Clothes steamers appeared on the household appliances market relatively recently. For some housewives, such a device still seems like an unnecessary luxury, since a regular iron can cope with some of the functions of this unit. However, this relatively small unit makes life much easier for those who are used to wearing clothes made from materials that require complex care. Like all electrical devices, the device sometimes breaks down. Do-it-yourself repair of a clothes steamer - is it possible? This will be discussed in the article.
As the name suggests, this unit is designed to process things using steam. In catalogs you can find another name - steamer. It comes from the English “steam”, that is, “steam”.
A steamer does roughly the same thing as an iron, that is, it smooths out creases and folds with water vapor. Using this device, you can quite easily deal with problems that an iron usually cannot cope with - for example, miniature but unpleasant wrinkles under buttons, near buttons, under sleeves, along seams, etc.
Important! Some models have a tip that looks like a small iron - specifically for smoothing out small but difficult wrinkles. In this case, mechanical action is added to the action of steam.
The water is boiled by a heating element. Then the steam flows through the pipe system through the atomizer to the outside. The steamer does not come into direct contact with the fabric, and this is its main difference from a regular iron. No mechanical impact, only steam. And since there is no contact, there will be no scorch marks, crumpled pile, shiny spots and other troubles.
Important! Most cheap models release steam due to expansion in the nozzle, but expensive household and industrial steamers have a special compressor that provides greater pressure, that is, increases efficiency.
This assistant can do a lot:
Important! This device is indispensable in a studio or store. With its help you can put any thing in order, even if it is on a mannequin or hanger. Such units are especially readily used by workers in consignment stores - even a worn product after processing looks like new.
Not so long ago, steamers were used almost exclusively in clothing factories and ateliers. They were very large, and they were not cheap, like any industrial equipment. Accordingly, there was no question at all as to whether it was possible to repair a clothes steamer at home.
Nowadays you can find a variety of steamers on sale, but they are divided into two classes:
Most often, the manual version is used at home. It is precisely when operating such devices that steamers sometimes require repair.
Having figured out how useful such a device is at home, you can understand whether it is worth repairing the steamer yourself or whether it is better to take it to a specialist.
Despite the fact that a handheld steamer primarily performs the functions of an iron, its design is more similar to a coffee maker. The design is quite simple, although there may be slight differences between models.
Is it possible to repair a clothes steamer yourself? Some problems can be easily dealt with at home, but you need to know how the device works.
Any steamer consists of:
Important! The main part is the boiler, where the heating element, thermostat, and safety valve are installed. Through special tubes, water comes from the tank and turns into steam. Then it goes to the sprayer, and the piston and pump provide the necessary pressure. All this works using electricity, that is, the device cannot exist without wires, resistances and fuses. Each of these parts can break down, resulting in the need for repair of the clothing steamer.
Problems that owners of steamers most often encounter and which can most often be eliminated without the involvement of a specialist:
Let's look at each problem and reasons separately, and find out whether it is possible to repair the clothes steamer in one case or another.
The reason that steam does not come out is most often scale. As a result, the heater begins to transmit heat poorly and the steam channels become clogged. There is no need to overhaul the steamer here. In this case, the most effective method is cleaning, and this is quite accessible to any housewife.
There are two ways to clean it:
The steamer needs to be disassembled - this can be done quite easily using a very ordinary screwdriver:
In this case, there is no need to disassemble anything or even disconnect it from the network:
Important! If the heating element, conductive tubes and atomizer are clean, but steam still does not flow, you cannot do without a specialist. It is better to contact a company that services devices of the exact brand you have to find out how long it will take and how much it will cost to repair the steamer.
The reason that the steam does not flow and the clothes steamer needs to be repaired may be a faulty pump. It is best, of course, to contact a service center, but situations may arise that you will have to do this yourself. It is not difficult to open the device, but you will have to turn it on disassembled, and this is dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the precautions common to working with all electrical appliances.
The pump is connected in parallel to the heating element, so to repair the steamer, we proceed as follows:
The reason most often lies in a pump malfunction. If it is in order, most likely the supply valve is clogged (it is located at the entrance to the boiler). Its design resembles a bicycle nipple, so repairing the steamer will be very simple:
Important! Descalers for kettles are not suitable for cleaning the nipple.
