Scunci Steamer model SS-1000 just stopped putting out steam. The water heats up but when I depress the button for steam, nothing happens. How can I fix it?

Nan McGinnis, July 2007

HELP!!! I can't get the top off my steamer..I haven't used it for a couple of years..anyone else have this problem?

carol, July 2013

Thank you to the "replace the fuse" man, aka Chris. Your instructions were awesome. My hubby says "any moron could do it with enough time." Sometimes we feel moronic at our house with this kind of stuff. Many thanks!

Michelle in Canada, January 2011

Hi, my steamer stopped steaming as well, and after reading these solutions, I figured I start with the easiest possible problem with the trigger and everything. I removed the back of the handle to check the trigger, and it moved further down, but I assumed that was just because it had more room to use and the plastic simply bended. I then removed the top plastic cover and now believe I've found my real problem. I saw that the little golden head of the release valve, that the trigger was to press, was stuck. I poured some vinegar into it and let it heat/steam up, unplugged it, and released steam through the top of it in hopes that it would loosen some of the junk that had built up around the valve seals. After the steam was released I poured out the remaining water and a bunch of junk came out, but it's still stuck. I tried tapping it with a hammer to loosen it, but still no luck. Any suggestions?

Harrison, December 2010

Steve, Great job! I did what you said and now my steamer is cooking again. Thanks!!

Bob, November 2010

Just tried fix that Chris used and it worked great! Thanks!!

Steve, November 2008

I answered my own question yesterday. There is a fuse inside that apparently blows if you leave it plugged in with no water.

Remove the bottom plastic cover by removing the two screws. The third screw has a wierd head and requires some kind of special screwdriver. Rip it off. Now unscrew the next cover. The black wire goes to the thermostat. Focus on the white wire. Cut away some of the insulation and the zip tie around the white and green/yellow wire. You can pinch the white wire to feel for the hard fuse. Cut the fuse out and replace it (I just wired it back together without the fuse to complete the circuit. Do that at your own risk). Put it back together and plug it in. Works like a charm. If you notice, the stupid LED is wired into the circuit in such a way it completes it's own circuit by being wired in before the current passes completely through the heating element. That's why it appears to be on but won't heat.

I hope this helps someone. I know from what i've been reading a lot of people have had this happen to them and ended up just throwing it away. I really needed it to help me clean up after a paint job yesterday (It works amazingly at taking paint off brickwork) so I was determined to fix it.

Chris, August 2007

Same thing happened to mine. Trigger was stuck. I removed the one screw on the back of the handle and pulled the black plastic part off and pushed the trigger and it worked. I snapped the plastic piece back on and replaced the screw and it worked fine. Then I used it with the wire brush attachment and easily scrubbed the paint from the brickwork around my front door (I pained today). I don't know what I would have done without it... so i went back to touching up and painting and left it plugged in.. now it won't heat up at all... hope this helped you with your problem and i hope someone can help me with this new one...

Aug 2007

Chris, August 2007

I believe it is mineral buildup. I use distilled water in mine. I don't believe that any product can standup to hard water deposits. I have use mine since 2003 and I haven't had any problems. It is a whiz for softening up burnt on grease and sugar in the oven. Hope this helps.

Tantabuzza, July 2007