A hair dryer is an essential styling tool for many people. When your trusty dryer stops working properly, it can be frustrating. Rather than throwing out your broken hair dryer and buying a new one, why not try to repair it yourself first? Repairing your own hair dryer can save you money and the hassle of shopping for a replacement.
This comprehensive DIY guide will provide detailed, step-by-step instructions on diagnosing common hair dryer problems and making repairs. Read on to learn safety tips, what tools you’ll need, how to take apart your dryer, and how to fix various issues from cord and switch problems to overheating. With this hair dryer repair guide under your belt, you’ll be drying your locks again in no time!
Understanding How Hair Dryers Work
Before attempting to repair your broken hair dryer, it helps to understand the basics of how hair dryers function. The main components of a hair dryer include:
- Housing: The external plastic case that contains all the inner components.
- Air Inlets: Openings that allow air to be drawn into the dryer.
- Heating Element: Metal coil that heats up when electricity passes through it. Gets extremely hot during use.
- Blower: An electric fan that pulls air into the dryer and blows the hot air out of the concentrator nozzle.
- Switches: Buttons or switches that control heat/power settings.
- Handle: Plastic handle area for holding the dryer.
- Power Cord: Electrical cord that connects dryer to power outlet.
- Concentrator Nozzle: End piece that focuses hot airflow to dry hair faster. Removable on most models.
When turned on, a motor spins the blower which sucks air through vent holes on the sides or back of the dryer. This air flows over the heating element coils which heat up to high temperatures rapidly. The now hot air gets blown out of the concentrator nozzle in a strong stream to dry damp hair.
Speed and heat settings on hair dryers operate the motor and heating element differently to customize airflow temperature as needed. Switches modulate electrical flow while a thermostat senses temperature and turns the heating coils off once desired temp is reached. Understanding these inner workings will assist in diagnosing and repairing common hair dryer problems.
Common Hair Dryer Problems
Some of the most frequently occurring hair dryer faults include:
Won’t Turn On
- Loose, frayed, or damaged power cord
- Faulty power cord connections
- Blown fuse
- Broken on/off switch
- Faulty plug
No Heat or Intermittent Heat
- Burnt out heating element
- Loose wiring connections
- Thermostat issues
Weak or Slow Airflow
- Build up of dust and hair on air inlets blocking airflow
- Motor or fan issues
Loud Noise
- Defective motor
- Damaged or loose blower fan
- Blocked air inlets
Shutting Off Randomly
- Overheating due to obstructed vents
- Thermostat issues
- Problems with wiring
Being able to identify what type of issue you’re experiencing is the first step towards fixing your faulty hair dryer.
Hair Dryer Repair Safety
Attempting DIY electrical repairs involves dealing with dangerous conditions like exposure to electric shock, burns, and fires. Observe these necessary safety precautions before and during your hair dryer repair process:
1. Unplug the Hair Dryer
Always unplug your faulty dryer from the electrical outlet before inspecting or attempting any repairs. Make sure it stays unplugged throughout the repair process too. Taping the plug to the hair dryer will help you remember.
2. Let It Cool Off
If dealing with an overheating hair dryer, allow sufficient time for the inner components to cool down completely first before disassembling to avoid serious burns.
3. Use Nonconductive Tools
Use plastic or rubber tools instead of metal ones when prying open an unplugged hair dryer to avoid any contact with live internal parts.
4. No Rings or Watches
Remove all jewelry on hands and wrists when working with electrical wiring to prevent conductor contact accidents.
5. Discharge Capacitors
Power capacitors store electricity even when not powered on. Carefully discharge capacitors completely before touching using an insulated screwdriver.
Observing stringent electrical safety measures is vital when attempting DIY device repairs at home. If uncertain about safely handling repair procedures, consider hiring an experienced repair technician instead.
