Electric Iron Problems and Solutions

an electric iron sitting atop white garments

An electric iron works by heating up and using that heat to press fabrics. Inside the iron is a heating element powered by electricity that heats up. As it heats, it transfers thermal energy to the metal soleplate, which then applies hot direct pressure to remove wrinkles.

Electric irons also often have steam functions. Water is pumped from a reservoir tank into a steam chamber. The heating element boiler then converts the water into steam that exits through vents to help relax wrinkles.

With both heat and steam features, there are many things that can go wrong with an electric iron over time. By understanding the most common issues and fixes, you can quickly get your iron back up and running at peak performance. This guide outlines each part of an electric iron, the problems associated with it, and the best solutions.

Power Cord Issues

The power cord delivers electricity from the outlet to the heating element inside the electric iron. Like any cord that gets a lot of manipulation, the power cord can develop issues over time. Here are the most common power cord problems and fixes:

Frayed or Exposed Wires

Problem: If the power cord is old, the protective coating around the wires inside can crack or peel off. This exposes bare wiring which poses both a fire and shock risk. Exposed wires on the power cord are very dangerous.
Solution: Do NOT use the electric iron if there is any exposed wiring. Replace old and damaged power cords immediately. Using electrical tape as a temporary fix is also NOT recommended as the cord clearly needs full replacing.

Crimped or Damaged Plug

Problem: The plug at the end of the power cord also takes a lot of inserting and removal from outlets. Like exposed wires, a damaged power plug poses serious risks of shocks, shorts or sparks. Any physical damage requires replacement.
Solution: As above, immediately replace a damaged power plug or power cords showing signs of crimping damage, rust or sparks rather than trying temporary fixes.

Faulty Power Cord Wire

Problem: Even if the power cord looks visually intact from the outside, there can still be internal damage to the wiring itself. If there is faulty wiring, common symptoms are the iron failing to heat up, electrical sparks or smoking from the cord.
Solution: Given the severity of internal damaged power cord wires, replacement is the only option. So if your iron is not heating up, shows erratic power or there are any sparks/smoking coming directly from the power cord itself, it likely needs professional wiring replacement or full iron replacement.

Loose Power Cord Connection

Problem: Loose wiring connections between the power cord and the iron can also cause failure to heat issues after prolonged use. Some other symptoms are seeing sparks or smoke coming directly out of the iron handle itself where the wires connect internally.
Solution: Opening up the back of the handle near the power cords to check the integrity of the wiring connection can help troubleshoot this issue. If wires are loose, reconnecting wires can fix it. If wires or connections show heat damage, then wiring or full iron replacement is the solution.

Heating Element Failure

The heating element inside an electric iron is responsible for heating the metal soleplate. There are a few common issues that can directly affect the heating element.

Not Heating At All

Problem: The most common heating element failure is when the iron fails to heat up at all when powered on and set to the highest temperatures. Likely causes include burned out the heating element, faulty thermostats or broken wiring connections.
Solution: Check power connections first and make sure power settings are set to the highest temperatures. If there is still no heat, it’s likely the heating element needs replacing by a professional since accessing internal components risks electric shock.

Not Heating Enough

Problem: If the iron isn’t putting off enough heat to actually remove wrinkles, there are a few possible heating element issues – low wattage, limescale buildup or failing heating elements. Low heat damages fabric but usually isn’t a safety issue.
Solution: Try cleaning scale buildup from the iron first if minimal heat. If cleaning doesn’t restore full heat capacity, the heating element likely needs replacing by a repair professional.

Uneven Heating

Problem: Some fabrics like linen and cotton need very high, very even heat distribution to de-wrinkle properly. If parts of the metal soleplate distribute way more heat than others, it causes uneven ironing. The problem is usually failing or burnt out wiring in sections of the heating element.
Solution: Cleaning scale buildup can help remove hotspots in rare cases. But typically, uneven heating requires the replacement of damaged heating element wiring by an appliance repair technician for full functionality.

Smoke Coming From Iron

Problem: If the heating element wires are extremely damaged or burnt out completely, it can cause electrical shorts. Smoke coming directly from the iron itself signals failed wiring insulation and major safety hazards.
Solution: Any smoking electric iron should be powered down and replaced right away. That level of damage risks sparks or fires and cannot be safely repaired or salvaged long term.

