While you were quietly using your hair dryer, it gives off an abnormal odor? It smells bad, and you even have the impression that it smells burnt? Although it is not necessary to panic, it is very important to identify the origin of the failure. This will then allow you to try to solve the problem, if this is possible. So, without further ado, discover how do you fix a hair dryer that smells burnt? And what if the failure is irreparable?
Why does your hair dryer smell burnt?
The burning smell on a hair dryer is a symptom that should never be ignored. Indeed, although most of the time the factor in question is benign, it can also happen that the failure is more important, even dangerous and leads to combustion of the device. But then, Where can the burning smell on a hair dryer come from? Several causes may be responsible for:
- the air circuit is blocked
- the ventilation grille and/or the filter is clogged
- dust, dirt or a small insect has gotten inside the device and is burning
- a component is defective
- the device is new
If your hair dryer smells bad or gives off a smell of burnt plastic during the first few uses, there is certainly no reason to worry. This is because the materials and electronic products of the hair dryer are made of volatile organic compounds. When they are new and have never been used, they all evaporate and give off a specific odor which is accentuated when the component heats up. After several uses, this smell should go away.
If your hair dryer smells burnt after using it many times already, then the problem comes from a cause that it will be necessary to treat to avoid any danger. Discover them now.
What to do when a burning smell appears on your hair dryer?
Check the use of your hair dryer
Before you worry, check that the use you have just made of your hair dryer, before it smells burnt, either in accordance with the instructions for use, to know :
- Be careful when using the always hair dryer let the air flow free. The ventilation grille(s) must not be obstructed by a fabric or any object. Also be careful that the air outlet is not obstructed. Indeed, if the hot air is not correctly expelled, the hair dryer may overheat and cause the burning smell.
- If you are blow-drying, make sure that the air can escape between the brush and the nozzle of the device or press the cold air button between two locks to give it time to breathe. This is especially valid if you have an old hair dryer that does not have the same current cooling technologies and can also start to tire.
- If you use your hair dryer for a long time (more than 20 minutes), remember to press the cold air button occasionally to lower the temperature of the internal components. This is to prevent overheating.
In case of overheating, unplug your device and let it cool for ten minutes. If the bad odor persists, the filter or a faulty component is probably at fault.
Clean the device filter
When your hair dryer smells burnt or smells bad, the majority of the time the problem comes from the all filter brewing methods.. Indeed, as and when used, it gets dirty. Since the filter prevents dust, hair, pet hair and other dirt from entering the engine block, when it becomes too salty, he can no longer fulfill his role. In addition to disrupting the airflow and potentially creating overheating, the dirty particles then get inside the hair dryer. In contact with resistors that are at an extremely high temperature, they burn and can give off the smell of burnt but also sometimes smoke.
To prevent this from happening, you must regularly clean the ventilation grilles (front and back). To do this, you can first remove most of the dirt (hair, animal hair and other fluff) blocked in the grid with your hand. Then, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a dry, lint-free cloth to remove dust. If the model of your hair dryer allows you to access the filter, you should also remember to clean it regularly. Obviously, these maintenance operations are done with the hair dryer switched off and off.
Le all filter brewing methods. is often located behind the main air vent (at the back or on the bottom of the handle). You must therefore remove the grid to access it. Since hair dryer models are all very different, we advise you to refer to the user manual to find the location of the filter and follow the cleaning instructions. If no instructions appear, it is certainly not possible to clean it. If you no longer have the manual in paper version, you can certainly find it online, on the manufacturer's website.
Note that if hair, pet hair or other dirt has lodged inside, the smell should go away once burning finished. It shouldn't take more than 1 or 2 minutes. If the burning smell persists or increases, switch off the appliance immediately as there is a risk of the appliance catching fire.
In prevention: remember to regularly clean the hair dryer grid and the filter (if your model allows it).
Check the external components of the hair dryer
If you find that the hair dryer shell or the power cord has melted, there is a fault in the ventilation or temperature control system of the device. In particular, it may be that the insulation of the hair dryer is defective and that the shell is no longer protected from the resistance.
In this case, unfortunately, there is nothing else to do but replace the hair dryer that smells burnt because there is a risk of short circuit and therefore of fire and electric shock. Under no circumstances should you use a hair dryer with a damaged cord or plastic.
Note: if your device is still entitled to the guarantee, call the after-sales service of the selling store or the manufacturer. You will then obtain the repair or replacement of the device free of charge.
Call the after-sales service or buy a hair dryer
Si the burning smell does not disappear on your hair dryer, internal component is probably faulty. In most cases this will be the resistance or engine.
Even if you have electrical clearances, it is certainly not financially attractive to repair the fault. And even if you want to fight against waste, unfortunately it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to find compatible spare parts. So if your smelly hair dryer is still on guarantee, contact the manufacturer's after-sales service. Otherwise, we can only advise you to buy a new hair dryer.
