Why Do Irons Leak Water?(Solved)

Why Do Irons Leak Water?

There are several reasons why an iron may leak water as you iron your clothes. Mostly, insufficient heat will be the main culprit when irons leak water.

Ideally, the heating chamber needs to have the water at 212 °F to get any steam from the iron. However, you may need to use the steam before the water gets heated enough.

When this happens, the iron will leak water. Therefore, we can safely say that premature use of steam will cause water to leak when you are using your iron.

Modern irons boast of anti-drip and spill-proof technology. This is not a guarantee against the incorrect use of irons.

Regardless of the advertisements about anti-drip and spill-proof technology used in your iron, you will always have leaks as long as you incorrectly use your iron.

But what causes insufficient heat in an iron? Read on to get informed.

Will A Faulty Thermostat Cause Leaks In An Iron?

A faulty thermostat can occasion big problems with your iron. On the other hand, the thermostat may be wrongly set.

When the thermostat has a low set temperature, the iron will not get sufficient heat to heat the water in the chamber.

An attempt to use the steam will only occasion spits of water from the soleplate.

As long as the temperature is too low due to an incorrect thermostat setting, it is not possible to have the water converted into steam.

The issues can be fixed by simply increasing the temperature on the thermostat. Modern devices have an anti-droplet function.

This is what you need to set the iron at ,if you still want to use the iron at low temperatures.

However, do not expect to get steam when the steam function is switched off.

This is necessary when ironing the more delicate clothes since you set the thermostat at suitable temperatures that will not spoil your fabric.

Again, the thermostat may be defective.

The only solution to this will be a replacement. Take the iron to a qualified technician who will replace the thermostat and get your device functioning well again.

Does Using The Wrong Type Of Water Make An Iron Leak Water?

Close attention needs to be paid when it comes to the type of water your iron can use.

You will need to look at your user manual for the iron to know the recommended water that the iron can take in.

Avoid using your past experiences to feed your iron with water. Many people assume that it is a universal requirement to feed your iron with distilled water.

Unfortunately, many brands of irons do not take in distilled water. Any attempt to use distilled water can result in the iron spilling water instead of steam.

Some brands are just fine with tap water. If your iron recommends the use of tap water, that is what you should use.

However, if you live in an area with extremely hard water, you need to mix distilled water with hard tap water.

This is a sure way to reduce the hardness of the hard tap water.

Some steam iron manufacturers recommend the proper water to be used in the appliances they manufacture.

Some of them state that distilled water usage is a risk factor for iron leaks.  

As it is known by many, distilled water will not turn into steam at normal temperatures than ordinary water turns into steam.

Distilled water needs higher temperatures to turn into steam.

This is the reason behind such manufacturers’’ recommendation against distilled water usage in steam irons.

However, there is not much to worry about since most of the irons manufactured today use water taps.

The recommendation for areas with hard water is that distilled water should be mixed with tap water at a ratio of 1:1 (50/50).

Since these are not specific instructions for any particular iron, it is best to refer to your user manual for specific instructions on your iron.

There is a diversity of technologies that different companies use in their appliances. As a consequence, all irons will not steam using the same type of water.

There is a difference between the steaming of distilled water and normal tap water in irons. Normal water steams better in most appliances.

When using the incorrect type of water in your iron, you are preparing the iron to destroy the internal parts. This will cause leaks in your iron.

Must I Empty Water From The Tank After Using My Iron?

You will need to read your user’s manual to know the specific requirements for your iron.

However, many manufacturers will recommend that you always empty your tank after you are done ironing.

Indeed, they want you to drain empty that tank precisely after each use. This is a great way to prevent leaks, not only during storage but also as you use the iron.

If you leave water in the tank with the steam function switched on, there will be leaks of water through the soleplate as soon as the iron cools down.

Irons left in horizontal positions while being stored with their thermostats will leak the water left in the tank as they cool.

To conclude this matter, it needful to read your manual well before you can switch on that new iron.

Understandably, there are times you may not be guaranteed much by merely following the manual.

However, this is a great way to ensure that your warranty is valid.

When an iron turns out to be faulty, and the manual instructions were followed to the letter, you are sure of a replacement.

Better still, look at the return policy that the store has. This is because the leaking of water is a common occurrence for irons.

Do not buy iron from the store before you look at their return policy. If your appliance turns faulty, it is well with you if you have a hassle-free return.

Should I Fill My Iron With Water?

When using your iron, you don’t want to overfill it. You need to look at the line that is marked as the maximum level for the water.