Thermostat Failure

The thermostat controls electric current flow to the heating element to regulate precise temperatures. Damaged thermostats cause the iron to get way too hot or not hot enough.

Not Maintaining Stable Temperature

Problem: If the plate temperature fluctuates way above or below the thermostat setting as you iron, the internal thermostat likely has physical damage or disconnected wiring. This leads to inconsistent heat damage to fabrics.
Solution: Replacing damaged thermostats requires soldering and rewiring internal electronics in most irons. Unless you have training, bringing to appliance repair pros is the best solution for accurate wiring and calibration.

Runs Too Hot or Cold

Problem: If the iron maintains consistent temperatures, but way off from the chosen thermostat setting, it still signals internal thermostat wiring issues. This leads to fabric scorching or lack of dewrinkling capacity from incorrect heat levels.
Solution: Much like the above temperature fluctuation problem, faulty thermostat wiring requires professional replacing and calibration to fix inaccurate temperatures.

Water Leaks

Water tank leaks have the following common causes and solutions:

Overfilled Water Reservoir

Problem: If the water reservoir tank overflows with too much water, leakage through the steam vents is common. Excess water has nowhere to go when over the fill line, so it leaks externally.
Solution: Ensure the water tank is never filled past the max fill line marked inside the tank. Clean up any exited water from a leak incident and empty any excess tank capacity.

Loose Water Reservoir Lid

Problem: Most steam irons have a lid or cap that securely seals the water tank. If this lid gets cracked or loses its seal, water can drip even at normal fill levels.
Solution: Check the water reservoir lid for any warping or damage to the seal. If the seal is compromised, replace the lid with manufacturer replacement parts to restore full water containment.

Damaged Water Tank or Valves

Problem: If water leaks persist even after correcting fill levels and the reservoir lid seal, it signal larger tank or internal valve damage. Small cracks in plastic tanks or failing valve diaphragms cause persistent heavy leakage.
Solution: Visually inspect the water tank for damage or cracks. Press the steam button and observe internal elements for water spraying and pinpoint the source. Repair professionals can best replace damaged tanks, valves and any compromised internal steam parts.

Scale Buildup Issues

Hard water minerals leave scale residue on internal iron parts. Built up the scale causes several functional problems:

Reduced Steam Output

Problem: Steam vents and pathways clogged with mineral scale cannot output maximum steam volume and pressure. This “sputtering” steam substantially reduces ironing effectiveness, especially on heavy fabrics like linen.
Solution: Clean built up scale from the metal soleplate, steam vents and internal steam chambers using a diluted acidic cleaning solution. For severe buildup, scale cleaning products from the manufacturer help dissolve residues best without damaging parts.

White Residue on Fabrics

Problem: Flaking scale bits that come loose can transfer onto garments during ironing, leaving white mineral stains on colored fabrics. This transferred residue ruins clothing appearance.
Solution: Thoroughly clean the metal soleplate and steam vents with a scale removing solution until all visible scale residue is eliminated before further use. Then iron stained garments damp under a pressing cloth to lift marks.

Burning Smell

Problem: Severe scale buildup inside can cause burning smells during use. This happens when residue physically blocks heating elements, causing excess element heat. This poses a fire risk and damages the appliance.
Solution: Stop using any iron emitting burning smells until all scale on heating elements is cleaned. Refill the water reservoir and run the highest steam setting for 15 minutes with a towel under the iron to clear residue from inside then scrub out remaining visible scale.

Summary of Solutions

To recap, here are the top universal tips to fixing the most common electric iron problems:

Immediately replace any damaged power cords instead of trying quick fixes – exposed wires, damaged plugs, fraying and crimped cords all warrant professional replacements due to safety risks from further usage.
For an iron failing to heat, always start by checking wall power connections and testing different electrical sockets in case the issues are external.
Visually inspect the iron for smoke, leaking water tanks and scale build up issues before taking apart – simpler fixes like cleaning vents or replacing water lids can resolve common performance problems.
Consider bringing irons emitting smoke/burning smells, leaking from inside tanks even after cleaning, or exhibiting uneven heating to appliance repair experts for internal replacements and qualified wiring fixes.

Following clever troubleshooting and knowing when to defer to professionals keeps your electric iron running properly for years while avoiding safety hazards from compromised electrical components. For any issue, always put function and safety first when deciding whether to replace the iron or attempt repair solutions.