To decide which steam generator to choose for the home, you first need to understand the main purpose of the device, for what purpose it is purchased and what are the main differences in the models offered to the consumer. And if you make this choice correctly, doing household chores will become much simpler and faster.
What is a steam generator?
In this case, a steam generator is understood as a household appliance, the purpose of which is to produce water vapor. The pressure of this vapor is higher than atmospheric due to the heat of the primary coolant. A steam generator at home is a good alternative to a conventional iron, which, in addition to the usual ironing of things on an ironing board, can ensure the performance of such operations as steaming textiles or clothes that are in an upright position. This will greatly help to speed up and facilitate the process of smoothing wrinkles.
By design, the iron with a steam generator differs from the usual household appliance by the presence of a separate tank, which houses a water tank and a heating element. The steam generator is connected to the iron via a hose. Most often on the shelves of shops you can see such devices in which the steam generator serves as a stand for the iron. This is very convenient, since a slice solves the problem of compact storage of this household appliance.
Read also: Overview of Industrial Steam Generators.
How to use a steam generator?
In order to understand how to use a steam generator, it is necessary to understand the principle of its effect and the difference with the effect of a conventional iron. So achieving the desired result when using the iron is provided by mechanical action on the fabric. In this case, the elevated temperature and the presence of steam only simplify the process by warming and moisturizing the surface of the fabric.
The use of a steam generator is the combined effect of the elevated temperature of the soleplate and the steam ejected from it under pressure. Moreover, the effect of steam in this case has a predominant value. That is, if things are ironed with an iron without using steam, then a steam generator can smooth out wrinkles without touching the sole of the iron with a cloth.
It should be noted that the steam, passing through the heated sole of the iron, dries out. Due to this, it practically has no moisture at the outlet, which allows avoiding the appearance of wet streaks and condensate on the processed products. High temperature at the same time allows you to kill germs and bacteria that are inevitably present on clothing. The smell of mustiness, mold and dampness will also disappear after such a treatment.
Using an iron with a steam generator possible both in horizontal and vertical position. Therefore, smoothing the folds on already hanging curtains with its help can be easily and simply. It is also just possible to eliminate wrinkles on a suit or other clothes located on a hanger. To do this, simply bring the sole of the iron to the fabric and press the appropriate button.
How to choose the right iron with a steam generator for your home?
In order to choose the right steam generator for the home, you need to understand what significant differences are in their models. The main ones include power, the implementation of steam supply, the type of reservoir and the volume of water that can fit into it, as well as the presence of additional functions. It is not always worth paying attention to the most expensive models, since many of them are designed more for professional than for home use. But at the same time, do not forget that the numerical value of some characteristics plays a decisive role when using the device, affecting the convenience and achieving the desired result.
Power
Power is a characteristic, the value of which depends on the heating time of the device. The more powerful the steam generator, the less time it will take to heat it after being turned on, but at the same time it will consume more electricity. Today, consumer models are available with a wide enough power range from 800 to 3100 watts.
In order to choose the right iron with a steam generator relative to this characteristic, it is also worth considering that devices with low power poorly support temperature conditions. Because of this, the process of processing products may be delayed, which is not very convenient - the device slowly heats up and cools quickly. For this reason, the most acceptable option would be the numerical value of this indicator from 1600 to 2000 watts.
Steam supply method
When choosing a steam generator for the home, in contrast to a conventional iron, designed to iron things in a horizontal position, the intensity and pressure of the steam supply are very important parameters. This is because in this case the steam will be supplied vertically, and at low pressure and low intensity it will be impossible to achieve a qualitative result. The optimal value for the steam supply pressure is from 2 to 6 bar, and the intensity is from 90 to 140 grams per minute. Moreover, if steam generators appear on the market for which these characteristics are higher, it is better to choose them. Steam boost also has significant significance, which should not be lower than 95 - 240 grams per minute.
Type and volume of water tank
Currently, steam generators for the home can have different volumes of water tanks. The higher this characteristic, the more time you can use the device without the need to pour liquid into it. If the use of the device will be performed very often to handle a large number of things, it is better to choose a tank of more than 2 liters. In the same case, when ironing things is periodic, then 1 liter or less is quite enough. When choosing a steam generator for this characteristic, it should be borne in mind that the larger the volume of the water tank, the more space the storage device will require. The best option would be a transparent tank, which will allow one glance to determine the need for pouring water.
The location of the tank and the heating element, which can be:
- made, that is, located not inside the iron, but separately from it, and connected to it by means of a hose. Just in this case, the water tank simultaneously serves as a stand for the iron. The heating time of such devices will be at least 10-15 minutes;
- built-in, that is, located in the body of the iron. In this case, the heating time is significantly reduced, but the weight of the device increases, which brings inconvenience when using it.
Remote tanks can also be presented in the form of one or two tanks placed in one housing. In the case of one tank, the water supply for converting it to steam is carried out directly from the tank into which the liquid is poured and stored.If the steam generator has two tanks, then water is poured into one of them and stored in it, and after that the batch tank is transferred to the second tank, from where it is supplied for conversion to steam. The disadvantage of the second option is the significant size of the entire device as a whole.
Operating modes
As well as an iron, a steam generator will have to iron things made of various materials having their own specific qualities and properties. Depending on them, when performing the procedure for smoothing the folds, it is necessary to select the optimal exposure temperature. That is why the steam generators provide for the adjustment of the steam supply, which can be performed either manually or automatically. The best option would be a manual adjustment method, which will increase or decrease the temperature and intensity of the exposure, based on prevailing conditions. In this case, manual adjustment can be presented in the form of a rotary switch or buttons. In this case, the choice is made based on the convenience of who the device will be used most often.
Additional functions
The main function of the steam generator is the conversion of water into steam produced under pressure. This will allow you to quickly and easily smooth out even badly wrinkled things and remove dirt and unpleasant odors from them. Additional functions, in turn, will provide more convenient use of the device, as well as safety when working with it. The main ones include:
- protection against scale, which is implemented in the form of rods for its collection or indicators, indicating the need for cleaning from it. Despite its availability for these devices, it is recommended to use distilled or special water intended for these purposes;
- the possibility of dry ironing, so that the device can be used as a regular iron with steam mode off;
- anti-drip system, which will not allow liquid to flow out of the iron, especially if the boiler of the steam generator is built into the body of the iron;
- automatic shutdown, ensuring the cessation of heating after the iron is more than half a minute in the horizontal or 15 minutes in the vertical position.
What to choose an iron or steam generator for home?
When choosing between a conventional iron and a steam generator, you should be guided by the number and type of things that will need to be processed. If in most cases it is necessary to iron things whose appearance is not significant, that is, bedding or underwear, as well as everyday wardrobe items, then a regular iron with a steaming function will be quite enough. If giving things an impeccable look is required all the time, and even more so the main part of these things is office suits and shirts, then using a steam generator will greatly simplify and reduce the time spent on this procedure.
Also, the availability of this device will be very appropriate in a house where there are small children and animals. Handling things for the child should be of the highest quality to ensure their safety. While animals bring various harmful bacteria and microbes into the house, it will be much easier to cope with this device.
How to choose a steam generator for the home?
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the most acceptable and the best model of a steam generator for the home there will be a device with a remote water tank, which at the same time will serve as a convenient stand. The optimal power of the steam generator will be a value approximately equal to 2000 W or slightly less than this value. In this case, the greater the vapor pressure and the intensity of its supply, the better. The auto-off function is also mandatory for safe use, and the protection against scale will significantly increase the period of its operation.
Check alsoappointment of a steam generator for all types of baths and saunas.
