DIY steam generator repair

The steam generator today has become an indispensable household appliance for many people. With it, you can quickly iron even crumpled clothes after washing, smooth the folds on outer clothing, vertical curtains, and process the surfaces of upholstered furniture. As a rule, these devices are reliable and serve for a long time as assistants in everyday life, but it also happens that equipment breaks down. Serious malfunctions will require service repair by professional specialists, and minor defects can be tried to be eliminated on your own.

The main malfunctions associated with the operation of the steam generator can be seen when using it. After visual inspection during operation with the device, the following symptoms will become apparent:

• plugged in appliance does not generate hot steam;
• does not seem possible adjust the pressure level;
• water heating in a special capacity of the appliance takes a very long time, or water does not heat up at all;
• water level not determined on a special indicator;
• from the steam generator housing water leaks;
• the integrity of the power cord is broken, or there is a malfunction in the plug;
• steam from the steam generator is constantly and is not amenable to adjustment by the feed button;
• hot steam escapes from the valve lids for water inlets;
• working surface the iron does not heat up;
• water is supplied from the sole of the iron along with steam, painted in rusty color.

Undertaking minor repairs makes sense only if you have the skills to repair complex household electrical equipment.

Depending on what kind of breakdown occurred at your household steam station, step-by-step instructions for resolving it will be different.

Consider the most frequent breakdowns and ways to repair a steam generator if it breaks.

One of the most common failures is a violation of the steam supply through the steam generator. This problem happens for a number of reasons.

• When using low-quality water containing various impurities, the filter quickly clogs up in the appliance, as a result of which the steam supply stops. The problem can be fixed as follows: unscrew the long flexible hose of the steam generator, take out the filter in the form of a mesh and wash it, then assemble all the parts in the reverse order, and then try the device.
• The holes on the working surface of the iron are clogged with limescale, and its particles impede the escape of steam. To eliminate this problem, pour limescale into the water tank. If it’s not at hand, prepare a solution, consisting of 1000 ml of water and 10 g of citric acid powder. Turn on the appliance, and let the water boil. Then the steam generator is turned off, give time to cool the water in it. Now drain the solution through the hole, in which you poured it before this procedure - you will see that the liquid pouring out from the appliance has a dark brown color. This procedure must be repeated several more times until the drained solution becomes transparent. The tank is then rinsed with clean water and your steam generator will be ready for use again.

Instead of steam, water can flow from the steam generator. You can identify and fix such a malfunction yourself.

• The shutoff valve is out of order. You can verify this if, pouring water into the device and shaking it from side to side, near the valve you will see drops of water. Such a malfunction can be eliminated by a stronger tightening of the valve before operation, sometimes it requires a complete replacement of the valve.
• The steam supply hose is pinched as a result of bending, or its integrity is broken. When steam is supplied inside the hose, water will accumulate due to impaired passability, and it will come out during the use of the steam generator. To again allow hot steam to freely pass through the hose, the water accumulated in it must be drained. To do this, turn off the appliance, let it cool completely, straighten the hose, lift it above the steam generator, then let it drain.

It happens that the steam station does not turn on. There may be several reasons for this.

• In some devices, automatic power off is provided if the steam generator is clogged with scale deposits. If the indicator lights up on the control panel and says Decal, you will need to clean the water tank with special tools or a 10% solution of citric acid.
• The power cord of the device may be damaged, but this is not visible to you under the braid. Sometimes when you turn on the appliance, you may smell burning plastic. Such a malfunction is difficult to diagnose and eliminate at home. In this case, you will need to replace the power cord, and this is best done in a specialized workshop.
• The steam generator may not turn on for other reasons. For example, as a result of a failure of the power button or because the control board burned out in the device. Such damage can be eliminated only by a specialist who is versed in the repair of household electrical equipment.

For example, a power outlet has failed, or a power outage has occurred in the apartment. It happens that on the dashboard the light of the on indicator simply burns out, although the steam generator itself works and delivers steam.

During steaming, liquid with a rusty tint may flow from the steam station, or steam is supplied with the smallest particles of rust, leaving traces of a red color on the fabrics. Consider the causes and their elimination.

• Rust formed in the water tank, which fell into the steam hose and clogged the coarse filter. This happens if after working with the appliance you do not drain the remnants of unused tap water, which for a long time acts on the walls of the tank, causing corrosion in it. To eliminate rust, turn off the steam generator, allow it to cool, drain contaminated water, then rinse the tank, then pour a new portion of the liquid and use the device. The use of distilled water will help prevent this problem.
• With prolonged use of the steam station at extreme heat levels, silicone gaskets may fail. This is due to the fact that the heating element melts them, while coloring the water and preventing the liquid from converting to steam. You can fix this by replacing the gaskets or the heater. Repair of this level of complexity is performed in the workshop.

When heated, the appliance may spray small amounts of water with steam.

• This is due to the fact that water in the form of condensate accumulates near the holes in the heating sole of the iron, and when the device is turned on, liquid comes to the surface. In this case, special repair measures are not required. After evaporation of the condensate, the steam generator will begin to work in normal mode.
• If the appliance is equipped with automatic descaling, then in case of residual water in the tank after operation, when it is switched on again, it will exit through the steam supply openings in the form of splashes. You can fix the problem without repair - just press the steam key several times.

In a steam generator, water is converted to steam under pressure, and if the setting of this option does not work, the steam supply power is significantly reduced.

• Check if the appliance is clogged with scale - if you clean it, then often the function of the steam generator is restored.
• Expensive models of steam generators are equipped with automatic regulation of the power of the supplied steam. To determine the malfunction, try the device in several modes. If the vapor pressure is reduced in all modes, it means that the electronics are out of order, which can only be restored in the conditions of a service workshop.

When using the steam generator, other malfunctions may occur, which can not always be eliminated on their own at home.

• When using the device, a puddle forms under it. Such a malfunction requires an urgent disconnection of the steam generator from the power source, as the situation may threaten you with electric shock. The cause of fluid leakage may be due to a violation of the integrity of the water tank, which must be replaced in the workshop.
• With prolonged use, the sensors of the electrical appliance often burn out. Most often, the water level indicator fails, the steam supply button, pressure switch switches.Diagnostics and repairs will require the use of special tools that not everyone has at home.

Repairing complex household electrical equipment requires certain skills.

If you notice malfunctions in the operation of the steam generator, for their independent diagnosis and attempts to eliminate repair specialists advise to adhere to such rules:

• perform all manipulations only when the device is disconnected from the power supply and its complete cooling after heating;
• while checking the operation of the appliance carry out all tests on a light piece of cloth, which then will not be a pity to throw;
• if you smell burning wiring, the appliance sparks or smokes - unplug it immediately and bring it to a service center.

Their addresses are indicated on the warranty card that came with your steam generator. Repair by a private master is not always effective and of high quality.

See how to disassemble and repair the iron in the video.