Reliable Steam Iron that isn't so reliable . . .

[Jon Lilley]

Hi, Steve!

How's it going there? All's well here despite all the wacky weather we've been having . . . it's been an interesting ride this summer ! ! !

I vaguely remember Barb mentioning you when she was having problems with her Reliable so now it's my turn. I bought myself one and like it very much! No messing around with this little puppy, for sure! Wow, is it fast! But, I plugged it in a couple days ago, everything was fine at first and then, I wasn't getting any steam. I'm not getting a boiler light at all. Does any of this sound familiar? Got any ideas?

Thanks for your time and help. I really appreciate it!

Slàinte!,

Jon

[The Wizard of BC]

John,

Does your iron have a small black button on the side with a cap on it? That is the newer model and the button is a circuit breaker. This will sometimes pop if you run out of water and the heater element overheats.

If you do not have the circuit breaker on the outside you will have to unscrew the top to get to it.

First un-plug the iron and remove the water fill knob.

Then you will find three screws on the lower front. Do not remove the fourth screw where you see the screwdriver pointing.



There are also five screws on the back.



Then gently lift the top up about six inches. Careful as there are wires going to the switches.



The circuit breaker is located on the left just above the round pressure sensor under the rectangular part.



It is a small metal lever. Push up on that metal lever and you should hear and feel the circuit breaker re-set.

There is a second circuit breaker located inside the iron sole plate itself but you need access to that one only if you have heat in the boiler but the sole plate of the iron is not heating. The symptom of this will be water shooting out of the iron instead of steam.

Let me know if this works or not.

[Jon Lilley]

Thank you very much, Steve!!! I really appreciate the help.

I've got the very latest and greatest model and it's got the reset button on the side. Only thing is, it's not resetting. Hmmmm. The iron gets hot, but no steam. I really like the iron a lot. The steam it pumps out is mind-numbing and I can press a kilt in no time flat. But, I'm going to have to take it all apart to reset it . . . or at least, look to see what I need to be doing to reset it. Wish me luck, OK!

I hope all's going well there! Take care and thanks again for all your help.

Slàinte!,

Jon

[Steve Ashton]

It is then probably the heating element or the thermostat. Do you have a multimeter?

[Jon Lilley]

Thank you, Steve! I'll let you know after I've gotten into it. I'm not sure if I've reset it properly yet. I hope it's not the thermostat, but the possibility is there. And, what is a muiltimeter? I've never heard of such a thing. Sorry, my ignorance is showing, but this is all kind of new to me.

Jon

[The Wizard of BC]

Jon,

A Multimeter (or VOM) is a device for testing electrical and/or electronic circuits.



An inexpensive multimeter will put you back around $10.00

You can test whether a circuit is open or closed, called continuity. By putting the two probes on either side of an electric device such as a circuit breaker you can determine if the device is operating as advertised.

You could also test if a heating element is good or bad or if there is a break in a circuit or a short in a circuit to ground.

I guess I was lucky as a kid as my dad taught me to use a multimeter quite young. I have never been without one.

If you do not have one, or do not know how to use one, you will most likely have to take your iron to a repair shop that does. They will test your iron for you and isolate the fault to a specific component.
They, or you, may then need to contact Reliable for a replacement if the component is specific to your iron.

If the component is a generic one they may be able to replace it from their stock.