Steam irons: tell me where I'm wrong

Buy Me Once Longevity Awards - the repairer's review. About 10 minutes. Everything saves as you go, so you can come back to it.

Before you see my table

Three quick ones first - your gut answer, before my numbers can nudge it.

Please answer all three - they're the most valuable answers in here.

Fault 1 of 7

Leaking / spitting

Out of 10 broken steam irons that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a steam iron came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 2 of 7

Limescale clogs ports / weak steam

Out of 10 broken steam irons that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a steam iron came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 3 of 7

Heating element / thermostat fails

Out of 10 broken steam irons that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a steam iron came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 4 of 7

Cord / power failure

Out of 10 broken steam irons that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a steam iron came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 5 of 7

Soleplate damage

Out of 10 broken steam irons that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a steam iron came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 6 of 7

Self-clean / scale-collector mechanism

Out of 10 broken steam irons that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a steam iron came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 7 of 7

Water tank / trigger / button

Out of 10 broken steam irons that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a steam iron came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Last three on the faults

Which fault did I get most wrong?

Is a big one missing?

What never reaches you?

You only see the steam irons someone thought were worth bringing in. Which faults do you think mostly end up in the bin instead - so they're rarer on your bench than in real life?

Tap a number on both scales first.

Brands - from the bench, not reputation

A few claims from my research

1. On a typical steam iron, limescale is the root cause behind most leaking/spitting and weak-steam faults.

2. A solid stainless soleplate (Rowenta DW9230) outlasts an enamel/Durilium coated soleplate (Tefal FV9845) in normal domestic use.

3. Groupe SEB's 15-year parts commitment in practice covers the soleplate/heating assembly and seals of these two irons, via approved repairers.

How should I credit you?

Named: "verified by [you], [business]" on the awards page, and listed as a recommended repairer. Anonymous: "independent repairer, [n] years". Your call - some fixers would rather not be seen rating brands they also fix under warranty.

Name, email and a credit choice please.