A situation often arises - when the steam generator is running, the consumer does not receive steam at the outlet. There are several reasons for this problem; once you identify them, you can deal with some of them on your own. The main thing is to know how to find a breakdown and fix it correctly.
Steam generators are produced for use in various fields. These can be powerful industrial steam generators, equipment for household needs and for electronic cigarettes. Regardless of the size, their main faults are the same; in this case, it can be either a stop in the steam supply or a water leak from the steam generator. Let's look at them using the example of a household appliance for steaming clothes.
- the formation of scale and limescale, which is caused by using plain water in the boiler;
- poor contact;
- shedding of the internal coating of the steam generator; such a breakdown can occur on budget, mainly Chinese devices with low-quality parts;
- failure of electronics, in this case, only service center specialists or purchasing new, higher quality equipment will help.
Let's look at each cause and solution to the problem in more detail.
Troubleshooting at home
You can repair the steam supply yourself only if the malfunction is caused by scale and limescale. Serious damage to the components of the iron structure cannot be corrected by ourselves!
We bring to your attention several methods that can be used to get rid of foreign elements in the water heating system of the iron. To achieve a better result, it is recommended to try several of them until you eliminate the reason why there is no steam supply in the iron. If steam does not appear in the iron, you will have to buy a new device.
All (with the exception of one - steam bath) methods below have the same principle: liquid is poured into the water tank of the iron, it is heated, then the system of water heating elements is manually cleaned: you need to press the steam button until the liquid will not run out.
Triggers in vertical and horizontal position
If we consider the question of what will happen if you do not turn off the iron in a vertical or horizontal position, it is important to find the relationship between the conditions and the specific model. There are no identical parameters of devices from different manufacturers of household appliances
All information about shutdown conditions can only be found in the technical description or instructions.
The question of what will happen if you don’t turn off the iron at home has many peculiarities due to differences in the characteristics of the models. Many manufacturers make this an advertisement for new product models, showing in the video that leaving a household appliance in a horizontal position even for a day does not harm the surface.
If you forgot to turn off the iron in a vertical position, given the fact that it is a new model, it is more likely that nothing will happen to it. Many owners share stories about how an abandoned model lasted a day and did not cause any damage. But it's better not to check these stories.
Faulty power cord
The most common item of damage is the power cord; check it for mechanical damage and visible defects. If there are none, then for further research you will need a special tester that allows you to ring the cord to check its functionality. If the cause of the breakdown is indeed the wire, then first you should shorten it. If this does not help, then the wire will have to be completely replaced with a new one.
You can make something like a tester yourself; all you need is a small wire, a battery and a light bulb. The wire is divided into pieces, one of them connects the cord to the battery, the other to the light bulb. The presence or absence of a signal is thus determined visually - if the cord is working, the light comes on.
Checking the electric heater
The heating element in modern models is a reliable unit and rarely breaks. When this problem occurs, it is better not to buy a new heater. It's easier to buy a new iron. But first you should make sure that the problem is in the heating element.
In all models, the heater contacts are soldered to the device contacts and connected to an indicator lamp. If the lamp is on, but the iron does not heat up, then the malfunction is related to the heating element.
On some models, the thermal fuse is included in one heater circuit, and the regulator is included in another. If the fuse is faulty, then a false “diagnosis” can be made, suspecting a faulty heating element. To accurately determine the cause of the device failure, it should be completely disassembled.
Common problems with steam generator irons
Very often situations arise in which equipment malfunctions result from various mechanical damages, in case of errors during operation of the device and wear of some parts. In this case, typical causes of malfunctions are observed:
- the cord breaks;
- the sprinkler becomes clogged;
- water flows out of the steam generator filler hole;
- The thermostat fails, causing the iron to overheat.
Important! It is unacceptable to immerse the steam generator in water; it is also strictly forbidden to wrap the cord around a hot device; only when the device is turned off can you pour water into the reservoir compartment.
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The clothes steamer is quite popular because it is convenient and functional. But such units sometimes fail, so you should study the types of faults and the intricacies of repairs at home.
Malfunction prevention, important advice
Iron owners can increase their service life if they follow one important recommendation. From time to time, approximately once every six months, it is necessary to carry out a cleaning procedure for the water heating system. That is, it is necessary to carry out the procedures specified in the article, despite the fact that there are no problems with the steam.
