Is It Worth Repairing A Steam Iron?

In the old days, it is not uncommon for an appliance to last you a decade. But nowadays, it is a totally different story. The items are more affordable but their lifespan can also be much shorter. This is especially true for small electrical appliances such as kettles, toasters, and clothes irons.

So, what should you do if your iron malfunctions? Is it worth repairing a steam iron these days?

Check The Warranty

When your steam iron gives you problem, make an effort to check the warranty status of your appliance. If it is still under warranty, it may be still be worth it to send it back to the manufacturer for repair.

However, bear in mind that you might have to pay for the postage and handling fees. As a clothes iron could be pretty heavy and bulky, you will have to work out if the cost is worth it overall. If it is a cheap model, it might well be more economical to buy a new one as opposed to a $100 steam iron.

Whatever it is, there is no harm to contact the manufacturer when your iron turns faulty especially if it is still fairly new. Try your luck to see if you could do a trade-in or offered a discount to buy their product again if the warranty has just expired. Some brands may accommodate in order to retain their customers.

Worth It To Repair A Steam Iron?

If your faulty iron is well past its warranty period, is it still worth sending it for repair? Generally, the answer is no. If your iron has stopped steaming because of simple issues like clogged vents, you could clean it yourself and get it functioning again. But if it is because of some defective components inside the iron, you will need to take it to a authorized repair shop and that could cost you more than a new iron.

On top of the cost of labor, you will also need to pay for the replacement parts. These parts sourced by your local repairman may not necessarily be the original components used in your steam iron model. Hence, whether they would last is also a big question mark.

Given the risks, it becomes more economical to just get a new steam iron. After all, there are plenty of options available in the market nowadays with different price ranges. They are mostly affordable with many steam irons below $50 that do a good job in getting out wrinkles. It is because of the low replacement cost that repairing becomes non-economical.

Environmental Consideration

If we consider purely from a monetary point of view, repairing a steam iron is most probably not worth it at all. But in this day and age when going green is the responsible thing to do, there would be people who would rather repair than replace. Moreover, it is hard to figure out what to do with an old steam iron if you don’t want to dump it into the bin. So, repairing and continuing to use it seems like a better option to some.

There is no right or wrong answer to this. It is how you value a certain cause and your own financial capability. If you feel guilty about throwing away an electrical appliance that could be repaired, consider donating it to your local repairman or someone who knows how to take it apart to recycle the components. Then, you might feel better moving on to a new iron.

In conclusion, it is generally not worth it to repair a steam iron as a new one could be cheaper and comes with a warranty. Basically, buying a new steam iron is simply more cost effective. But to each his own when it comes to personal preferences on being green and other non-monetary considerations.