Nothing makes much sense, does it? My daughter has had two Rowentas and the first one leaked, she dumped it and got a second one and also got me one. I read all the directions, and get this...my directions said to use a combination of distilled water and tap water. I asked daughter if she had read her directions. "No, you know me" she said. So far, all is well with mine. I begin to think that these irons need some calcification to seal them and keep them from leaking. Guess time will tell. One thing I do know, I would never pay the price of a Rowenta for an iron.