Quite often, when used too intensively, fistulas appear on the steam hose. They can be very small, but small enough for the steam to escape through them rather than through the atomizer. Needless to say, if the situation is not dealt with in time, the holes will increase.
It is better to simply replace the hose rather than repair the steamer. You can do this yourself or at the service center of the company that manufactured the device. Since you still have to go there for the part, it’s better to deliver it at the same time.
Important! What you definitely shouldn't do is try to tape or tape the holes. Neither electrical tape nor tape can withstand exposure to hot steam, so the element will still have to be replaced. Repairing the steamer like this would be simply pointless.
If the water does not heat up at all, there may be several reasons, but all of them must be looked for in the boiler. The following may fail:
Important! To understand whether the heater is not working due to scale or has burned out altogether, the device must be disassembled in the same way as you did to clean the heating element.
The heater must be ringed with a tester. There is no point in repairing it at home - the procedure is complicated, and most likely there will be no result. In this case you need to replace:
The required spiral can be ordered at the service center and replaced there.
The fuse is attached to the boiler body using a special bracket. This element fails most often, but replacing it will not be difficult. To repair a clothes steamer, you will need a tester:
The thermostat is a relay. It is most often a bimetallic plate. Its function is to stop the flow of current when the temperature reaches a certain value. A failed thermostat simply needs to be replaced.
Some parts of the steamer may age, this is typical for almost all devices. However, scale is the cause of many problems, and it is very important to try to avoid it. How? One way is proper water preparation.
Important! In general, for such devices it is best to use distilled water, which can be purchased at automobile stores and pharmacies. True, this pleasure is expensive.
The distillate can also be prepared at home. For this you will need:
The process won't take too long.
Important! To filter water, it is best to use a vessel with a carbon cartridge.
On sale you can find bottled water labeled “for irons.” It seems that a solution has been found; the manufacturers have taken care in advance to ensure that your steamer lives happily ever after. However, everything is not quite like that:
Important! As for bottled drinking water, it should absolutely not be poured into steam devices. It is quite often supplemented with mineral additives, which are beneficial for humans, but detrimental to the steam generator.
Like any device, the steamer needs attention and care. It must be serviced in a timely manner so that repairs to the steamer are required as rarely as possible. Service happens:
Regular maintenance, which helps to repair the steamer 2-3 times less often, is carried out by the owner. The procedure is simple but necessary:
Important! It is better to wash off a small coating than to remove a thick layer of scale later. It is necessary to wipe the elements with a soft cloth that absorbs moisture well.
To do this, you will have to take the device to a workshop, where specialists will disassemble the steamer, replace parts that are about to fail, and clean all the rest.
This type of maintenance is useful because the heating elements and fittings are washed in a special solution, which is not always available at home. Industrial steamers require servicing because they are used intensively. As for household steamers, it all depends on the specific conditions. If you only have a few items that you iron with a steamer, service can be carried out every few years.
It may turn out that you will not be able to independently determine the cause of the problem. In addition, during work, defects periodically arise that are simply impossible for an inexperienced person to cope with.
What to do? The answer is clear - contact a service center, preferably from the company from which you purchased the device.
The advantages of this repair option are obvious:
In addition, reputable companies provide a guarantee for repairs. It is also important that repairs in a company salon can be cheaper than in a random workshop.
The structure of most devices that work with steam is similar. The portal VashTekhnik posted a description of the functioning of the iron - the similarity of our current objects of discussion with espresso coffee makers is striking. The devices are clearly relatives; repairing a clothes steamer with your own hands is easy for those who carefully read the reviews. Today it was decided to collect grains of useful information in the specified context, avoiding unnecessary digressions. A steamer... needs to be ironed while hanging, they are used to clean furniture - even if the packaging box, in the words of the marketing department managers, gives preference to linen - there is a boiler inside. The loud name is wrong - it has been emphasized many times: the device of a trivial water heater. In relation to ironing, we call it a boiler - a device for generating steam.
