DIY toaster repair

Although a toaster is a simple device, From time to time you will have to deal with its maintenance or repair. For this you may need:

• Phillips screwdriver No. 2 or No. 3;
• slotted screwdriver with slot width 0.8 mm;
• pliers 150 mm;
• tweezers, it can be useful for removing the springs and holding the fasteners.
• In addition, you will need a brush and a soft cloth.

To diagnose the operation of the electrical part, you will need a multimeter (tester). Of course, you should have the instruction manual on hand.

Repair and maintenance work must begin by disconnecting the device from the network. And only after that you can start disassembling the case. After eliminating the defects that have arisen, the body must be assembled and you can start preparing toast.

Important! There should be no unnecessary details! This is no joke, a screw that is not screwed into place or a lock washer that is not installed will sooner or later lead to failure of the toaster!

A toaster can be found in almost any kitchen. Structurally, it consists of only a few parts:

• handles;
• toast holders;
• latch;
• Control block;
• heating elements;
• crumb tray.

Depending on the toaster model, the number of parts may vary up or down.

How it works

After pressing the slider handle, the holders are lowered, with the loaves of bread inserted into them. At the same time, the heating elements are turned on.

As a certain time elapses, the relay is activated, the heaters are turned off and the spring is activated, lifting the holders upward. The toast is ready.

Main malfunctions of toasters and their causes

crumbs

While making toast, crumbs fall from the surface of the bread. At first glance, there is nothing dangerous about them, but as they accumulate, they can interfere with the normal operation of the moving parts of the toaster. In addition, crumbs can cause a fire.

Important! All work on servicing and repairing the toaster can only be carried out after disconnecting it from the network.

All manufactured toasters are equipped with trays where the bulk of bread crumbs accumulate. Pallets can be retractable or folding. Practice shows that the tray must be cleaned once a week. To do this, you can use a brush or soft cloth.

Depending on the frequency of use, crumbs accumulate in the housing, for this you need to put it on its side and use the same brush to carefully sweep them from inside the toaster.

Important! You should not shake or even knock the toaster on the table surface. there is a risk that the heating elements may break.

Toaster won't turn on

There may be several reasons for this - faulty plug or fuse, to eliminate this defect, you need to check that the plug is connected correctly and, if necessary, replace the blown fuse.

If this does not help, then it is likely that there is no electricity in the power supply. That is, the circuit breaker could have tripped.In addition, the cord may break, and it is quite possible that it will have to be replaced.

Bad contacts

One of the reasons for the malfunction of the toaster may be either loose or burnt contacts. If the toaster uses soldered joints, then it is better to entrust the work of eliminating this defect to a specialist in the workshop.

Oxidized or burnt contacts must either be cleaned or replaced with functional ones. When the latches are turned on, the plates must be closed and there is no point in bending them to improve contact.

Toast is not toasted

If everything outwardly works normally, but the toast is not toasted, then this may be caused either by malfunctions in the heating elements, and only a specialist from a household appliance repair shop can do this correctly, or by a failure of the control board. By the way, its breakdown can often be accompanied by the smell of burnt plastic.

To clarify this issue, it is enough to remove the housing and inspect it. Burnt out elements are immediately visible, but how much will it cost to replace them? In fact, maybe buy a new toaster?

The burnt spiral is also visible and it is better to replace it in a workshop.

Burnt toast

If your toast burns, there are two possible reasons:

• maybe it makes sense to change the cooking mode;
• It's time to remove the crumbs from the toaster.

Interruptions in the operation of mechanical parts

Problems with the lifting mechanism

They may be caused by the toast being too thick, which interferes with the movement of the holders. By the way, too thin toasts can also interfere with the movement of the holders. Such toasts can become deformed and jam the mechanism.

The most common cause of failure of mechanical things is the same bread crumbs. They can stick to the guides or directly into the mechanism itself.

To gain access to the mechanical components of the toaster, you will have to disassemble it. There are models in which it is enough to remove the side panels to gain access to the mechanisms, but in some products you can remove the entire body. Therefore, before you begin disassembling, you need to carefully inspect the case and understand how to disassemble it. By the way, the slider handle that controls the movement of the toast holders can be removed either separately or together with the casing, this also applies to the button that gives the command for frying.

Once the interference has been eliminated and the mechanism is working without interruption, the toaster can be assembled.

Safety

When performing repairs and maintenance, simple safety precautions must be observed. Before servicing or repairing the toaster, you must turn off the power to it.

It is necessary to constantly check the condition of the cord; it must not come into contact with heating elements or water. Some models have a place in the case for storing the cord and it is advisable to put it there after preparing toast. If there are small children in the house, then after use the device should be put out of reach of them.

By the way, sometimes housewives inadvertently place bread packed in a plastic bag next to this device. Under the influence of temperature, the packaging may melt and spoil the bread, or get on the body of the toaster.

The listed defects are typical for most models of these simple household appliances and correcting them yourself is not such a difficult matter.