Dehydrators are a convenient tool to have in your kitchen. You can use them to dry almost anything from meat to fruit! In the past, people loved these machines for making yogurt and other treats not widely available at the grocery store.
Some of the most common issues with dehydrators are connected to dirty systems. If food or dust accumulates near the fan blades, it can jam or disrupt their ability to move. This can prevent proper airflow and heat generation inside the dehydrator and prevent it from operating properly.
Can you fix a malfunctioning dehydrator? How do you know when it’s time to buy a new one? We’ll give you all the answers and more today!
How to Fix a Dehydrator That Won’t Turn On
Your dehydrator can malfunction for a variety of reasons. We break down each cause and how you can try to fix or repair them.
One of the reasons for cleaning and maintaining your machine is to keep it sanitary. While this might not directly impact your machine’s performance, it can impact your health. Old, decaying food lying in your machine can grow bacteria and fungi.
When the fan turns on, it can blow these bacteria and fungal spores around the machine. Diseases and harmful mold can land on your fresh food and cross-contaminate them.
Keeping your machine’s inner workings clean and fresh is always best. It will prevent your food from becoming contaminated and polluted with dangerous or harmful bacteria and fungal spores.
However, dirty and jammed parts can also disrupt your machine’s performance and lead to malfunctions. You should perform basic cleaning after every use and complete deep cleaning every few weeks (depending on how often you use your machine).
Let’s explore each of these issues and how you can fix them for yourself!
1. Clean the Dehydrator Fan
Depending on your dehydrator model, the fan can be in the bottom, roof, or on the side. Some dehydrators have multiple fans, so you’ll want to check your manual before you start your cleaning project.
Most standing dehydrators have a fan on the top and bottom of the machine. Round dehydrators usually only have a fan in the bottom, which blows hot air through the tray layers.
The more expensive models usually have 3-4 fans located on the sides, top, and bottom. The bottom fan is likely to be the dirtiest and is usually the cause of airflow disruption. Although, while you’re cleaning, you might as well clean all your fans!
Most dehydrator fans can be accessed by unscrewing the plastic cover. Once this cover is removed, spray the blades with a gentle cleaning solution and wipe the blades with a damp cloth.
Clean any food debris that fell through the cracks to prevent disruptions. Switch on your machine and test to see if that fixed your issue!
2. Replace the Thermostat
Much like the thermostat in your home’s heater, the thermostat in dehydrators regulates temperatures. When the thermostat breaks or malfunctions, you’ll notice your machine is not heating properly or regulating the temperature.
The machine cannot know if the temperature is right because the thermostat is not operating. Unfortunately, replacing your machine’s thermostat is the only way to fix this issue.
Before you jump to conclusions, though, check the thermostat. Make sure it’s not dirty or blocked by food and dust particles. If you cleaned the area and it’s still not working, you’ll need to replace your thermostat.
Refer to your machine’s manual to figure out what kind of thermostat you need to order. Sometimes you can order a replacement part directly from the manufacturer, which we recommend if possible.
3. Remove Excess Food
Sometimes the issue with your dehydrator is much simpler than a mechanical issue or maintenance requirements. It could be an organizational issue.
If you overcrowd your drying racks or distribute the food unevenly, it can disrupt the heat flow. It might seem easy and straightforward to just stick your food on a tray, but it requires some expertise.
Basically, place the wetter, juicer foods closer to the bottom of your machine. This will prevent them from dripping onto dryer fruits. If your machine has only one fan at the bottom, it will also allow the wetter foods to have direct access to the most heat.
Additionally, you won’t want to stack foods on top of each other on the trays. This will prevent the foods from drying thoroughly. Never stack foods on top of one another, and leave a small space between each piece of food on the tray.
4. Check the Heat Wire
The heating wire is an important part of the heating element in your dehydrator. The heater wire brings energy to the small heater and is responsible for generating heat. This heat is then blown into the machine via the fan or fans.
Your machine could have several wires throughout the interior or just one. If your machine has more than one blower, it probably has more than one heater wire or has the wire spread throughout the machine.
