Do-it-yourself Toaster Repair, How To Clean It Inside And How To Use It Correctly + Video

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to repair a toaster with your own hands, how to use and clean it correctly?

Fragrant bread toasts, which came to us from the Anglo-Saxon culture, are prepared using special electric ovens - toasters. Like any household appliance, a toaster needs regular care and maintenance. The design of the toaster is simple and reliable, but if used improperly, it can deteriorate. How to use a toaster so that it lasts a long time, how to repair the device with your own hands if it still breaks down?

Content

• 1 What is a toaster and what is it used for?

  • 1.1 Classic toaster
  • 1.2 Toaster roaster
  • 1.3 Sandwich toaster

• 2 How does a toaster work, how does it work?

  2.1 Video: demonstration of toaster operation

• 3 DIY home appliance repair

  • 3.1 Disassembly

    3.1.1 Video: what's inside

  • 3.2 If the lever does not lock
  • 3.3 How to fix if it does not turn on
  • 3.4 Heater coil does not burn
  • 3.5 The fry regulator does not turn on
  • 3.6 Toasts do not cook well

  • 3.7 Smells distinctly burnt - why and what to do

    3.7.1 Video: Troubleshooting

• 4 How to use the toaster correctly?

  • 4.1 General terms of use
  • 4.2 How to make toast correctly

• 5 How to clean and wash

  • 5.1 Safety rules
  • 5.2 Cleaning procedure
  • 5.3 Video: How to Maintain Your Toaster

What is a toaster, what is it used for?

The word "toast" comes from the English toast and refers to thin slices of toasted or lightly toasted bread served for breakfast. In order to quickly cook toasts and not overcook them, special ovens - toasters - were invented. Toasters come in three main types: classic toaster, toaster roaster, and sandwich toaster.

Classic toaster

The classic toaster is a vertical box with narrow slots. Inside there are baskets in which pieces of bread are put. The user presses the lever, the baskets are lowered and locked in the lower position, and the bread is between the heating elements.

Ready toast is thrown out by a spring

As soon as the timer is triggered, the heating stops, the spring returns the basket to the upper position. Ready toast appears from the cracks, you can have breakfast.

Toaster roaster

You can brown the slices of bread in a regular oven, but it is ineffective to heat up the oven for a couple of loaves for breakfast. The industry produces kitchen mini-ovens (no more than 20 liters), which are also called "roaster" (from the English roast - to fry).

The bread is placed horizontally in a mini oven roaster

The bread in the roaster is positioned horizontally between the top and bottom heating elements. Unlike the toaster, the roaster can be used to heat sandwiches and pizza, fry sausages and sausages.

Sandwich toaster

A classic toaster can only dry and brown bread slices. Since the bread is set vertically in it, you cannot make a full-fledged hot sandwich (sandwich) in the toaster - the ingredients will fall down. A special sandwich toaster can make a real sandwich.

In a sandwich toaster, filled bread is baked between hot plates

This appliance looks more like a waffle iron than an oven or toaster. The assembled sandwich is placed on the lower panel and covered with the upper panel. Both panels heat up, so the sandwich is evenly baked on top and bottom, turning into a flat patty. The shape of the sandwich is given by indentations in the panels.

How does a toaster work, how does it work?

The classic toaster is a closed housing with slots, inside which there are heating elements, as well as a movable basket for bread. For cooking, the slices are placed in a basket.

Toaster circuit. Non-working (top) position

The diagram shows the following parts of the toaster when not in use:

1. Lever arm. Serves to lower the bread basket and turn on the appliance.
2. Heater. Hot nichrome wires that warm the bread.
3. Opener. It is taken out on the body and marked with the inscription "Stop". Designed for emergency power off and early termination of cooking.
4. Lock. Locks the basket in the lower position.

In the off state, the lever (1) is in the upper position, the heating coils (2) are off, the circuit breaker (3) is closed, the basket is raised. The lock (4) for locking the basket is open.

Toaster circuit. Working (lower) position

The diagram shows the following parts of the toaster in working position:

5. Hot coil heater. Radiates the heat that bakes bread.

6. Movable basket. Lowers the product to the heater.

7. Striker plate. Holds the basket while cooking.

8. Electromagnet. Magnets the striker plate while the bread is cooking.

9. Wedge-shaped plate. Closes contacts when lowering the basket.

When the user presses the lever, the basket (6) is lowered down, the following processes occur simultaneously:

• The plastic wedge-shaped plate (9) is lowered and pushes the spring contacts.
• The spring contacts close and turn on the control circuit, heaters and an electromagnet.
• The electromagnet creates a magnetic field that magnetizes the bar (7) to the core, thereby locking the basket (6) to the lock (4) in the lower position.
• The control circuit starts the countdown timer.

Infrared radiation (5) heats the bread until the timer goes off. As soon as the cooking time has elapsed, the control circuit removes power from the electromagnet, the basket is released from its engagement and returns to the upper position under the action of the spring. The wedge plate (9) releases the spring contacts, they open and turn off the heaters and control circuit.

