From smoothies and sauces to facemasks and body scrubs, blenders see tons of action. Regardless of what gets diced up in your blender eventually, you may notice it start to overheat. Overheating can present itself in a few different ways, but the bottom line is that it's not a good thing. We've learned as much as we can about these cutting wonders so that you can know what to do if yours starts to burn up!
If you believe your blender is overheating, stop using it immediately. It may be a fire hazard and danger to you, depending on how badly it is overheating. Let it sit unplugged to cool down. Even if it is not a danger, continuing to use it while overheating will further damage your blender. Several different things may cause your dicing machine to overheat:
- Overloaded blades
- Worn seal
- Damaged coupler
- Overworked motor
- Broken brushes
You may have several worries about your breaking blender. Does this mean that you have to buy a new one, or can you fix it? Are you also worried that this problem will happen again if you do get a new blender? To ease your concerns and get all the blender facts you need, make sure you keep reading!
Causes For Overheating
Like any machine, there is a variety of moving parts that make a blender do its job. If any of these parts are broken or damaged, they will inhibit the blender from working correctly. Here are the different common components of a blender and why they might be causing this overheating issue.
Overloaded Blades
The blades on any blender can arguably cause the most problems. Have you ever been using your blender and noticed that the blades weren't spinning anymore? This can quickly lead to damage that causes your blender to overheat. It also leads to that warm metallic smell that is very common with blenders. This can happen because the bearings in the blade seize up from the strain of what you're blending. Your blades may also be dull and unable to cut through what you're trying to cut.
Blades are relatively easy to fix yourself so that you don't have to purchase a new one of these small appliances. First, make sure you have the manufacturer and model number of your blender. With this information, you can purchase a new blade system from the manufacturer or a third party and install it yourself. To do this, unplug the blender, then unscrew the base from the bottom of the jar. Now you can pop out the worn parts and install the new ones in the same order.
Worn Seal
All blenders have some sort of a seal. Often called a gasket, o-ring, or washer, these seals protect the motor from the top part of the blender. They are designed to stop liquid of any kind from entering the motor and damaging it. Over time these seals get old, worn, torn, and hard. This stops them from perfectly protecting the motor as even the smallest space can let liquid in.
Replacing the broken seal is even simpler than replacing the blade. They are even installed in the same place! Follow the directions above for the blade, and the old seal will be there as well. So if you find yourself replacing the blade, you may want to go ahead and replace the seal as a preventative measure.
Damaged Coupler
Couplers are an important part of the blender. They are the piece that you lock the jar into before blending. They sit at the top of the appliance base. Usually made from plastic or rubber, these parts can also become damaged. They can become hard, crack, warp, and even melt under extreme situations. Couplers are also designed as a fail-safe for the blender. This means that they are supposed to stop working if another part of the blender is overloaded, such as the blades or motor.
New couplers also have a pretty easy installation process. You should be able to gently pop out or unscrew the old one from the appliance base. After doing this, make sure there isn't any debris where the coupler sits that might obstruct the new one. Then place the new coupler.
Overworked Motor
The motor is the end of the line for all of your blender issues. If a different part is broken or worn, then the motor is what it puts stress on in one way or another. When the motor gets overworked, that's when overheating happens. If the stress has been happening for too long, then your motor may be completely broken. At this point, replacing broken blades, seals, or couplers won't stop the damage that's already been done.
Unfortunately, it may be too little too late when it comes to replacing the motor in your blender. You can attempt to troubleshoot it, but it may be cheaper to replace the entire appliance at this point. If it comes down to that, make sure to research your new blender choice to try and stop this from happening again with that machine.
Broken Brushes
The brushes are parts inside of the blender's motor that transfers electricity. If your motor is overheating and starting to break, then these may be the culprit. These parts becoming overworking inside the motor can cause that signature hot metal smell and even smoke.
One part of your motor that you may have hopes of replacing is the brushes. They can be located in different parts of the motor depending on your model, so check the manual. Once located, they should be fairly easy to remove. You may need a small screwdriver to do the job. When installing the new brushes, they should only fit into position one way.
More Thoughts On Overheating Blenders
Aside from knowing the different parts of your blender that may break, it's also essential to know what to do when your blender is actively overheating. Diagnosing the issue and trying to fix it has to come later when it's safe to do so. Let's take a look at some different questions that may help keep you safe before you try to heal your blender!
What Happens When A Blender Overheats?
It can be startling and worrying when you believe your blender is overheating. The important thing to try and remember at the moment is why it is happening. This is because the motor in your blender is overworked. Too much stress has been put on it for too long due to some part of it malfunctioning.
What Should I Do If My Blender Is Smoking?
The short answer is to stop using it immediately. Not only is your smoking blender a hazard to you but also the rest of your kitchen, as smoke leads to fire. If your blender is smoking, then make sure there are no fire hazards around it and leave it for the maximum amount of time possible to cool down. It is also recommended to open a window or turn on a ventilation fan to reduce the possibility of breathing in any of the smoke.
How Do You Cool Down A Blender?
It may seem like common sense, but if you don't allow your blender to cool down before fixing an issue, it may just cause more problems. The first step is to unplug your blender. Once it's unplugged, make sure it is on a safe surface that can become hot and does not have anything around it. Then wait 20 to 30 minutes for it to completely cool down before trying to diagnose the issue.
How To Fix A Blender That Won't Turn On?
When your blender isn't turning on then, it is most likely a power issue. To determine where the power issue lies, you can follow troubleshooting steps. The first step is to make sure your blender is even plugged in! If it is, then try moving the plug to a different outlet. You can even plug something in that you know is working into that outlet to determine if that's the issue or not. If that doesn't work, then check the power cord for frays or damage.
If none of the external factors or the outlet are the issue, it lies inside your blender. You can go into the motor of your blender if you wish. The power cord may not be adequately connected inside of the motor. Another fairly common issue is that the fuse may have blown. These can be replaced relatively easily.
How Do I Know If My Blender Is Broken?
It can be frustrating to determine if your blender is completely broken is has a fixable issue. If it won't turn on at all and none of the power troubleshooting steps help with that, then it's broken. Beyond that, it may be a matter of replacing a broken part, or you think might be. If your blender works well after that, then you should be good. However, if the problem persists, then it's either a different part of the motor as a whole may just be broken.
In Closing
If you believe your blender is overheating, then the first step is to let it cool down. After this, you can see if there are any broken parts that you may be able to replace. If the problem continues after some repairs, it may be time to buy a new blender. Hopefully, you can replace a part and then get back to enjoying your well-earned margarita!
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