Gather Necessary Hair Dryer Repair Tools
Gather this list of required tools and supplies before beginning disassembly and repairs:
- Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers: Common types and sizes to open dryer housing
- Needle nose pliers: For gripping wires, twisting connections
- Wire cutters and strippers: Prepare wires for connections
- Isopropyl alcohol: Cleans components
- Q tips: Clean hard to reach areas
- Multimeter: Diagnose faults in heating element, motor, etc
- Soldering iron and solder: Secures wiring connections
- Kapton tape or electrical tape: Insulate bare wires and connections
- Plastic or rubber pry tool: Protect device surface when prying
- Thermal paste: For reapplying between heating element and heat sink
- Replacement parts: Have likely replacement parts ready – heating element, motor, switch, etc
Collect everything you’ll need to take apart, diagnose issues in, clean, and fix your broken hair dryer components all in one organized place. Being well prepared with tools and parts makes the repair process much simpler.
Step-by-Step Hair Dryer Repair Guide
Follow these detailed hair dryer repair steps to troubleshoot and fix common problems with your broken dryer:
1. Disassemble the Hair Dryer Housing
- Unplug dryer and let cool completely
- Use a plastic pry tool to pop open any snap clips securing housing
- Unscrew all visible fastener screws on the outer case using a Phillips head screwdriver
- Carefully pry open the housing starting at seams working all around
- Once opened enough, slide out internal components
- Use sketches, labels, or smartphone photos to record component positions to simplify correct reassembly later
Be very gentle when opening the housing to avoid cracking fragile plastic components. Separate any interior screws, brackets or protective covers to fully expose all inner parts too.
2. Troubleshoot the Issue
Identifying exactly which component is causing your dryer problem is crucial for an efficient repair. Follow this structured troubleshooting process:
No Power at All
- Check power cord thoroughly for any cuts, exposed wires or loose plug connections
- Test outlet power functionality
- Inspect on and off switches for visible wear/damage
- Open device to inspect for any loose or disconnected wires
- Check circuit fuse and replace if blown
No Heat
- Verify heating element coils are still intact visually
- Use multimeter to check heating element, thermostat, wiring for continuity
- Ensure element makes secure contact with metal heat sink
- Test functionality of thermal fuse using multimeter
Reduced Airflow
- Confirm blower fan spins freely without obstruction
- Brush or blow out all air inlets and outlets thoroughly
- Take apart blower motor housing and clear out built up lint/dust if still blocked after external cleaning
Be methodical in your troubleshooting process. Visually inspect each component and analyze symptoms before testing with tools.
3. Clean the Internal Components
Give all disassembled hair dryer parts a thorough deep cleaning:
- Wipe down the blower fan and plastic housing using isopropyl alcohol and q tips
- Use small stiff bristled brushes to dislodge debris inside crevices
- Check heating element coils for burn residue buildup obstructing airflow – carefully scrape off using plastic scraper
- Vacuum all loose dirt and dust surrounding motor
Remove all obstructing hair, lint residue, and dirt around internal components for smoother functioning.
4. Repair or Replace Faulty Parts
Effect repairs once you’ve identified the root cause:
- Damaged Power Cord: Cut damaged section completely or replace entire cord
- Faulty Plug/Switch: Resolder loose spade connectors or replace plug/switch
- Blown Fuse: Remove and replace fuse accordingly
- Heating Element: Reposition coils ensuring snug fit or replace
- Thermal Fuse: Desolder and replace fuse with exact same specifications
- Motor: Take apart, clean out completely and reassemble or replace
- Broken Tabs/Clips: Replace broken plastic housing tabs and clips
Use proper safety gear and equipment for all soldering, wiring, and power connections.
5. Reassemble the Dryer
- Ensure no wires or components left disconnected
- Reposition all internal parts correctly as per original sketches/photos
- Replace any protective covers removed
- Secure dryer housing starting with perimeter clips then screws
- Give repaired unit thorough functionality testing before regular use
Double check all parts secured in right positions before resealing for safety. Go slow and take photos of the reassembly process too.
Specific Hair Dryer Repair Instructions
Beyond general troubleshooting and repairs, you may need targeted guidelines to fix very particular hair dryer problems. Here are step-by-step repair guides for the most common hair dryer faults:
Repairing a Broken On/Off Switch
Damaged on and off switches that won’t toggle between heat settings pose common hair dryer headaches. Try this switch repair process:
- Unplug dryer and disassemble housing
- Locate switch board connected to heat/speed switches
- Unscrew and remove switch knobs
- Desolder and detach faulty switch from board
- Clean board area thoroughly
- Solder new switch securely matching prongs to board openings
- Reattach switch knob once cooled and solidly fused
- Test toggle functionality before reassembling dryer
Use a heatproof mat when soldering to prevent damaging sensitive switch boards. Allow freshly soldered units to cool completely before attempting to reattach switch knobs too.