Video: toaster demonstration

DIY home appliance repair

Toaster malfunctions can be associated with both the electrical part of the device and with the mechanics.

Disassembly

1. Turn the appliance over and fold up the crumb tray.

   

   Flip open crumb tray

2. Pry off and remove the basket lowering lever handle.

   

   Remove the handle from the lever

3. Turn the toaster over and remove the screws securing the plastic covers. A screwdriver with a special slot may be needed.

   

   Unscrew the cover screws

4. Pull the plastic sides apart, release and remove the crumb tray.

   

   Remove the crumb tray

5. Remove the plastic walls.

   

   Remove plastic walls

6. To get to the heaters, squeeze the metal tabs clamping the casing.

   

   Unclench the steel petals

7. Remove the mica plate around which the heating wire is wound.

   

   Remove the heater plate

Video: what's inside

If the lever does not lock

Problem: you push the lever of the toaster, it pops back out; you have to press the lever several times to lock it; you have to hold the lever down to lock it in place.

Possible reasons:

1. The toaster is not powered. Check that the toaster is plugged in, the plug and cable are in good condition, and there is no open circuit in the circuits. Replace the wire if damaged. Check the fuse - if it's blown, replace it with a new one.

   

   The toaster does not turn on due to a break in the pinched cable

2. Insufficient power supply for electromagnet. Perhaps the roast level regulator is at the smallest division and the current flowing through the electromagnet is not enough to press the basket. Try to set the control to the middle position and press the lever again.
3. The lever is clogged. Crumbs could get under the lever or in the guides, causing the lever to not reach the bottom position. Take out the crumb tray, shake it out, turn the toaster over and gently shake it over the trash can.

How to fix if it doesn't turn on

Problem: You push the lever of the toaster, but the spirals don't heat up.

Possible reasons:

1. The toaster is not powered. Check that the toaster is plugged in, and that the socket, wire and plug are working. Replace the wire if damaged.

2. The contacts that start the control circuit are burnt or oxidized. Remove the cover from the toaster and carefully inspect the contacts that the lever closes. Significant current flows through the contacts, so they could be burned from the resulting sparks. Clean the contacts with fine sandpaper, a file or a knife. Check that the contacts are closed when the lever is lowered.

   

   Check spring contacts. Oxides are not conductive

3. There is no contact in the electrical circuit of the toaster. Check the connections and contacts inside the toaster. Secure the wires, solder the connections.

   

   Check the tightness of wires and cables

Heater coil does not burn

Problem: you turn on the toaster, the basket is fixed, but the wires do not heat up, you cannot see the characteristic glow in the slots.

Possible cause is heater malfunction.

If your toaster contains a wire heater, the wire may break or burn out. This malfunction can be eliminated. Disassemble the toaster, remove the mica plate on which the nichrome wire is wound. Inspect the heater - breaks or short circuits are visible to the naked eye.

The coil does not burn - the heater wire is torn

If visual inspection fails, disconnect the heater contacts from the control board and measure the resistance with a tester. If the circuit is open, the device does not show any value.

Call all connections with a tester

To rebuild the heater, flatten the broken wire ends, twist them and apply a bandage, for example, of copper tubing. To do this, cut the tube lengthwise, put it on the twisted spiral and squeeze it with side cutters. Be careful not to damage the mica insulator.

Copper tubing bandage to wire

Fry regulator does not turn on

Regulators of the degree of roasting in toasters are of two types: mechanical and electronic.

The mechanical regulator is a bimetallic plate that bends when heated. When the set temperature is reached, the plate opens the contacts. One of the reasons for the failure of the regulator can be clogging with crumbs. Open the case and clean any debris from the regulator mechanism. If the regulator is broken, for example, the plate is bent, then it is impossible to return it to work on its own. Contact a workshop.

The electronic regulator is a variable resistor that is part of the control board and sets the timer operation time. The resistor handle is brought out to the toaster body. If the knob does not turn, most likely the resistor is clogged with crumbs - it needs to be cleaned.

Another reason may lie in the absence of contact of the resistor with the board. The resistor can be soldered into the board, or connected to it with wires. Check contacts, reinforce wires, solder connections.

Poor operation of the regulator may be associated with incorrect operation or breakdown of other elements of the control board.

Toaster wiring diagram

The electrical circuit of the toaster is not too complicated, the repair of the board can be performed by a master with little experience in assembling radio circuits.

Toasts don't cook well

Toast is not toasted for the following reasons:

1. Low temperature. Check the setting of the cooking control.
2. The timer does not work correctly, it works too early. The problem is the electronic circuitry. It is necessary to check the operation of the circuit, repair or adjust the board.
3. Skewed basket or bread holders, clogged mechanisms. Disassemble the toaster, check how the mechanisms move. Straighten bent guides, basket and holders. Remove crumbs from parts.

