Reasons Why Your Rowenta Steam Iron is Leaking?
Rowenta steam irons may leak for various reasons despite the anti-drip feature in most models. Many common causes are inadvertent errors when using Rowenta steam irons, and a few may be due to manufacturing defects or failing parts. So, why does your Rowenta steam iron leak?
Rowenta steam irons leak due to overfilling, low heat or temperature setting, a worn-out sealant, broken internal parts, and a clogged heating element or soleplate. Also, a Rowenta steam iron may drip or spit water if you use the burst mode too often.
The specific reason for your Rowenta steam iron leaking, dripping, or spitting water depends on the model, too. While all Rowenta steam irons undergo repeated leak tests, you may still have a recurring problem. This article discusses all the issues and offers specific remedies for each.
Why Does My Iron Leak Water From the Bottom?
Your steam iron may leak water from the bottom due to overwatering. Other causes include a defective or damaged solenoid valve, control thermostat, tank, and heating chamber. Limescale buildup on the heating element and soleplate can also cause leaks and drips.
An Overfilled Water Tank
All steam irons have a maximum fill limit depending on the tank capacity. Rowenta irons have a tank capacity starting from 2.4 oz to 12.7 oz (71 ml to 375 ml), and this range excludes its steam stations. Any steam iron with an overfilled tank is highly likely to leak water from the bottom.
A Defective Solenoid Valve
A solenoid valve is meant to regulate the water flow from the tank to the heating chamber. If this valve fails or malfunctions, the tank water will flow into the heating chamber without any failsafe. This causes the iron to leak water from the bottom. The only solution is replacing the solenoid valve.
A Malfunctioning Control Thermostat
A control thermostat is an internal component regulating the heat inside your Rowenta steam iron. Irrespective of the temperature you choose or set on the external control panel or knob, a failing or faulty control thermostat inside will fail to heat the water into steam, thus causing leaks.
Broken Internal Components
You may have a worn-out or damaged sealant around the Rowenta steam iron heating chamber and soleplate. This sealant may be siliconized or another variant. Also, you may have internal cracks in the water tank or some damage in the heating chamber, hence the water leakage.
Limescale Buildup and Clogging
More common than failing or malfunctioning internal components is limescale buildup on the heating element and soleplate of your steam iron. Almost all Rowenta steam irons available today have an anti-calc feature, which apparently mitigates the limescale issue. Also, Rowenta steam irons are designed to run with regular tap water, so distilled water is unnecessary.
However, some areas have excessively hard water, and limescale buildup is not completely preventable. The more minerals or salts in your water, the greater chance of a Rowenta steam iron leaking water from the bottom due to a clogged heating element or soleplate.
Insufficient Heat for Steam
A steam iron generates sufficient steam only when the temperature is suitable. If you choose a low or medium heat setting and set the steam to maximum, your Rowenta iron may leak water from the bottom. Always set the temperature to medium or maximum heat for optimum steam.
How Do You Stop a Rowenta Steam Iron From Dripping?
You can stop a Rowenta steam iron from dripping with proper use and regular cleaning and maintenance. Certain parts may also need replacement to stop water from dripping, such as sealants, solenoid valves, or thermostats.
Follow these tips to stop a Rowenta steam iron from dripping:
- Don’t fill the water tank beyond its max limit.
- Choose medium to high heat for steam mode.
- Clean and descale the steam iron regularly.
- Replace a worn-out or damaged sealant.
- Replace a failing or broken solenoid valve.
- Replace a malfunctioning control thermostat.
- Use steam burst sparingly at max temperature.
You cannot do much about a cracked, broken, or damaged water tank, heating chamber, or soleplate. So, you may need a new Rowenta steam iron. Replacing any other internal part may also be a costly proposition. However, weigh your options relevant to the detected problem.
The other remedies listed here are easily doable. Check if you have leftover water in the tank when refilling to avoid exceeding the maximum limit. Keep an eye on the marker. Besides, Rowenta has an official recommendation to keep a gap between the water level and the tank lid.
Insufficient heat is a common issue, especially when you switch from silk or polyester to cotton and linen. Always turn up the heat when you iron cotton and linen to generate sufficient steam. Unlike Rowenta Steamforce, most steam irons have separate temperature and steam settings.
Rowenta Steamforce DW9280 on Amazon combines the heat and steam regulator. Thus, you cannot use the steam mode unless the iron is sufficiently hot, as the same knob controls the two settings. Also, the Steamforce has a self-clean feature that simplifies draining the water and descaling.
Other Rowenta steam irons need regular descaling if you have hard water. Otherwise, calcium or limescale deposits on the heating element will affect the temperatures. Also, the soleplate will get clogged with limescale, and the steam iron may leak, drip, or spit water whenever you use it.
You may use regular tap water mixed with some distilled water, whether in equal proportions or not. Still, it’s better to be proactive with descaling, even if you have the self-clean option in your Rowenta steam iron. Choose the most relevant remedy based on your inspection and inference.
Why Does My Rowenta Iron Spit Water?
A Rowenta iron may spit water if you’re using insufficient heat or an inappropriate steam setting per the temperatures. Other reasons include frequent use of the burst mode, a worn-out sealant, a failing heating element, and limescale buildup clogging the soleplate.
The minimum temperature for any Rowenta iron to start producing steam is 212 °F (100 °C). However, this is for the variable steam setting. The steam burst mode demands more heat, especially if you use it frequently before allowing the iron to regenerate the required steam.
As a result, a Rowenta steam iron will spit water instead of a steam burst. Always wait until the indicator light turns off before using a Rowenta steam iron, as it’s the definitive signal that the device is sufficiently hot. Pause ironing when the indicator light turns on back again during use.
Ideally, empty the water tank after every use. Always wait for a while to allow a Rowenta steam iron to be sufficiently hot before you use the steam mode or the burst feature. Also, you must start with softer fabrics like silk and then move to cotton and linen to avoid inadvertent drips.
Conclusion
The best practices shared in this article should prevent your Rowenta steam iron from leaking, dripping, and spitting water. However, malfunctioning or broken internal components warrant immediate replacement. Don’t continue using a failing Rowenta steam iron or any other brand.
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