Almost every modern iron is equipped with a steam humidification function, but not all of them have a self-cleaning mode. It often happens that the iron does not produce steam or this function does not work well. This is not a reason to throw the device in the trash!
In this article we will talk about in case of which malfunctions you will be able to extend the life of the device, and in case of which you will have to buy a new one. Be sure to read the recommendations at the end to protect your iron from damage.
Main features of irons with a steam generator
Let's consider the main advantages of operating an iron with a steam generator:
- the ability to iron clothes directly on the hanger;
- irons any material without problems;
- presence of self-cleaning function;
- Possibility of cleaning sofa upholstery.
Like any household appliance, irons with a steam generator sometimes break down and require DIY repairs. In order to carry out such repairs, you should first familiarize yourself with the features of such a household appliance.
Let's look at what main elements an iron with a steam generator consists of:
- a heating element;
- sole;
- temperature controller;
- thermostat;
- steam regulator;
- indicator.
Briefly about the design
Regardless of which manufacturer produces a steam generator, for example, Bosch, Philips or Tefal, all devices are characterized by three main parts:
- electronic control unit;
- stand or so-called base;
- iron.
The household appliance is also equipped with special attachments.
Let's consider the principle of operation of the steam generator:
- The boiler heats the water.
- As a result, steam is formed.
- The generated steam is supplied to the iron through a special hose device.
- There is perforation at the base of the iron.
- The steam escaping from the holes processes the fabric, smoothing out any kind of folds.
A household steam generator station manufactured by Tefal differs significantly from household appliances with steaming from exactly the same manufacturer:
- a significant difference is the size - the household station is much larger and more voluminous, while occupying a lot of space in the room;
- in the steam generator, water is supplied to a separate compartment of the boiler, in which it is heated until steam is formed;
- the steam generated is not wet - it is dry with an approximate temperature of about 160 degrees;
- clothes and linen are processed without a device in the form of an iron coming into contact with them, so when processing with steam there is no damage to the clothes and there is no need to worry about the integrity of things.
Electrical appliance inspection
As with any repair of household appliances, repairs begin with a visual inspection of the electrical appliance itself. In photograph No. 1 we can observe a poor-quality connection of the power cord of an electrical appliance; the wires are connected and wrapped with insulating tape.
The power cord must be solid and without any connections. For such repairs, it is advisable to select a power cord with a fabric braid. If you follow fire safety measures when operating the iron, then an ordinary flexible two-core or three-core cable is quite suitable, the third wire of which will be the grounding wire.
photo #1
Temperature controller repair
First, you can try to remove the external handle of the temperature regulator, prying it off, for example, with a knife and using very little force. If this cannot be done, then it is better to immediately proceed to removing the device body by unscrewing the screws. When all the screws are unscrewed, you can examine all the “insides” of the iron and try to find the problem here.
Now the process of checking the serviceability of the temperature controller itself. This check can be carried out by setting it to its extreme positions. If this cannot be done easily enough, you can try using pliers. Next, you should use a continuity test to check whether there is an electrical circuit: one end of the continuity test is connected to one of the contacts, and the other to the other. Then you need to put the regulator in its extreme positions, and if the light comes on in one of the positions, then the thermostat is working, if not, then you should clean the contacts. This can be done using sandpaper, or even an ordinary nail file.
When do you need professional help at home?
The help of a specialist is required if it is impossible to determine the causes of the malfunction in the steam generator, or if it is not possible to eliminate them yourself. Most often this happens when a part fails.
In order not to make a mistake in choosing a specialist and not to contact scammers, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
Private craftsmen most often do not give guarantees for their work, or promise the proper functioning of the device in words. Therefore, it is better to contact the service.- After completion of the repair, you must request a receipt and warranty service.
- You should trust word of mouth. Recommendations from friends can help you find a good specialist.
- The technician will not charge money for diagnostics. Professionals do it for free.
- You should not leave the device in the workshop if the workers do not provide paper confirming its receipt.
- All documents must be stamped with information about the organization and its address.
The cost of repairing steam generators varies widely. The more complex the work and the more expensive the model, the higher it will be.
The average price varies between 700-1500 rubles. You can find a specialist through advertisements posted on the Internet or in the newspaper.
