Steam Stripper gone kaput

[JMLanders]

Hi everyone.
I was using my steam stripper to remove wallpaper in my hall today. When it got empty, I let it cool down as normal before refilling it. When I plug it in, it trips the RCD in my CU. Any ideas, or should I just sling it away?

 

[electronicsuk]

Most likely water in the element causing earth leakage - this can't be economically repaired.

 

[RF Lighting]

Did you spill any water onto the outside of the unit, or could the socket you were using have got steam or water on or in it?

 

[GaryMo]

Empty as in below the minimum water level?

If the water level fell lower than the element then that may well have caused your problem.

 

[JMLanders]

Most likely water in the element causing earth leakage - this can't be economically repaired.

So either replace element, or replace stripper. Blast - whole job only needed one more tank full, and then that was it - no more paper anywhere in the house.

Wonder if any of the neighbours....

 

[JMLanders]

Did you spill any water onto the outside of the unit, or could the socket you were using have got steam or water on or in it?

No, bone dry.

 

[JMLanders]

Empty as in below the minimum water level?

If the water level fell lower than the element then that may well have caused your problem.

Ran it until it stopped (as in empty - empty), as per usual and as per MI (from memory)

Thanks all for your help by the way

 

[RF Lighting]

I'd try and plug it into another socket on another circuit if possible and see if it still trips the RCD if you haven't already tried that.

If it does, then It's looking like it is due for a one way trip to steam stripper heaven.

 

[JMLanders]

I'd try and plug it into another socket on another circuit if possible and see if it still trips the RCD if you haven't already tried that.

Sadly I've tried that

If it does, then It's looking like it is due for a one way trip to steam stripper heaven.

Maybe ebay it - there's always some poor sucker Only joking, my conscience wouldn't permit this.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Ran it until it stopped (as in empty - empty), as per usual and as per MI (from memory)

I doubt that.

More likely the MI's said: "Do not let the reservoir run dry"

Now you know what can happen if you do.

 

[GaryMo]

That was certainly my thinking.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

So either replace element, or replace stripper. Blast - whole job only needed one more tank full, and then that was it - no more paper anywhere in the house.

Wonder if any of the neighbours....

Wonder if any of the neighbours what?

Can explain to you how once upon a time people used to strip wallpaper with no steamers, and that that is an option open to you as a way to finish the job?

 

[ColJack]

judging by the number of layers in some places, they didn't bother..

they painted until paper was mass produced and cheap, then papered every 15 years or so..

 

[JMLanders]

Thank you all for your added input. Just to respond to a couple of points raised-

1/. I have always run steam strippers until they stop issuing steam and never had a problem before. A quick look at a MI available from the screwfix website suggests that strippers have an automatic thermal cutout which kicks into place when the unit runs low of water. However, I take on board the collective wisdom from the contributors from here and will, in future, make sure that I never let the unit run dry.

2/. Luckily one of the neighbours did lend me a stripper. The paper to be removed was woodchip, covered by several impermeable layers of paint. It was thus necessary to remove the top layer of paper, which was made considerably easier by softening it with heat first, and also enabled less damage to be done to the underlying plaster which has shown signs of "blowing".

I again thank you for your free help and advice with this matter.