that allows you to iron all types of fabric.

In addition to standard modes such as “cotton” or “synthetic”, some models are equipped with special economical modes. To begin ironing, point the iron at the fabric and press the steam button.

Horizontal

The process of smoothing in a horizontal position is similar to ironing with a regular iron, while steam is supplied without interruption and in large quantities.

Advice! To remove condensation from the hose that has accumulated after a few minutes of inactivity, simply press the handle several times to release steam.

Vertical steam

For vertical steaming you need:

hang clothes on a hanger;
run the iron downwards from the top of the product, slightly stretching the fabric;
curtains are steamed on curtains, pulling them first in the center and then from the bottom;
For delicate items, choose a gentle low-temperature mode.

Shutdown

Having completed work with the device, the iron must be placed back on the stand. Unplug the appliance and make sure it has cooled down, then drain the water from the container. Place the cord in the appropriate compartment and fix the iron on the stand.

Adding water during operation

Not all steam generators allow you to add water during the working process, so if you need to add water during ironing, be sure to unplug the device to avoid burns. Fill with water as usual and turn on the device again.

If there is a screw-on valve, first open it slightly to release steam, wait until the device cools down and only then fill the tank with water.

On our website you can read how to use a Karcher steam cleaner.

Do you use tap water for the steam generator?

Not really

Review of popular models

Thanks to its advantages, an iron with a steam generator has ceased to be an exclusively professional electrical appliance and has become a very popular type of home appliance. Demand creates supply and retail chains immediately responded: the shelves are full of names, colors, and famous brands.

Table: popular models of irons with a steam generator

Vertical steaming,
constant steam supply,
steam boost function.

Vertical steaming,
constant steam supply,
steam boost function,
auto winding,
automatic shutdown,
adding water during operation,
scale protection.

Constant steam supply
steam boost,
scale protection,
automatic shutdown.

Constant steam supply
steam boost,
scale protection,
automatic shutdown,
automatic steam control.

Constant steam supply
vertical steaming,
steam boost,
scale protection,
automatic shutdown.

Constant steam supply
self-cleaning system,
vertical steaming.

Photo gallery: popular models of irons with a steam generator, according to Yandex.Market

The well-known brand MIE offers models of the highest quality, including MIE Stiro 1100

High-quality, compact, convenient - these are the main advantages of the Tefal GV8963 model

The unique outsole coating makes the Braun IS 5042 maneuverable and allows it to glide easily over fabric.

Bosch TDS 38311 RU - a chic ironing station with a convenient stand and various operating modes

A highly functional example of the famous Philips brand - model gc9642 perfectcare elite silence - will become indispensable in everyday life

Convenience and affordable prices - the advantages of Kitfort KT-922

The cork handle is very convenient to use the Domena Class 100 PE steam generator iron

Caring for your household appliance

Basic rules for caring for a steam generator include the correct choice of water and timely removal of scale deposits in order to keep the heating element in working condition and to prevent the formation of stains and streaks on clothes.

Choice of water

Modern devices allow the use of water from the water supply to fill the tank, but it all depends on its hardness. If the hardness index is high, then scale will form at an increased rate and will eventually damage the device.

What kind of water is suitable for use:

To soften hard water, it must be purified by filtration, or replaced with distilled water, diluted in half with plain water.
It is possible to use a special liquid for irons, but this option is too expensive.
Another acceptable option is demineralized water.

It is important to know! For the steam generator, it is not recommended to use bottled water from the store, natural water from a well, boiled or melted water, as they contain a large amount of residual salts and impurities.

Anti-scale

Removing scale from the surface of the iron and from the heating element should be carried out regularly, after approximately every tenth use and in accordance with the instructions for the device. Expensive models have self-cleaning functions that make cleaning the device easier. Very strong deposits on the heater should be taken to a service center.

Attention! Manufacturers do not recommend using acetic acid and descaling agents for cleaning.

The descaling process usually does not take much time with the built-in “Cleaning” mode. If this mode is not available, simply heat the boiler to maximum temperatures and use the lever to empty the container over the sink. This article will tell you how to clean a Philips steam generator from scale, this article will tell you how to clean it from Tefal.

As you can see, the device is really useful and easy to use, the main thing is to be careful when working with hot steam and promptly and correctly descale the device. If we consider that the scope of effective use of a steam generator is much wider than other similar devices, and it alone can replace several devices, this makes it a unique universal and indispensable device in everyday life.

Steamer

Device

The idea of steaming items was inspired by professional dry cleaners. A steamer in everyday life is a vacuum cleaner. Too lazy to suck in air, the brush shoots out a hot stream that smoothes the fabric. Such a device is composed of several parts:

Housing with steam generator.
Water container.
Steam hose.
Ring.
Telescopic pipe.
Brush.

The telescopic device will help you hang the brush on the ring during breaks between work. The rest is just like twice two.

Principle of operation

The container is filled with water and inserted into the housing. Traditionally, we see several operating modes, each with a purpose. Use the switch knob to select the desired one. Bypassing the outlet of the housing and the hose, a hot stream of steam shoots out of the brush, hitting the clothes and leveling the material.

The cleaning mode works in a similar way. The steamer container is filled with a weak vinegar solution. The ability of the acid to dissolve fats is fully used to clean the tracts of the device. To completely remove dirt from the steamer, leave it on for half an hour. A telescopic pipe will come in handy to hang the brush. The steam should be shooting into the air.

After work, empty the container using the drain plug and drain the remaining liquid. Now the pipe is folded, the ring and brush are removed. The device is ready for storage, waiting for the next time.

Description of the work process. The brush is equipped with a number of steam outlets. The hard bristled edge collects dirt. The steamer is designed to iron, but is positioned as a cleaner. Use the device to clean:

According to anecdotal evidence, select enthusiasts use steamers to clean window glass in a typical manner. Finally, the surface is wiped dry.

Making the work of a housewife easier, steamers are equipped with hangers and other special devices. For example, a frame frame that simplifies the ironing of trousers. The main advantage of the steamer is the ability to work on weight. The ironing board simply disappears. Professional dry cleaners can inflate items with steam. Folds disappear. It's different at home.

The steamer works easier. Ironing occurs using steam pressure. Avoid touching the item; it is recommended to hold it from the back side, from above. You can buy a special heat-protective glove and you can do this yourself. To work with the steam generator, use a woolen mitten worn over a rubber glove. It is allowed to create sandwiches of three layers. They try not to burn their hands with the steamer.