Fixing Loose Electrical Wiring
Detached or incomplete circuits caused by loose internal connections drastically affect dryer functions. Try these tips for reattaching broken wires:
- Study wiring diagram inside dryer housing to determine where wires originally attached
- Unscrew and remove wires with incomplete connections
- Cut damaged wire section off completely using wire cutters
- Strip wire ends using stripping tool
- Twist stripped wire around posts at severed ends
- Solder wires carefully matching circuits correctly
- Secure completed wire connections by wrapping insulating tape
Remember to discharge capacitors completely before attempting any wiring repairs. Match loose wire colors correctly while reconnecting fragmented circuits too.
Replacing Burnt Out Heating Element
If you smell burning plastic while using your hair dryer, the heating element is probably burnt out from excess build-up or simple wear and tear. Replace your faulty heating element with these instructions:
- Test current heating element first using multimeter to confirm it’s broken
- Carefully detach coils from mount brackets and interior housing panel
- Unscrew element from ceramic insulators and remove completely
- Install replacement element reversing above steps
- Ensure it sits evenly and makes complete contact with the heat sink
- Test repaired unit to verify desired heat functioning before reassembling
Avoid touching remaining residue on burnt coils during removal to prevent skin irritation. Ceramic insulators are fragile – handle carefully.
Correcting Motor or Fan Issues
Reduced airflow from accumulated debris is easily fixable but broken fan blades or motors require replacement. Follow these motor and fan repair tips:
- Remove fan assembly from dryer by unscrewing brackets
- Clean fan blades thoroughly removing all debris buildup
- Check blades for any cracks; replace fan if damaged
- Test motor using multimeter checking for continuity
- If motor damaged, desolder wiring connections
- Solder replacement motor wires matching circuit order
- Reinstall fan assembly once repairs complete
- Ensure fan spins freely without obstruction or odd noises
Hair dryer motors connect differently to wiring. Take clear photos before desoldering motor wires for easier reconnection later.
Fixing Dropped Hair Dryer Issues
After dropping your hair dryer accidentally, problems can range from cosmetic cracks to loosened electrical connections:
- Test overall functionality after a fall checking heat, airflow, switches, etc
- If external housing cracked only, continue using short term after securing broken sections temporarily with strong tape
- Open up housing to inspect for broken wires, connections or any cracks near the wiring
- Repair severed internal connections first if found using above electrical wiring repair guide
- Order replacement parts for all broken switches, cords, etc
- Consider replacing entire unit if repairs seem too complicated or damages too expensive
Avoid continued usage after dropping if wires are visible through large cracks. Components affected may malfunction later.
Be prepared by learning repair techniques for the most frequently occurring hair dryer faults beforehand. Determine exact problems then follow step-by-step repair guides to troubleshoot and fix broken dryers quickly.
Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Hair Dryer for Your Hair Type
Conclusion
Knowing how to diagnose and repair common hair dryer problems is useful when you’d rather fix than replace your broken styling tool. Instead of wasting money on buying brand new dryers each time, learn to identify issues accurately then apply targeted solutions.
This hair dryer repair guide covers all essentials – safety guidelines, needed tools, step-by-step troubleshooting and repair instructions for various faults, and specific fixes for typical issues faced. Bookmark it for easy reference to attempt repairs independently whenever required.
Remember to always unplug devices and proceed carefully when dismantling electrical items yourself. Seek professional assistance for complicated damages. With some basic DIY repair skills, you can restore functioning to expensive hair dryers instead of replacement very often.
So don’t toss out your broken blow dryer just yet! Use the detailed guidelines in this article to troubleshoot and implement repairs effectively. You’ll increase dryer lifespan considerably while saving money too. Achieve beautifully styled hair using your trusted dryer again with simple DIY fixes for common problems it may develop over time.