Points To Note When Selecting A Steam Generator Iron
Steam generator irons and conventional steam irons look very similar - at least at first glance
. However, steam generator irons have a quite different construction and operate in a different manner. They use a separate base unit which contains the water and includes a boiler. The body of the iron itself contains no water. Steam is passed from the base unit to the iron using a hollow connecting tube.
Steam generator irons do tend to cost a little more than traditional steam irons but they offer several advantages to the user. Its worthwhile taking a little time to consider the important points before you decide which one to buy. The key things to look at when comparing steam generator irons are steam pressure, the capacity of the water reservoir, the soleplate, how easy it is to clean and the overall ease of use.
STEAM PRESSURE:
The steam causes heat and moisture to penetrate the fabric of the garment being ironed. This makes it more flexible which means that it is easier to remove wrinkles and creases. The more steam pressure that there is, the deeper it will penetrate into the fabric being ironed and the better the finished result will be.
Steam generator irons normally have their output expressed in grams of steam per minute. The higher the number, the more steam is produced and the easier it is to iron. Typical values range from 70 to 140 grams per minute (g/min).
Sometimes you may see the steam pressure expressed in bar. Once again, the higher the number is, the more steam that will be produced, the deeper it will penetrate the fabric and the better the results will be.
WATER RESERVOIR CAPACITY:
Steam generator irons usually have a generously sized water reservoir. This means that you can iron for quite a while before you need to top up the reservoir. The precise time will depend upon the type of fabric that youre ironing and the temperature you which have your iron set at but a 1.4 litre reservoir should be good for at least a couple of hours of ironing.
If you do a lot of ironing then you might like to consider choosing a model which has a larger water reservoir. If you have an ironing board which is relatively small, then you might want to make sure that the tube which connects the reservoir to the iron is long enough for you to work with the base unit positioned on the floor rather than on the ironing board itself.
Its also worth considering how easy it is to fill the reservoir. A lot of the better steam generator irons have reservoirs which can be removed to make it easier to fill them. Its a lot better than messing around with jugs of water. Many irons have the facility to refill the reservoir even whilst the iron is in use which means you can avoid having to disconnect it and then wait for it to heat up again after filling.
THE SOLEPLATE:
The soleplate of the iron should glide smoothly over the surface of a range of different fabrics whilst still generating enough friction to remove any wrinkles and creases. It should be easy to clean, scratch resistant, durable and tough. Soleplates with ceramic coatings are widely used these days and are a good option.
EASE OF CLEANING:
The majority of modern irons, whether steam generator irons or conventional steam irons, use ordinary tap water. Depending upon where you live, this will typically contain a variety of different minerals including both calcium and magnesium. This can result in scale deposits as the water is heated and evaporates.
If you live in an area with a hard water supply, then you should definitely look for an iron which has some form of anti-scale system. Some irons loosen the scale using water and then flush it out. Others incorporate special removable anti-scale cartridges to facilitate cleaning.
EASE OF USE:
As already mentioned, you might find it useful if your iron has a hose connection which is long enough to allow you to position it on the floor rather than at the end of your ironing board.
A removable water reservoir is also something that most people will find convenient.
Other features, which some people may find desirable, include automatically retracting power cords, easy clean soleplates, fast heat up etc.
SUMMARY:
Be sure to choose a high enough steam pressure for your requirements.
Select a water reservoir which is large enough so that you dont need to keep stopping in order to top it up.
Make sure that the soleplate is of a suitable design and material.
If you live in a hard water area, make sure that some anti-scaling system is incorporated.
by: Hamish Hayward
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