The master encounters the greatest difficulties when trying to disassemble the case. Manufacturers of household appliances protect their products from self-taught craftsmen. It is expected that when the internals are dismantled, the case will receive irreparable damage, which can be easily detected by technical services.
The similarity with a coffee maker is revealed by a characteristic detail - the presence of a pump. It is customary to brew coffee at a pressure of 15 atm - clothes are content with three. A typical indicator of mobile models that resemble vacuum cleaners in appearance. Regarding manual technology, the parameter is much lower. The volume of water is more modest. Inside a typical Shark Mop steam mop are:
Firstly, the housing contains a thermal fuse, traditional for most heating devices. Just find the element inside, pulled by a bracket to the metal body of the boiler. The water does not heat up - feel free to connect the wire on both sides (by removing the plug from the socket). The tester refuses to beep - the thermal fuse has burned out. Despite this protection of the integrity of the system, a thermostat is installed inside. If, in the absence of water, the thermal fuse burns every time, customers will quickly get tired of making a choice in favor of the product. The thermostat exploits the unique qualities of the bimetallic plate, forming a relay that cuts off the current supply when the temperature reaches a certain safe value.
What is the temperature inside? More than 100 degrees Celsius. Coffee makers use 135 degrees Celsius to froth milk (producing steam). We believe that the same thing happens in our case. Limescale has become a recognized problem with steamers. The heating element is cleaned periodically. With a slight difference versus a coffee maker. With drinks, the boiler design is made up of two halves, identical and equivalent, through a silicone gasket with twisted bolts. The heating tank of the steamer contains a base, heating elements forming a single whole, and a steel cap is placed on top. The assembly is secured with cross screws. There is a silicone gasket and body stiffening ribs. Read the section on steam irons, you will find a photo of the tank receiving steam. Surprisingly similar to a steamer.
The principle of operation of a clothing steamer is limited to producing steam under pressure. The boiler is regulated by a bypass or check valve. Those who remember Soviet bicycles will be surprised: the design of the device exactly repeats the nipple of the Salyut wheel. The rubber tube has been replaced with silicone. The polymer successfully withstands high temperatures. A threaded fitting cut by an axial channel that opens into a hole in the side of a steel probe surrounded by a silicone tube. The pump pumps tirelessly, water flows in when the pressure in the tank is below the limit. Makes it relatively easy to maintain specified conditions.
The boiler outlet pipe is devoid of any special differences. The tube is equipped with a spring that locks the movement against the flow of liquid drawn by the force of gravity. Most clothes steamers have a grounded tank. Without this, even a manual model can give you a serious electric shock, there are 230 volts inside (battery steamers are safe). The tubes and wires directly adjacent to the boiler of the clothes steamer are covered with thermal protection that protects against high temperatures. Now let's see how to make repairs!
The clothing steamer device leaves little room for imagination.
The boiler and pump may break. Less often, the breakdown concerns the switch.
Steam refuses to flow, we open the case:
In some steamers, the boiler is protected by a dielectric jacket, which reduces heat loss. Feel free to carefully remove the polymer to access the tank body. The main types of breakdowns are listed, it is possible that the hoses will leak or the pump will wear out. Seal with waterproof, heat-resistant glue, extend the piston (irons, for example, have silicone gaskets that craftsmen make themselves from sealant). Disassemble the pump and look at the location. There are quite a few designs, so it is impossible to give uniform instructions on how to repair a clothes steamer with your own hands for all occasions. With that, we just have to say goodbye, until future reviews. The portal is the first on the RuNet to publish detailed descriptions of household appliances, read and tell others about clothing steamers. Professional technology in our home!
we will talk about a larger unit, that is, just a tobi steamer...
first about the CONS:
You can iron things in the “lying down” position, but it doesn’t last very long, and it drips “from the end.” clothes must either be kept suspended, or, as in my version, hung on the handle of the mezzanine, since the steam rises.
Pour in clean water (distilled or settled boiled water)...
Let's stop at the last point...
like a real Soviet man, I didn’t give a damn about truly clean water and poured it from the tap (I don’t live in Moscow and we have delicious tap water, even without using filters, that is, it seems like there are a minimum of harmful impurities) and discovered that through For some time the steam stopped coming out from where it should come out. although the heating is the same.
