By Aashu, owner of Stitch Partner, a store for steam iron parts and sewing machine spare parts in India.
A boiler steam iron has a separate tank that keeps producing steam while you press, which suits continuous work in a garment unit. A gravity feed iron uses a raised water tank and suits a smaller tailor shop or lighter daily use.
Water pumps, safety caps, seal washers, hoses, contactors, non-return valves and table foam and cloth wear with regular use. Always use a safety cap made for your boiler and follow the maker's instructions when opening a hot boiler.
Delivery across India, with cash on delivery available.
| Bottle (gravity-fed) iron | Boiler iron | |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply | Small bottle hung above the iron | Separate tank with a hose to the iron |
| Best for | Boutiques, tailors, small laundries | Garment units and heavy daily pressing |
| Refilling | Frequent, small bottle | Less often, larger tank |
| Typical wear parts | Nozzle, gasket, hose | Hose, gasket, heating element, thermostat |
More: steam iron and cloth cutting machine faults, professional steam iron for tailoring, 4L industrial steam iron with water tank and 2000W industrial steam iron with 4L boiler.
Choose a bottle iron for light daily use in a boutique or tailoring shop. Choose a boiler iron when you press for many hours a day and want longer runs between refills.
It depends on your water. In hard water areas, descale often; in soft water areas, less often. Weak steam or white flakes are signs it is due.
Usually the temperature is too low for steam, or scale is blocking the nozzle. Raise the temperature and descale the iron.
You can if the water is soft, but hard tap water causes scale that shortens the life of the heating element and nozzle. Clean or low-mineral water is safer.