According to a Rowenta representative I talked to several years ago about my Rowenta I HAD, if you use it EVERY day it shouldn't leak. Personally, I would never have another one. I just bought a 2nd iron, a T-Fal which is okay. Not too crazy about the setting dial on it, but it steams great and heats up pretty fast. My other iron in the basement is a Shark, which I just love. I am all for the cheap irons now.

The first Rowenta iron I bought years ago worked beautifully for a very long time. When it finally went out, I bought another Rowenta, and have bought another one since, all of which leaked very early on. I like the fact that the Rowenta is a heavy iron because I think it does a better job, especially on cottons, but I will never buy another one. When I complained to the store where I bought the leaky irons, I was told I needed to allow the iron to "recover" after each shot of steam, before pressing the steam button again. I have to say, that does help, but it does not keep the iron from leaking in the long run. I bought a Black and Decker iron in a yard sale for 50 cents that has worked beautifully for three years, and I was paying close to $100.00 for the Rowenta Professional iron....never again !

I'm like all of you. It only took me one time and I went back to the cheap iron and it turns itself off. didn't even get a year out of the Rowenta. Couldn't find the sales to get a refund or address to complain. No more for me. Your right it doesn't get hot enough either.

I must be the wierd one because I love my Rowenta. It has not leaked and I have had it for 3-4 years. It is my 2nd one and the only reason I bought it was upgrading to the Professional one. It says to use tap water and I always have. A friend called me one day and was sick because hers was leaking and I asked if she was using tap water and her reply was Well no-I always use distilled water-read to her from the box that it says to use tap water and she was surprised and dumped out the distilled water and has used tap water and hasn't had further problems. But we were raised in the era where distilled water was what you put in a steam iron.

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.

I've bought several on EBay with varying degrees of success. The first was a top of the line professional and I paid $20.00 for it about 10 years ago---this iron is still in operation.
The second was a lighter iron which also lasted through many droppings until the last drop and it would no longer stay together---bummer, I loved that iron!

The third and fourth were purchased for only about $10.00 each and neither worked properly. One wouldn't come up to temperature before cutting off and would not come back on . I got a full refund on it.
The other would come on and auto shut off, but the steamer didn't work so I got a full refund on this one as well.

I'm still looking for another and will continue to buy them IF they are made in Germany.

It might of broke a seal or weld when you accidentally dropped it. I would probably buy another depending on how bad the leak is. I suppose I would worry it might stain something.

Rowenta irons are SOOOO overrated!!!! I bought a Sunbeam $60.00 iron and it lasted less than 6 months. I finally went to Walmart and bought a Black & Decker classic iron that cost me $21.99 and it's the best iron I've had in years!!

I have two cheapie older irons and have had them forever and never had a problem with them.

I have to say that I think the B&D irons are the best for the money. I've had one for years and knocked it off numerous times (oops). It was their $40-50 Pro Iron. Works like a charm.

I was thinking about a Rowenta travel iron though. I need one that's bigger than the little wand iron and was wondering how those irons were. Any thoughts on the little ones - with steaming? (I suppose they steam?)