I gave up on this matter (well, teleshopping is beautiful, but not for long)). but it so happened that the other day the iron, which was an alternative to this high-tech, also got covered. Well, I decided to figure out how, what and why. It turned out that everything was simple: some nodes were clogged with sediment and water did not flow into the water heating element to form steam...
SOLUTION: remove the straps (for ease of disassembly), unscrew the hose, disconnect the unit from the platform, turn it upside down. there we see holes with mounting bolts. all bolts must be unscrewed. for this you need a Phillips screwdriver, but its diameter should not be too large, since the holes in the element fastening to the platform are narrower than the others (however, I didn’t know this and forcibly “spinned” the one that came to hand :)) the bottom cover is removed easily. there we see the following (if the threaded hole for the hose is to our left):
from left to right: a heating element, a rubber tube, a valve with a splitter, another rubber tube and a black rotating X-strap that I have never used and a lot of wires that we won’t have to touch.
the rubber tubes (and we need to remove them) are held on by metal clamps. To remove the clamps, you need to squeeze their protruding parts with two fingers, after which they will change their diameter to a larger size and can be easily removed. you need to move them onto the tube. We do this with all four clamps on two tubes. then, using careful rotational movements, remove the tubes from the plastic elements. you will see that these tubes inside, like cholesterol plaques in blood vessels, are clogged with sediment. we wash them. I did this: under the pressure of water in the tap, I pressed them until they were almost factory clean...ok, they cleaned them. Now you need to unscrew the pipe on the heating element. there are two light bolts and one black. My bottom bolt broke when unscrewing it right up to the head, so I advise you to work slowly and carefully with the screwdriver...there is a rubber gasket under the pipe. We remove it and see that the sediment contained not only rubber tubes. in my case the hole was completely clogged. take an awl, thin knife, etc. and clean out all the crap. rinse under a small stream of water (so that excess does not flow into the inside of the case), turn it over, shake it out. We clean the junction of the pipe and the gasket from sediment (I did this with a knife, since it is metal) and wash the gasket itself.
ALL! We reassemble in the reverse order, without leaving unnecessary bolts.
I'm all fuzzy,
P.S. if it's "too much book," write! I'll take a video and post the link...
P.S..S. PROS: at first it was very interesting to try some new invention and I steamed my things myself. I liked the result, considering that my favorite pants must be ironed extremely carefully with a regular iron. but I have someone to do this, so I can’t give a full assessment. but, it seems, the device is ok))
P.S.S. thanks for the read!
I have never considered steamers for purchase and have never dealt with them. Because most things dry evenly, the rest can be ironed.
This year the question arose of how to put my first-graders' school suits in order... and when they were buying in the store, the seller cursed the word - STEAMER!
After surfing online stores and reviews, I decided to buy this particular model: "Philips GC442 Handheld Clothes Steamer"
What did the manufacturer promise?
Allows you to refresh clothes without washing or dry cleaning
- Powerful steam removes odors and eliminates 99.9% of bacteria
Easy and safe to use
- Automatic continuous steam supply via electric pump
- Quickly descale the steamer
- Suitable for all delicate fabrics such as silk
- Safe position during steaming
- Large water tank: convenient steaming without refilling
- Brush for ironing thicker fabrics
Effective crease removal and reliable performance for many years
- "2 in 1": vertical and horizontal steaming for best results
- PureSteam technology: powerful steam for years to come
There is a descaling function, this will help a lot! You just need to open one compartment and just pour out the limescale! For me personally, this is not relevant, I fill it with water from osmosis - there is never any scale!
The kit includes a special nozzle for thicker fabrics so that the steam penetrates deeper!
There is also a Mat, this is a surface like an ironing board. A soft, dense fabric that can be placed under an item and steamed by pressing it to the surface, a wall, a door, etc. Or simply to protect any surface during steaming. It turned out to be very convenient. If you steam one place for a long time, the surface will of course heat up, but usually this is a rare occurrence.