Do not exceed this level since many water reservoirs in many irons that are not tightly sealed, overfilling them with water will always cause spillage through the filling hole.

If your iron came with a measuring cup for the water, this is not a guarantee that your iron will not be overfilled by using the cup.

Consider a situation where you have some water left in the tank from your previous ironing session.

If you try to fill the water using the cup as the standard, you will be misguided as there will be an overflow. Therefore, largely depend on the maximum line.

This should be your filling gauge. Again, ensure that you have a firmly closed cap as the lid of your iron.

Is It A Must To Wait For Your Iron To Heat-Up Fully Before You Start Ironing?

It is advisable to consider using the iron as the indicator light on the iron turns off. It is not recommended for anyone to start ironing before this light turns off.

As soon as the iron heats up adequately, water gets into the vaporization chamber, and it is then turned into steam.

You will realize that steam will be released via the soleplate holes.

This is a great way to relax any creased fabric and set your garments in their perfect, crisp shape.

If you are not patient enough, or you are in a hurry to use your iron before the desired temperature is achieved, there may be some dripping of water that is yet to be heated up into steam.

As you wait for the water to heat up and turn into steam, you should have the steam setting set to “off” so that the steam pressure may build in the chamber.

When you wait for a few extra seconds, you will enjoy super-efficient steam that not only kills bacteria while beating wrinkles from your fabric but also removes odors.

Is It Possible To Use The Steam Burst Feature Intermittently?

When you use the steam burst feature in your iron, it needs to be used at intervals.

This is not a feature that is meant for continuous use. Indeed, this is a function whose design is for high-pressure steam treatment of stubborn wrinkles.

This feature can be used very often. There is no limit as it pertains to the frequency of usage.

All that is required is to ensure an allowance of adequate intervals to allow a recharge.

A few second’s recharge allows sufficient pressure to build up. If this is not ensured, there will be dripping of water instead of steam.

This is because the water didn’t get enough time to heat up and be converted into steam.

When you want to use the iron-on hanging garments, you should ensure that the steam setting is adjusted.

Again, it is essential to ensure that the fabric and the soleplate do not directly contact.

There is enough regular steam that the iron generates between bursts. This will be sufficient to soften creases. It will also freshen up the material.

Can I Turn Steam Off at Low Temperatures?

As long as you are using the steam function at the appropriate temperatures, there will be no reason to worry about turning off the steam function.

However, when you want to use the iron at low temperatures, you should ensure that the stem function is turned off.

Indeed, some designs have a soleplate whose heat cannot suffice to provide a full conversion of water into steam.

The water will most definitely drip through the soleplate’s steam holes.

On the other hand, other iron models cannot release heat until the iron heats to a specific temperature.

Before the appropriate temperature is achieved, there will be no steam at all.

These irons have a feature that automatically shuts off the steam at lower temperatures. These designs are meant to eliminate any possibility of spitting.

Therefore, they seek to avoid water leaks when the iron is not hot enough.

If you are ironing silk, watermarks can be created by water droplets that spill on the fabric. Therefore, it is expedient to ensure that the steam button is turned off.

You should ensure that the iron’s heat setting is low.  You can also be using a piece of cloth as a protective measure.

This will be a barrier that catches water that is still in the system.

How Often Should The Iron Be Cleaned?

An iron can be clogged. Clogging can be occasioned by the presence of minerals that come with the water that is being used in the iron.

For instance, if you are using hard water in the iron, there are so many minerals deposited in the water tank.

With continual use, there will be enough mineral build-up that will occasion water leaks.

In many instances, the leaking will be accompanied by spitting.

In addition, some mineral deposits will be released and leave the organic matter on your garments. The organic matter may look like powdery white marks.

When it comes to cleaning your iron, you will need to do it in strict accordance with your steam iron manufacturer’s instructions.

You will notice that some modern steam irons have systems for maintaining the inner parts of your iron. The frequency of cleaning will be dictated by your frequency of use.

If you do not use the iron many times, you will not need to clean it often. Therefore, your frequency of use will dictate your frequency of cleaning.

Modern steam irons are even better. Indeed, you may not need to worry about cleaning it since they have an indicator that shows up when you need to clean it.

When the #indicator is on, attention is required on your iron; you needed to clean it.

But if your iron does not have this indicator, you may clean your iron once a month as a regular home user.

Conclusion

Irons leak water due to various reasons. All the various reasons are tied to temperature. What you need to know is the real culprit that is affecting the temperature in the iron.

Once you know the cause of low temperature in the iron, address it instantly, and you will not struggle with water leaks again.