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3 common steam iron faults – and what to do about them
In our recent survey of more than 5,800 steam iron owners*, a surprising 54% confessed to never performing any maintenance on their appliance.
While the average steam iron might last you several years, you may find it less effective if you don’t look after it. A build-up of limescale can cause the steam level to drop, while burnt bits or sticky residue on your soleplate can make ironing harder.
We also discovered that 61% of survey respondents who reported accidental damage said they had dropped their iron and it became completely useless.
Read on to find out the three most common steam iron faults and what to do about them, plus some of the scrapes our respondents have gotten into while ironing.
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The 3 most common steam iron faults
Our survey also revealed the three most common steam iron faults:
- Leaking/spitting water – 35% of all faults
- Element stopped working – 26% of all faults
- Inconsistent performance – 21% of all faults
So, what can you do if you encounter these problems? Can they be fixed or even prevented? Read on to find out.
Make sure your next iron stands the test of time – choose one of the most reliable steam iron brands from our member survey
What to do if your iron stops working
Leaking/spitting water
If your iron is leaking, there could be a hole in the water tank. This might be caused by filling the tank with a corrosive formula, such as vinegar (for cleaning) or scented disinfectant (to make your clothes smell nice), which eats away at the iron's internal parts.
To avoid this, never fill the tank with anything other than water, unless the instruction manual states otherwise.
Can it be repaired?
Beko says that limescale or gunk forming on the soleplate can cause an iron to leak. It advises setting the iron to the lowest temperature and allowing it to warm up, before unplugging it and scrubbing the soleplate with a damp rag dipped in water or vinegar.
Philips and Russell Hobbs both advise that the issue could be caused by using fragranced water in the iron, using the steam boost function too frequently or setting the temperature on the iron too low.
It's best to always follow the manufacturer's instructions about how to troubleshoot this issue.
Element stopped working
Over time, a steam iron may lose its electrical properties and may no longer heat up. As the heating element is responsible for heating the water and converting it into steam, this is a pretty catastrophic fault for a steam iron.
Can it be repaired?
In such cases, we advise seeking professional help unless you're a qualified electrician, as tinkering with the iron's inner workings could be dangerous.
For more serious faults like this, you may need to decide whether it's worth attempting a repair. If your iron is pretty basic, you may be better off buying a new one. If it's a more expensive model, use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reliable local appliance repairman.
Inconsistent performance
This could be caused by a range of problems, but the most likely cause is limescale build-up. If limescale builds up, it can clog the iron's steam ducts, which stops it producing as much steam – so you might find yourself putting more effort into tackling creases but getting worse results.
Can it be repaired?
Most irons come with a built-in cleaning descaling system. The type of cleaning system varies between models:
- Some irons use pressurised steam to blast limescale out through the vents.
- Some connect to your tap to flush out the system.
- Others collect limescale in a ‘chamber’ or ‘collector’ that can be easily removed and emptied.
How often you'll need to descale your iron also differs. Some irons have a warning light that flashes when you need to descale it, while others rely on you remembering to do this. Be sure to read the instruction manual to check what the manufacturer recommends.
If you're after an iron that doesn't clog up quickly with limescale and is easy to clean when it does, consider our Eco Buy steam irons. To be an Eco Buy, they need to meet a minimum score threshold and achieve four stars and above for cleaning efficiency, four stars and above for ease of cleaning, five stars for resistance to limescale and be made by a brand with a good reliability rating in our survey.
For further information, read our advice on how to descale an iron
Why do so many people drop their iron?
Dropping your iron – which 61% of survey respondents who reported accidental damage confessed to doing – can render it completely useless. We asked iron owners to tell us about the accidents they had, so you can take steps to avoid a similar fate for your appliance.
I got the power cable trapped in the ironing board and knocked it off balance. The water container smashed upon impact with the ground.
Accidents happen, but a good ironing board could provide a more stable platform. We've rounded up the best ironing boards so you can iron with ease.
I had a bit of a kerfuffle with the dog, and it fell to the floor.
The surface you place your ironing board on can also make a difference – plush carpets and rugs provide less of a stable base than wooden, laminate or tiled flooring.
I was not paying attention, caught the cable and it landed on the stone floor.
Make sure you buy an iron with a decent cable length, and don’t position the ironing board too far away from the socket. If the cord isn’t as long as you think it is, stretching too far with the iron could cause it to tumble from your hand, or even damage the cord. Of course, if you have an iron with a longer cord, you'll need to stay aware of its position so it doesn’t pose a tripping hazard.
If the worst happens and your iron is flawed after hitting the floor, then our guide on how to recycle electrical items can help you dispose of it properly.
Why don't people maintain their irons?
Our survey revealed that more than half of steam iron owners don't perform any regular maintenance on their irons. Reasons for this include the self-clean mechanism or the scale collector breaking or not working, the soleplate being a pain to clean and descaling being a nuisance.
One respondent said:
It's quite exasperating to be told to descale when you have the water tank in place and switched on to heat up.
Respondents frequently cited easy cleaning and maintenance as reasons why they were happy with their current irons.
When we test steam irons, we consider ease of use, including how easy they are to clean and maintain, so always choose one of our Best Buy steam irons or Best Buy steam generator irons.
For further advice on maintenance, read our guide on how to clean an iron
*We conducted a survey of 5,884 steam iron owners – Which? members and members of the public – in April 2024