This particular model is considered the most powerful of this segment - 30 g per minute steam supply.
I bought it on the official website with a personal discount from Philips, for which I thank them! I wanted to buy in another store, but pickup there was very inconvenient, and there was no delivery of this particular product. The price turned out to be the same as for the promotion elsewhere, instead of 9900tr, 6990! For me this is not a cheap purchase, but I decided to add 3000tr and buy this particular model, and not an easier one.
After purchasing the device, I did not check it and got to it a week and a half later. Everything worked except... steam! I didn't want to go out. All the dances with tambourines did not help ((I contacted the support service, it turned out that some people have a problem with the first start. After turning on and when the indicator stops flashing, you need to press the steam button and hold for 5 minutes! Then turn off the power and wait another 5 minutes. Then turn it on and the steam will come out! But this didn’t help us either... so very quickly and without questions they exchanged us for a proven and working device! For which they are a big plus - I really love companies that know how to recognize problems and solve them, and not try to convince the client that the company has nothing to do with it.
Most devices that work with steam are similar in structure. It is for this reason that steamer repair will not be difficult for anyone who is at least a little familiar with this technique. What is a steamer for? It is designed for hanging ironing; it is used not only for clothes, but also for furniture; for this purpose, there is a boiler inside it. The most common problem that users encounter is the formation of scale, which makes further work impossible. How to deal with it?
Before you start descaling, you need to understand what type of steam generator you have.
At the moment there are 2 types of these devices:
Devices that operate under pressure are equipped with the function of supplying a strong stream of steam and the ability to effectively steam things. The main feature of this technique is that cleaning it yourself at home can render the steamer unusable. For example, repairing a Karcher or Philips brand will not be so easy. First, you must establish the reason why the equipment “spits” or does not produce steam, and try to eliminate the reasons why it does not work. If the device continues to display errors in operation, you need to contact a service center. You can learn more about the reasons for the breakdown, why cleaning is so necessary, how to clean the steamer and what to do if you can’t remove plaque from the video.
If water starts pouring out during ironing, then it is better to think about contacting a special repair center.
Therefore, if you decide to clean your steamer at home, be aware that only a gravity-fed model can undergo this process.
Antiscale is a popular product that is most often used to clean dishwashers, kettles, irons and washing machines from scale. It can be purchased in special stores not only in the form of tablets, but also in the form of a gel or powder.
In order to prepare the necessary cleaning solution, you must strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions located on the packaging.
The cleaning process consists of filling the reservoir with liquid and using the steam generator in operating mode.
Instead of Antiscale, you can use citric acid or mineral water.
Once removed, scale that has become stuck can leave scratches and cracks on the walls of the tank, and after the first cleaning the sediment will accumulate even faster.
Since a steamer is considered an expensive piece of equipment, it is better to use special water for working with it to prevent the formation of sediment.
If you select the wrong water for a steam generator or steamer, the intensity of scale formation will be very high, and this will lead to the holes in the sole becoming clogged and efficiency will be reduced.
Let's consider several options for water that should not be used:
As you can see, the list is quite large. Make sure you do not use such liquid.
You need to clean the layers that have deposited on the device at least once a month. Otherwise, the performance of the steamer will decrease several times and the risk of breakdown will increase. If you notice white or brown stains appearing on your clothing, this indicates a need for cleaning or repair.
Cleaning a steamer at home is not always able to cope with a large layer of scale. Even folk remedies cannot help you. For this reason, carry out all procedures in a timely manner.
For example, the soleplate of an iron can be cleaned with candle wax. Housewives claim that this method is not just proven, but the most reliable. If you need to clean the tank, vinegar will help you. Well, it is advisable to remove scale inside only with the help of professional means that will not harm the equipment.
Also, do not forget that cleaning the steamer should only be done with the windows open and using a mask, especially if you use chemicals.
From this article, you were able to find out which steamers can be repaired and which ones need to be taken to a service center. If you are not sure that you are carrying out the cleaning procedures correctly, we advise you to read the instructions that come with the equipment. In basic cases, cleaning agents and the correct sequence of implementation are indicated there. If there is none, then you can always ask specialists for advice.