Toast is consumed because:

1. The frying regulator is incorrectly set. Check the setting of the cooking control.
2. The timer does not work properly, works late. The problem is the electronic circuitry. It is necessary to check the operation of the circuit, adjust or repair the board.
3. The basket or bread holders are skewed. Disassemble the toaster and straighten the guides.
4. The basket gets stuck during lifting due to clogging of the mechanism. Disassemble the toaster, check the guides. Remove crumbs from the toaster and all parts.
5. Heater defective. Due to a short circuit in the circuit, the current exceeds the nominal, the spiral burns brighter than necessary, and burns the bread. Disassemble the toaster and inspect the heaters. Repair the short or replace the heater.

Toast is only fried on one side because:

1. Some of the spirals do not work. Inspect the operating device carefully. All walls inside the slots should glow red. If one of the walls does not light up, the heater does not work - there is an open or short circuit in its circuit. Disassemble the toaster, locate the broken wire and reconnect.

   

   Toasts are fried on one side - breakage of the spiral of one of the heaters

2. The basket or bread holder is bent and skewed. Disassemble the toaster and straighten the guides. Make sure the basket moves smoothly.

Smells distinctly burnt - why and what to do

1. The toaster is clogged with bread crumbs. Remove crumbs from the toaster.
2. Too soft bread is used. For example, the toast has broken inside the basket, bread particles have adhered to the basket and heater and burns. Disassemble the toaster and clean the basket, holder and spirals from stuck food.

Video: Troubleshooting

How to use a toaster correctly?

A toaster is an electrical appliance with exposed heating elements. The glowing coils are very hot and can cause injury and ignite combustible materials.

General terms of use

1. Place the toaster in a free area. The curtain should not hang over the cracks. Do not place the appliance on the edge of the table top, so as not to accidentally pull it down.
2. Only dry bread is cooked in the toaster. Ready-made sandwiches with cheese or sausage, soaked bread are unacceptable: it will fall, burn and clog the device.
3. Nothing but bread can be toasted in the toaster. There is a special toaster for making hot sandwiches, a roaster is used for sausages.
4. It is recommended to plug the appliance into a power outlet only when toasting. Do not cover a running toaster.
5. From water falling on the wire, the heater coil will burst with fireworks of red-hot particles.
6. Heating coils are hot and live. You cannot check the readiness of the bread with a steel fork - you will get an electric shock. If you really need to fix a piece, use wooden tongs.

How to make toast properly

1. The spirals should not run empty - they will overheat and burn out. Grab all the free slots of the toaster with bread.
2. Choose the right bread. Homemade pieces are rarely the same, will protrude from the grate, may touch the spirals and burn. It is recommended to take slices cut at the factory, they are always the same thickness, so they will be fried evenly.
3. Toasted bread produces many crumbs. Good toasters have a pull-out tray under the basket. It is recommended to shake out the crumbs after each cooking. Do a general cleaning and cleaning of the toaster at least once a month.

How to clean and wash

In order for the device to delight you with tasty and aromatic bread for a long time, it needs periodic maintenance. The adhering toast particles will burn on the grate and spirals, smell disgusting and may even catch fire.

Safety regulations

Safety rules must be strictly followed to avoid injury.

• Be sure to unplug the toaster and let it cool down.
• Do not poke inward with a knife or fork - damage the heaters. Use a wooden stick, spatula, or dish brush for serving. In tight spaces, you can use a toothbrush or a cooking brush.
• Water is contraindicated for a toaster - it will burn out or deteriorate, the workshop recognizes the case as out of warranty.

Cleaning procedure

When caring for your toaster, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Take a paintbrush or brush, gently brush along the wire rails and basket guides to remove adhering crumbs.

   

   Crumbs are removed from the grill with a culinary brush

2. If the toaster has a tray, the crumbs will fall down. Remove the tray, dump the crumbs into a bucket, rinse the tray under warm running water and detergent. Dry the tray with a towel.

   

   Remember to shake the crumbs out of the tray

3. If your toaster doesn't have a tray, you'll have to turn the cabinet over and shake it over the sink or bucket until the crumbs stop rolling.
4. For deeper cleaning, remove the plastic or metal cover from the toaster. Clean nooks and crannies, check contacts, guides, buttons and fry control.

5. Cleaning of the outer panels of the case completes the routine. Wipe the body, handles, top of the toaster with a damp (not wet) sponge. Greasy stains are removed with a good detergent, powder or baking soda.

   

   Baking soda or dish powder will make the case shine

Video: how to maintain a toaster

The toaster gives you the opportunity to enjoy fragrant crispy bread every morning. So that the joy is not overshadowed by the breakdown of the device, you should be careful when handling it. Due to the simplicity of the design, the toaster is easy to care for, and a home craftsman can easily eliminate minor troubles. The main thing is not to forget to regularly care for the toaster and it will serve you for a very long time.