How to Replace a Stuck Safety Valve on a Steam Cleaner

How to replace a stuck safety valve on a steam cleaner.
Can’t get the cap off your Karcher steam cleaner? Don’t worry. In this eSpares video, we show you how.

The safety valve on steam cleaners is designed to protect you from scalding when the appliance is pressurised. However, if your Karcher steam cleaner’s safety cap is stuck and you can’t get the cap off your Karcher steam cleaner, it can be a real pain. That’s why we’re here to show you how to remove the cap off a Karcher steam cleaner, so you can get your appliance working properly again.

For any steam cleaner spares or accessories you’re after, visit the eSpares website here.

You can also learn all about the benefits of using a steam cleaner with our following video.

Getting ready for some spring cleaning? Check out our video on spring cleaning advice for your home and garden
appliances.

While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe for plenty more videos on appliance maintenance advice, repair guides and all other things related to appliance care!

Want to skip straight to the information you need? Here's what we talk about in each part of our video:

0:00 Introducing the issue
1:18 How to remove the safety cap
2:10 Suggested video: Suggested video: Benefits of steam cleaning - Karcher
2:11 Advice: Use a hammer to help remove the cap
2:55 Advice: How to remove the piston assembly
3:43 How to refit the safety cap assembly
4:10 Suggested playlist: Springtime advice for home and garden appliances

Thanks for watching!

[justtina]

before you start hammering try this - it worked for me (sc 3) and was so easy I am still amazed - I used a refill lint remover roller that I bought from Coles about the same size as an empty toilet roll fitted over the cap - it fitted over half the cap snugly and I was able to turn it very easily- it took seconds so save yourself some grief and 50 bucks

If your Kärcher SC 1020 high pressure hot steam cleaner's valve gets stuck (like mine), do not despair, it can be fixed. What worked like a charm for me was an IKEA adhesive clothing dust remover (they sell them @ around 99 cents), because it has the same size as the valve and is quite sturdy as opposed to a toilet paper roll which is either too thick or tears easily. Apply your entire weight against it and fix the cleaner's with your legs. It worked for me.

[mgician]

Thank you! This saved my steam cleaner. I took apart the lid, soaked them in CLR and scrubbed it and it works perfectly.

[DavetheRaveDinkum]

Well that was easy, cheers.
My issue was my cap was seized and the engaging tabs all snapped so it just spins, after popping the plastic cap off I just used a regular size pair of multigrips to release the inner part 👌

[johnnelson]

Great Video, unfortunately the cap was locked solid, so used the hammer to remove the cap as shown, then used the hammer to smash off the plastic moulding attached to the actual brass valve, this revealed an hexagonal top, my largest socket is 1 1/16", this fitted and the unit was removed.

[melaniebramich]

I had this issue but before spending more money on a replacement i just let all the pressure out of the cleaner it sat for 2 minute's and i was good as gold 👏👏👏

[bfernanddes]

How do you fix an engaged stuck valve. The machine has been off for months and it won’t budge

[Audiotechnical]

Exactly what I was looking for on the internet. Fairly annoyed with myself that I didn't find/watch this 'before' I took a wrench to the cap and applied so much pressure to make it turn, something snapped, and now it turns freely, but does not engage! Pretty sure I snapped some plastic part within the safety valve! Oh well, at least now I can remove the cap with this method, and purchase a replacement.

[bruhsrs]

Worked instantly, thank you legend (:

[jenniferpedley]

You made it look so easy.. I’m pretty sure I just made mine worse haha can you come do this one.. use it as an example for your followers 😅

[GiuseppeTorres]

I am going to try this now.
Though in my case, not only cannot I remove the safety cap, the electrical circuitry trips the circuit breaker as soon as I attempt to turn the steam cleaner on.
I looked at the other video of yours, I opened the plastic assembly, dried the inner case (it was not very wet, perhaps some condensation), checked the impedance of the motor (34ohm, instead of 14ohm, as you explained in the other video).
I wonder what next steps are in my particular case. If I change the cap but I have a broken boiler I will have to change two parts, hopefully it will all work.

As I have an SC1 model, would I be able to reuse the accessories if I bought the basic version of a later model - at least it is new and not reconditioned...

[RoslynTurner-st]

Hi i can't manage to get the piston back down.. help!

[KielanGaming]

Mine just took a few taps with a soft hammer in the unscrew direction and a plumbers wrench to unscrew it, then soaked the cap in white vinegar to disolve the lime scale and treat the threads, good as new, gonna only use water from my distiller in future...

[keshgenga]

Hi! Great video! In my case, the water comes out at the top where the safety valve is. So, is this safe? Do I need to get a new safety valve?

[RetroBoy]

will this work for other brand steamers?

[DeborahKnowland]

Hi! I have the same steam cleaner but my problem isn't that the caps turns freely - it is stuck instead. I can move it left and right only one/ two millimetres which means it would engage the valve. So I tried to force it open with my good Knipex pliers but to no avail. Is there anything I can do?

[MR-ldpg]

Sir any store in kolkata I'm required one of saftey cap

[Leopoldina]

simply great, thanks but no replacement safety caps on your website ?

[philthompson]

This happened to after using it only 2 times!!

[SamAttia-fj]

My lid is not turning at all. So what do you do for that? The screwdriver hack to lift the lid also doesn't work. Why wont it turn? I even tried pliers .

[Borland.]

Столкнулся с такой проблемой, клапан завис и крышка прокручивалась. Произошло это после того как керхер после работы был оставлен с средством от накипи внутри на сутки.Решение было простым довести до закипания потом стравить пар через рукоять нажатием курка и крышка легко открутилась.