Why does water leak from the iron?

Almost every iron model has a mode for steaming clothes when ironing. With its help you can smooth out even the most severe creases. The housewife, using a device equipped with a steam jet, can easily and quickly deal with laundry deposits.

But then we lift the iron and a stream of water flows from it. How to overcome this problem? What are the reasons for such breakdowns? How to repair the problem? This will be discussed in this article.

Common causes of water leaking from an iron

Water may leak from the iron if the valve of the device is broken or the device is used incorrectly.

Broken valve

Water from the water tank is supplied to the inner surface of the sole. A steam regulator is built into the housing. They can be used to regulate the intensity of the steam jet. When the device heats up, the water turns into steam and steams unironed folds in the laundry.

If there is still water in the tank and the iron has cooled down, then it may leak when the valve is closed. The cause of the leak is a broken valve.

The malfunction should be checked as follows: turn off the steam supply and without turning on the iron, shake it and place it in a horizontal position. If water flows out, it means the valve does not regulate the flow of steam into the iron sole. Often the malfunction lies in wear and loss of elasticity of the rubber valve gasket.

Incorrect operation

After turning on the device, if the iron has not heated up to the optimal temperature, then steam has not yet formed and water begins to leak through the holes, which the valve has “distilled” into the steam chamber.

How to avoid water leaking out of the iron during operation?

To avoid liquid leaking out of the holes on the soleplate, you should wait until the iron warms up each time.

This is done correctly like this: turn on the steam mode, set the desired temperature, turn the iron vertically, wait until the heating indicator turns off and begin ironing things.

The water filling hole must be closed after filling the tank. This way, drops will not get on the fabric and will not leave wet spots.

What to do when water flows from the iron

The iron needs to be descaled from time to time. This procedure is easy to carry out at home.

Method 1

• Dissolve citric acid powder in water;
• Pour the solution into the reservoir;
• Set the iron to maximum temperature;
• We wait until the indicator goes out;
• Lightly shake the device and add water to the steam chamber;
• Repeat until completely clean.

What will happen? Water touches the hot heating element. In this case, the hot and cold surfaces come into contact, adding exposure to an acidic environment. The scale lags behind the walls and comes out through the holes in the sole of the iron. In the same way, you can wash away any debris that has gotten into the sole of the device.

Method 2

Many appliance models have a special rod for collecting scale. From time to time it should be cleaned by placing it in a solution of citric and acetic acid for a couple of hours. After cleaning, the rod is rinsed under running water and reinserted into the device.

The first ironing after cleaning should be on an unnecessary piece of fabric.Limescale and debris will remain on the fabric.

If cleaning the iron does not help, then you should contact repair specialists at the service center. There, they will be able to diagnose the problem and fix it.

Ways to fix the problem

• Cleaning the iron yourself;
• Repair in a service workshop;
• Do-it-yourself repair (if the owner has the necessary skills).

Conclusion

Often we are faced with the fact that we started ironing clothes, and water poured out of the iron onto the clothes. This happens due to improper operation or due to a breakdown of the control valve. The reason may also be due to improper care of the device. Therefore, it is necessary to wait until the soleplate of the iron heats up to the optimal temperature before ironing things. The appliance should be descaled from time to time to avoid damage. This can be done using improvised means, for example, citric acid. If this does not save the iron from leaking, it should be taken to a service center so that the technician can correct all malfunctions of the device.