Does your device rise abnormally in temperature when you use it? Do you feel that its shell is hot? A burnt smell emerges? There's no doubt your hair dryer has overheated. This is confirmed if the device has switched off automatically during your use. Indeed, all hair dryers are equipped with a thermal safety device which cuts off the current when it detects an abnormally high temperature. This usually happens before overheating can cause irreversible damage to your device, since some components are sensitive to excessive heat and may melt. But then, why is your hair dryer overheating? Et what to do to prevent it from overheating?
Why does the hair dryer overheat?
Overheating can be caused by different factors :
- It can occur exceptionally, following a intensive use or after having involuntarily blocked the air circuit.
- It can also occur if the filter or the ventilation grilles are clogged.
- Finally, in rarer cases, overheating can be caused by component failure essential in the ventilation or temperature measurement system: thermal fuse or thermostat, fan, electronic card or resistor.
In any case, when a hair dryer overheats, it is essential to determine the origin of the problem to prevent this from happening again and causing significant damage to another component of the device. Then discover in the second part of the article the steps to follow to solve the problem of abnormally excessive temperature on your hair dryer.
Important: If you notice that the power cord or the shell of your hair dryer has melted, stop using the appliance immediately and unplug it from the electrical outlet. Indeed, there is a risk of short-circuiting, and in exceptional but serious cases, there is a risk of fire or electrocution. If you are in this situation, replace the best solution is to replace the hair dryer. If it is still eligible for a warranty, contact the after-sales service of the retailer or brand.
How to fix an overheating hair dryer?
When your hair dryer gets too hot, try to find the origin of the problem to solve it effectively.
Check the conditions of use of the hair dryer
If this is the first time your hair dryer overheated, it is possible that your use is the cause. If you've been using your hair dryer on a high setting for many minutes, the heat may have built up and it may have overheated. Likewise if you have accidentally obstructed the air circuit. Indeed, you should never block the ventilation or the air outlet.
In the case of a occasional overheating, unplug your hair dryer, wait ten minutes for it to cool, then try using it again. If the failure persists, you will then have to investigate further to resolve the problem.
Note: For the next long uses of your hair dryer, we advise you to activate the cold air button from time to time to prevent the appliance from overheating.
Clean the grill and the filter of the hair dryer which heats up too much
If you overheating problem repeats itself regularly, or that the hair dryer refuses to turn on again, the problem most certainly comes from a contamination of the device. In this case, it will be necessary to clean the vents and the filter of the hair dryer to avoid an abnormal rise in temperature of your machine. To do this, disconnect the device from the power supply then carry out the following maintenance operations:
Clean the air vent
Check that the hair dryer vents are not clogged. In most cases, the grid is at the back of the hair dryer. But it can also have several and be on the handle or on the sides of the hair dryer. It will then be necessary to think about the dust off regularly with a soft, lint-free cloth or a soft, dry brush.
Clean the filter
Check that the air filter is not clogged because it is very often responsible for overheating on your hair dryer. In fact, the filter prevents dust and dirt in the air from penetrating inside the hair dryer, which could cause a breakdown of the internal electronic components. Over time, if the screen is not cleaned regularly, dirt can build up on the filter. It will then no longer be able to fulfill its role effectively. Therefore, in addition to reducing the incoming air flow, the particles will enter the engine block et cause the hair dryer to overheat.
The filter is located under the air vent of the hair dryer. This can be removable and therefore easily removed. Sometimes it has to be disassembled (refer to the instructions for use). Once the grid has been removed, clean the filter. Please note, depending on the model and brand of your hair dryer, the procedure may be different. In most cases you can clean the filter with a dry, clean, lint-free cloth. All liquids and cleaning products are often prohibited. To find the exact procedure for cleaning the filter, refer to the instructions for use of your hair dryer model. If you do not have it available, you will most certainly be able to find it dematerialized on the manufacturer's website, under the “Instructions for use” section.
Note: Some hair dryer models do not allow the grille to be removed and therefore access to the filter (often on older models or low-end models). If the filter cleaning operation is not noted on the instructions, then it is certainly not possible to clean the filter of your hair dryer.
Contact a professional
When your hair dryer continues to overheat after having carried out the checks and operations seen above, the problem most certainly comes from a internal component that is faulty. In the vast majority of cases, it will be a component that allows the cooling of the device, namely the thermostat, the thermal fuse, the resistance, the fan or the electronic card.
Unfortunately, the manipulations to repair the failure of a component require electrical skills solid. Indeed, it is necessary to disassemble the hair dryer, test the various elements and replace them in the event of proven failure. In addition to very likely encountering difficulties in providing you with the necessary spare parts, especially if your appliance is old, there is a risk of electrocution and irreversible damage to the hair dryer. We therefore recommend that you call a professional repairer.
If your hair dryer that gets too hot is still under warranty (2 years minimum legal in France), contact the after-sales service of the retailer or manufacturer. You will then obtain a free repair or replacement of your device. If your device is no longer eligible for warranty, contact an independent professional repairer. Don't forget to ask for a quote to avoid disappointment. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is more advantageous to buy a new hair dryer.
