In detail: do-it-yourself tefal steam generator repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
Household appliances fail when you expect less. To effectively repair steam generators, you need to identify the cause of the malfunction.
Manufacturers from different companies produce devices with similar design features. For example, steam generators from Tefal, Philips or Bosch include three key elements: an electronic control unit, the iron itself and a stand - it is also called a station.
The equipment is complemented by various attachments. The boiler is responsible for heating the water. Steam is generated inside it and enters the iron through a hose. The holes in the base allow steam to pass through, which smooths out creases in the fabric.
The smoothing quality does not depend on the size or material of the garment. Simultaneous work with delicate materials, bed linen or jeans is allowed. Structurally, steam generating stations, for example, from Tefal differ from steaming irons in the following points:
larger size;
separate steam generating tank;
dry steam 160 °;
ironing clothes not with the flat iron, but with steam.
Over time, the steam generator may not supply steam and this is not the only problem. Inspection will help to get information about them. You can diagnose the problem by the following signs:
does not regulate pressure;
steam at the wrong temperature;
difficulties with heating water;
the water level indicator does not turn off;
voltage is not supplied to the device;
water flow and so on.
You need to immediately react to the listed manifestations, they immediately catch the eye. Such information will help you repair the steam generator yourself. To check the device, use special equipment. Simple breakdowns can be done with a multimeter or a soldering iron.
Video (click to play).
If the malfunctions are simple, they can be eliminated without contacting the service center. Experience and skills in repairing electrical appliances are required. A list of problems encountered and repair methods will help you.
No steam supply:
Inspect the water heating system, solenoid valve and fuse.
Remove dirt from the steam wand.
Descale the water container.
Install a new thermostat or steam hose to the iron.
Take a closer look at the steam button to see if it needs to be replaced.
Malfunctioning pressure switch - malfunctioning toggle switch or microswitch. It is diagnosed with a multimeter and solved by replacing the part.
Does not respond to pressing a button on the control panel - damaged wiring. Make sure it is intact. If everything is ok, replace the button.
Blinking indicator at low water level - malfunction of the liquid volume sensor. Replace part and bring water level back to standard.
Low steam pressure from the holes on the bottom of the iron. Replace the regulator if defective.
Disassemble the unit before repairing. Not all users understand this operation. Step-by-step instructions will help with this.
Before repairing your Philips steam generator, make sure you have everything you need to do this. You will need an asterisk screwdriver, Phillips and flatheads. As an example, model gc9220. We offer the sequence of actions:
Disconnect the unit from the power supply. Pull out the cord to avoid electric shock.
Remove the protective rubber bands with a flat screwdriver. They are located at the top of the steam station. Remove the screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
Using an asterisk screwdriver, unscrew the bolts holding the main body. They are located at the bottom.
Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the bolts from the top cover to remove it. You can start repairing.
Tefal devices are disassembled in the same way. The devices are similar in design. You will need the same set of tools and procedure.
Self-repair is considered by the owners of faulty steam equipment in the first place. Approach this decision reasonably and follow clear instructions. If you do not have experience in working with electrical appliances, it is better to entrust the matter to a professional.
Household appliances tend to fail at the most inopportune moment, and this always happens unexpectedly for the user. As soon as you are about to iron the washed laundry, the steam station does not turn on, and urgent repair of the steam generator is required. Let's try to find the source of the problem.
A steam generator from any manufacturer: Tefal, Bosch or Philips, consists of three main parts: an electronic control unit, a stand, it is a station, and an iron. The delivery set also contains special attachments. The boiler heats up the water, steam is generated, which is fed through a special hose to the iron, at the base of which there is a perforation. Coming out of the holes, steam processes the material, smoothing out any creases.
The density and size of clothes do not affect the quality of their processing: you can simultaneously process bed linen, fabrics that require delicate handling - for example, silk, as well as jeans, suits made of wool blend or synthetics.
A domestic steam generator station such as Tefal has a number of differences from the iron with steaming from the same manufacturer:
firstly, the size - it is much more voluminous and takes up a lot of space;
secondly, water is poured into a separate container of the boiler and heats up there until steam is formed;
thirdly, the steam is not wet, but dry with a temperature of about 160 degrees;
the processing of clothes and linen is carried out without touching it with a device in the form of an iron, but only with steam, so you can not be afraid for the integrity of things.
The figure below shows a typical Tefal steam generator station.
During operation, household appliances sometimes have various malfunctions that can be diagnosed by their characteristic features and repair the steam generators with their own hands. If steam generators refuse to fulfill their assigned duties, the reason may be different.
Station does not supply steam - burned out heating element or its contacts. There may also be an incorrect operation of the boiler switch, or the steam supply button on the device is simply broken.
The pressure is not regulated - the switch is broken.
Steam is dispensing wrong temperature - the temperature fuse is blown, the thermostat is out of order.
Lack of voltage - one of the wires in the power cord is interrupted.
Poor water heating - a lot of deposits have accumulated on the walls of the container.
The water level indicator is constantly on - the sensor is broken.
Steam is constantly discharged through the safety valve - there may be little water in the tank.
Under the station water appeared - somewhere there is a leak, turn off the steam generator and localize the malfunction.
In addition to the listed failures, there are many more reasons that provoke the appearance of malfunctions in the operation of the steam generator.
To make a complete diagnosis of the product and fix various failures with your own hands, you need to have special equipment, only simple malfunctions can be found and eliminated with one multimeter and a soldering iron.
You can repair simple faults yourself, even if you have a Tefal steam generator, because we have already written that the design of all models is the same, with the exception of certain nuances. Below is a short list of common failures and how to fix them.
The steam stopped flowing - check the heating element, fuse, solenoid valve, clean the steam pipe. Descale the boiler container, replace the thermostat or the hose that supplies steam to the iron.
Incorrect operation of the pressure switch - check with a multimeter. If a breakdown occurs, then install a working toggle switch or microswitch.
No response to pressing a button on the control panel - check wiring integrity, if everything is fine, then replace it.
The indicator of low water level in the tank is constantly on - check the level, if it is normal, then replace the sensor for the volume of liquid in the tank.
The station informs about readiness for work, but when you press the button for supplying steam, it does not go - the button is faulty, you need to replace it.
Weak steam pressure from the perforations on the soleplate of the iron - check regulator, if it breaks down, replace it with a new one.
Of course, it is impossible to predict all the cases that may occur during operation - this list can be continued indefinitely, but here are presented only those faults that the user can fix on his own.
It should be borne in mind that the home craftsman has skills in working with electrical household appliances - otherwise you should not even try to disassemble or try to repair steam generators on your own, for example, from such well-known manufacturers of very reliable and high-quality equipment as Tefal or Philips.