Iron Keeps Turning Off? You’re Not Alone. 5 Fixes to Try

Not sure why your iron keeps turning itself off? Then you’ll find 5 reasons and solutions that will help it to turn on and stay on in this article.

Here’s why your iron keeps turning off:

Before you conclude that your iron is on its last legs, take a look at these causes and fixes in more detail. They should help you to find out the issue with your iron and might even save you a penny or two.

5 Reasons Why Your Iron Keeps Turning off and How to Fix It

Does your iron keep turning itself off?

You turn it on and spread a shirt out on the ironing board. But before you’ve even had a chance to spin around, the iron is stone cold again. At this rate, it’ll take you till Christmas to get the ironing done.

Why does your iron keep shutting itself off and what can you do to prevent it? Take a look at the 5 tips in this article that will help you locate the issue and fix it.

Reason #1 There’s a Bad Connection

Let’s start the ball rolling with the simplest but most important thing to fix. That is, a connection issue.

You should ensure that your iron is connected properly to the mains. If the power cord is not inserted correctly, you will get intermittent or no power.

You should also check the status of the power cord. It should be free from any signs of damage. This includes fraying and the exposure of the wires. If your iron’s power cord shows damage, you will need to replace it.

Reason #2 It’s On Auto Shut-Off Mode

Another reason why your iron might be on what seems like a power out is that it has changed to auto shut-off mode. On most modern irons, this mode kicks in when it is not being used. A period of between 5 to 10 minutes is usually long enough for it to start.

What should you do to prevent your iron from entering auto shut-off mode? Here are a couple of tips:

• Do not leave the iron plugged in and unattended at any time. This is generally good practice with an iron, as it is a fire hazard. Do not leave it unattended for more than 5 minutes, as it will go into auto shut-off mode and you will have to reheat it when you are ready to use it. You cannot override this feature.
• If the iron enters auto shut-off mode, press the power button. This should wake the iron up again.

Reason #3 You Left It Horizontal

This next reason is linked to the previous auto shut-off mode issue. Modern irons will turn off automatically if they are left turned on horizontally. If you leave the iron horizontal and do not move it for as little as 30 seconds, it may kick into auto shut-off mode.

This mode initiates to prevent house fires. Leaving an iron horizontally without moving it is dangerous. This can quickly cause materials to overheat, begin to burn, and even catch fire.

What can you do when your iron enters auto shut-off mode?

• Do not leave the iron plugged in and horizontal. The iron could overheat and start a fire. Do not leave it face down for more than 30 seconds as this will automatically send it into shut-off mode. You will then have to reheat it when you are ready to use it.
• To cancel this mode, simply shake it back and forth. This should wake the iron up and begin to reheat the base plate. There is no way of overriding this auto shut-off feature as it is a safety mechanism.
• Prepare your clothes for ironing before you turn it on. This way, you will not need to spend too much time arranging them between ironing. This will prevent the iron from going into auto shut-off mode.

Reason #4 You Left It on the Heel Rest

Do you have the tendency to leave your iron on the heel rest? Of course, we all do while we’re arranging the next item of clothing that we want to iron. But what happens when you leave the iron on the heel rest for too long?

Most modern irons will automatically turn off when left on the heel rest for an extended time. For the majority, this means leaving it without movement vertically for more than 5 minutes. This is again a safety feature to prevent accidents.

What should you do if your iron goes into auto shut-off mode on the heel rest? Here are a few suggestions:

• Do not leave the iron plugged in and on the heel rest for an extended time. The iron could overheat and start a fire. This is also dangerous for children or anyone else in the home. Do not leave it vertical on the heel rest for more than 5 minutes as this will automatically send it into shut-off mode. You will then have to reheat it when you are ready to use it.
• To cancel this mode, simply shake it back and forth. This should wake the iron up and begin to reheat the base plate. There is no way of overriding this auto shut-off feature as it is a safety mechanism.
• Prepare your clothes for ironing before you turn it on. This way, you will not need to spend too much time arranging them between ironing. This will prevent the iron from going into auto shut-off mode.

Reason #5 It Has Calcium Buildup

For my final reason, I’m going to change direction a little. What if your iron powers off while you are using it? Your iron might keep turning off due to a calcium buildup. An excess of calcium could trigger it to shut down.

Do you suspect that a buildup of calcium is affecting your iron? Then you should press the self-clean button. Here’s how to take your iron through a self-clean:

1. Fill the iron’s tank with distilled water
2. Hold the iron over a sink
3. Press and hold the self-clean button until the tank is empty

After the iron has performed a self-clean, try to use it again. If the powering off persists, you may need to contact the manufacturer to pinpoint what the issue is.

Conclusion

So, your iron keeps powering itself off right in the middle of a job. This is nothing but frustrating and time-consuming as you have to keep waiting for it to reheat. The 5 tips in this article though, have no doubt helped you to see what you need to do to prevent this from happening. And if none of the tips are able to fix the problem, you know it is time to get in contact with the manufacturer.

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Have a great day!

-Craig