Skip to content
Hello, good morning, good afternoon or good evening, depending on when you are reading this. I'm Pepe, an Electrotodo technician, and today I want to share with you a recent experience that can help you if you have problems with your pressure cooker.
In this blog, I'll tell you how we solved a common problem and some tips for properly maintaining your pressure cooker.
Problem Identification: Valve Does Not Rise
A customer contacted us because the valve on their pressure cooker was not rising, meaning the cooker was not building pressure properly. This can be frustrating and dangerous if not handled correctly. The customer mentioned that the three rings on the valve did not rise, which is a visual indicator that the cooker is working well.
Upon receiving the pot lid, we noticed that the rubber on the valve was in poor condition. A worn rubber may seem harmless, but it is crucial for the proper functioning of the pot. The worn rubber on the lid looked like a Machín maraca, which is clearly not good.
Changing the Rubber and Preparing for the Test
The first step was to remove the old rubber and install a new one. At Electrotodo we sell original rubber bands that are high quality, economical and very effective. Changing the rubber is a simple but vital process to ensure that the valve works correctly.
With the new rubber in place, we reassembled the lid and set the pot to heat. While we waited for the pot to come to pressure, I took the opportunity to show off some of the new handles we have available for the pots. These new handles from Perfect are slightly different than the old ones. They now come with a center shaft and the valve has been modified to include a slightly larger bellows and longer plunger.
Observing the Pressurization Process
Once the pot started to heat up, we saw that the first thing it did was blow some steam through the safety valve. This is completely normal. The ball inside the valve rises and makes a tight seal. Once this happens, the pot should begin to raise the main valve.
In a matter of minutes, we could see how the first ring began to rise, indicating that the pot was beginning to gain pressure correctly. It is crucial to observe this process, especially if your kitchen is made of glass ceramic.
On glass-ceramic stoves, it is important to lower the temperature when the pot begins to pressurize, since the resistance maintains the heat for longer and can cause the safety valve to activate if not controlled.
Conclusion and Final Advice
The customer's problem was quickly resolved by changing the rubber on the lid. The valve went up perfectly once the rubber was in good condition, proving that the rubber was the real problem, not the handle as initially thought.
It is essential to regularly check the rubber on the pot and change it if it is worn or loose. A rubber in poor condition not only affects the operation of the pot, but can also be a waste of money due to inefficiency in cooking.
Finally, I want to remind you that if you have old handles, it is also advisable to consider changing the gaskets. At Electrotodo we still have gaskets available for models from 20 years ago, so do not hesitate to contact us for any needs.
I hope this information is useful to you and that your problems with the pressure cooker are resolved as easily as the customer's. Thank you very much for reading and see you next time!