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

[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.