How does a steam generator work?

No housewife can avoid ironing clothes. Previously, this took a lot of time, since it was difficult to achieve a decent result with an iron. Now it has been replaced by a steam generator, which copes with the task much faster. It is widely used both for domestic use and in professional dry cleaners.

Device functions

The original task of an iron with a steam station was precisely ironing clothes. Ironing allows you to smooth out numerous wrinkles that are difficult to deal with with a regular iron. The steam generator makes it easy to direct the arrows onto the trousers, and no traces of ironing remain on the clothes themselves.

But, unlike an iron, the functions of a steam generator are not limited to this. They can easily disinfect and freshen outerwear instead of taking them to the dry cleaner.

Possibility of vertical steaming allows you to use a steam generator to refresh and iron curtains without removing them from the curtain.

Some devices come with special attachments. Using them, you can run a steam generator over tiles, floors (including carpets), and furniture: the surfaces will not only be cleaned of dirt, but also disinfected at the same time.

It is impossible to list all the functions, since they are limited only by your imagination. You can even use it when removing old wallpaper.

However, not every steam generator is able to provide all the functions (it still depends on the cost), so it is important to correctly determine the purpose of purchasing the device in order to choose the best option for yourself.

Device structure

Currently available on the market three types of steam generator:

• with constant water supply — used mainly in dry cleaners and car washes;
• with low water supply - devices are small in size, but also low in power;
• with boiler - the most common steam stations.

All types are similar in general structure. Their main components are a stainless steel boiler for heating water, a silicone hose with a high melting point, an iron and nozzles. On the body there is a panel with regulators for steam supply and temperature.

The boiler itself, in fact, is a combination of a container for liquid (there is also an industrial type, but in a much smaller volume), a heating element, a thermostat and a temperature fuse.

How does a steam generator work?

Before starting work, it is necessary to pour water into the tank: preferably purified, as this will significantly reduce the amount of plaque buildup. It will take about ten minutes to heat the water. Under pressure, steam flows through the hose to the iron, through the holes of which it flows out to the surface being treated.

Important! the temperature of the supplied steam is about a hundred degrees Celsius, so you need to use the device carefully to avoid burns. It is strictly forbidden to point the iron towards people or animals!

When used correctly, the steam generator is safe. When the steam overheats, the thermostat “turns off” the heating element; if it breaks, this function is transferred to a fuse that opens the circuit (the device is completely turned off). But despite a good protection system, it is better not to leave a steam generator connected to the network unattended.

Advantages

The steam generator has a number of advantages over both the iron and its close relative - the steamer.

It allows you to smooth out complex folded products without leaving any traces of creases. Thanks to the powerful jet of steam, you can iron multiple folded items (for example, bed linen), which will significantly speed up the process.

The low humidity of the steam (about 6%) makes it possible to use it for steaming any fabrics, including delicate ones.

What distinguishes an iron with a steam station from a steamer is the ability to use it at any angle, which globally expands its area of ​​application: from ironing curtains to treating floor surfaces and cleaning a car.

The main disadvantages of a steam generator are usually its large dimensions (compared to iron) and high cost, however, this is a controversial issue, since one device can replace several at once, thanks to its wide range of functions.