3 problems with the kitchen blender that you can solve yourself
Over time, even the best kitchen blenders will start to show damage. This is especially true if you use your blender every day to make thick smoothies. Today, in our throwaway society, we are quick to throw out a product at the first sign of a malfunction. Small appliances like blenders are usually not worth taking to a repair shop to have them fixed. But before you send your blender to the landfill and buy a new one, there are several quick and easy repairs you can do yourself. It’s worth taking the time to do these checks to see if you can get your blender working again.
leaks
One of the most common problems you’ll encounter with your kitchen blender is a leak. Even the highest rated blenders from blender reviews will start to have this problem eventually. The cause lies in the O-ring or gasket located at the bottom of the blender jar where the blade assembly and housing reside. Over time, the rubber gasket begins to wear out. If the blender leak is coming from the glass jar and not the bottom, then there is likely a crack in the jar and you will need to replace it. However, the leak at the bottom is likely to be the gasket. To inspect it, you will need to unscrew the blade housing from the blender jar and pull out the rubber o-ring. So you can look for leaks and tears in the rubber on this ring. This part is easily replaceable and only costs a few dollars. You can find it online or at most discount home or appliance stores.
defective blades
Another common problem with blenders will occur with the blades. In this case, the motor will start to work, but the blades will rotate too slowly. If this happens, the likely cause is something obstructing the blade assembly area. You will need to disassemble the assembly and clean everything thoroughly with a scrub brush. There is probably a buildup of food slowing down the blades. Soaking everything for a few hours in detergent will also help dissolve any food particles or dirt that have built up over time. Be sure to check your owner’s manual to make sure this is okay for your particular brand of blender. You may also want to add a little white grease or WD-40 to the bottom of the blade assembly (not the areas where you’ll be putting food, of course). If all of this doesn’t work, then you’ll probably need to replace the entire assembly, which can also be purchased online or at most appliance stores.
busted buttons
Another problem you may have with your kitchen blender is with the buttons or the control panel. Often the buttons will get stuck. This is probably due to food and drink falling into the button area and causing them to get stuck. Even if you take care and thoroughly clean the buttons and control panel, food particles will continue to accumulate over time. Many blender models will allow you to remove the control panel cover so you can clean behind it. You can use a toothbrush here to help you get to all the crevices. Some blender models will also allow you to remove the screws on the bottom of the unit and pop out the bottom area of the case so you can access the buttons more easily. Be sure to check your owner’s manual if you need to do this. Often all your blender needs is a good cleaning to get the buttons working again.
This information should help resolve the most common minor blender problems. Keep in mind that often a simple repair or replacement will save you the expense of having to buy a new blender. It’s also much better for the environment to fix something rather than just throw it away.