The Top 4 Reasons Why Steam Generator Irons Leak Water

A leaking steam generator iron can quickly make a mess. Find out why these appliances leak and how to fix the problem!

Steam generator irons are hardy appliances. But when they leak, 1 of 4 things are usually responsible. The culprits include condensation, overfilling the iron, cracks, and limescale.

The moment you notice a leak anywhere in the home is never a good home - even more so with this appliance that contains a lot of water. Find out why steam generator irons spill their guts and how you can stop it from happening again.

Why Is My Steam Generator Iron Leaking Water?

These irons look a little different from your regular iron. The bottom is a large container filled with water and the iron is placed or parked at the top. Steam generator irons are better if you have a lot of wrinkly laundry or large pieces of fabric like sheets. The appliances remove wrinkles faster and greatly reduce the hours that you normally waste on ironing!

But what makes these great little helpers go haywire? You need to investigate four things when your iron suddenly starts to leak.

1. Condensation.
2. The iron might be overfilled with water.
3. There are cracks or broken parts.
4. Hardwater is causing limescale to build up inside the iron.

When Condensation Attacks

Okay, condensation is not really that dramatic. But when those tiny droplets appear, they could make you wonder if the iron is starting to malfunction somehow. As alarming as this appears, condensation is not the worst reason why your steam generator iron could be leaking.

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How Do I Check If Condensation Is The Cause?

When condensation is the cause, the problem lies with how you store the steam generator iron. When the soleplate faces down the whole time, steam condensation will appear and you will notice drops of water on the base station.

How Do I Fix This Problem?

To avoid steam condensation, always store your steam generator iron in a vertical position. It is truly as simple as that. The good news is that there is no damage to your appliance at all!

The Iron Might Be Overfilled With Water

If you have overfilled the steam generator iron, small drops of water can come out while you are ironing. So if you notice wet blotches during ironing, that is a big clue about which of the four problems you are dealing with!

How Do I Fix This Problem?

While the obvious answer might be “fill it up with less water,” that can be seriously annoying. Steam generator irons are used to iron large amounts of laundry or large items like bedsheets. If you do not fill the iron up properly, you will be forced to stop and fill it up several times.

One way to avoid this annoyance is to go back and read the user manual for your particular steam generator iron. It should definitely state the maximum amount of water that you can add to your iron and then go with that. Make sure that the water is never more than the stated maximum and the problem should be solved. If you find that the iron is still leaking, slightly reduce the amount of water or read more about the other causes.

If you find yourself ironing and this problem crops up, you do not have to go through a lot of effort to get rid of the excess water. Simply hold the steam button down and release the extra water for a minute until you get to the right level.

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The Water Reservoir May Have Broken Or Cracked

When the water reservoir is damaged, it will become obvious minutes - or even seconds - after you fill the iron with water. The leaking will also be constant and in a way, this is a silver lining. When you notice droplets, wipe the area with a tissue and keep your eye on it. If water appears in the same place then you have discovered the crack. Some cracks are obvious but the chances are that your iron will leak from a very thin crack that is not easy to see the first time you look for it.

How Do I Fix This Problem?

There are commercial sealers that are safe to use on cracked water reservoirs. But if the damage is too severe or the sealant fails to contain the leak, then the appliance might have to be replaced.

How Hard Water Damages Your Iron

So-called hard water is water with high mineral content. Hard water is known to damage household appliances that work with water including dishwashers, boilers, water pipes, kettles, and even taps. Irons are not exempt from this curse, either. When your area has hard water, the minerals can build up inside the iron and cause limescale (the deposits that do the actual damage).

If you live in an area with hard water, you can replace the tap water used with distilled water. This will definitely prevent the steam generator iron from getting lime deposits in the tank. It is essential to keep limescale away from your iron as they are notorious for causing leaks in any water-using appliance. Always run the self-clean function on the steam generator iron to remove deposits that tend to accumulate in the steam generator iron.

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A Quick Summary On Why Steam Generator Irons Leak Water

• Steam generator irons are great when you have a lot of laundry or large pieces like sheets.
• These appliances can leak and when they do, four things are usually responsible.
• The top four reasons include condensation, overfilling the water tank, physical damage, and limescale.
• Most of these causes can be fixed at home but if an iron leaks due to severe damage, it must be replaced.