This wire can become damaged or frayed from use. If you notice portions of this wire broken or exposed, you should replace it. If you’re unsure how to do wiring safely, you should call a professional to fix your machine!
5. Replace the Fuse
Your machine might not be receiving enough power from the plug or fuse. This can occur if the fuse has been damaged or broken.
If you notice you smell something burning when you plug in your machine, you should immediately unplug it. Check the plug and see if you notice the rubber melting or any brown marks on the ends of the electrical prongs.
These are all tell-tale signs of a broken or malfunctioning fuse. You should have the fuse replaced and perhaps check the wiring inside the machine for issues.
6. Reset the Breaker
If your machine doesn’t turn on, or parts of it don’t seem to be working, the issue might be the wall plug. Most electrical systems have a breaker that can be tripped. This usually occurs when a large surge of energy causes the system to overload and shut off.
It’s actually a safety feature that prevents further damage to the electrical system. You can fix this by simply resetting the breaker. Sometimes you can do it directly on the plug or by going to your home’s circuit breaker and switching the tripped switch back on.
7. Reset the Safety Feature
The dehydrator’s electrical system may have a safety feature similar to your home’s electrical system. Not every machine has these features, but we recommend buying one with a safety feature!
The safety feature performs an important function against fires and damage to the unit. However, sometimes the feature can be tripped accidentally and just needs to be reset.
The safety feature usually looks like a small silver cylinder close to the heating wire and element. Follow your machine’s manual regarding how to reset the safety and get your machine working again!
Why Would a Dehydrator Stop Working?
Dehydrators can stop working due to age, wear, or some other disruption. Dirty or malfunctioning dehydrators can also fail or not work as effectively as they should. Diagnosing your machine is the best way to determine the likely cause and whether you can fix it.
Some of the most common causes for your dehydrator to stop working include the following:
- Safety tripped
- Issues with the wiring
- Broken parts
- Food stuck in the blades
- Dust in the vents
The most likely causes are pretty benign. You’ll likely be able to fix your machine with a little cleaning or replacing a bad part.
When food or dust jams the system, it prevents the whole thing from operating. When the blades of the fan can’t spin or are unable to spin at full capacity, it can prevent the machine from working.
This can make it seem like your dehydrator isn’t working at its full potential. Your machine might also overheat if it’s very dirty, which can cause it to underperform. If you notice the inside isn’t as warm as it should be, yet the exterior near the machine’s engine is hot, you probably need to dust your dehydrator!
How Long Should a Dehydrator Take to Heat Up?
The time frame for warming up your dehydrator varies depending on the model and its age. Most models should only take between 15-25 minutes to warm up. An older model might take anywhere between 25-30 minutes, but it shouldn’t take much longer.
Most new dehydrators should reach their peak heat level within 15 minutes of turning them on. However, some people still have and use their dehydrators from the 1970s and 80s. While most of these well-maintained machines should still work fine, you might notice they take a little longer to warm up.
If you notice these dehydrators taking 25-35 minutes to reach their peak heat, don’t panic. Just check the wires to ensure there’s no faulty wiring or anything potentially dangerous!
The very first automatic dehydrator was built back in 1795. These machines relied on warmed air pumped into a chamber and pulling moisture out of fruit put into the chamber.
Since these machines, the drying process and heating time have improved. Most dehydrators will fully dry fruits and vegetables in a couple of hours, while these older machines could take several days.
You can test your machine’s temperature with a thermometer if you aren’t sure it’s working properly. Some machines have digital thermometers, but we recommend using a separate thermometer if you doubt their accuracy.
How Do You Know When to Buy a New Dehydrator?
You might need to buy a new dehydrator if none of your repairs have made a difference. If the fan motor no longer works and you’ve tried cleaning the area, you might need to buy a new machine. This could be the motor itself which is difficult to repair or replace.
Whether or not you should buy a new dehydrator depends on your willingness to dissect your machine. You can pretty much replace most of the parts individually, but some parts aren’t cheap.
When paired with the effort needed to go through the steps to diagnose and repair your machine might not be worth it. You should weigh the costs and time against the possible price of a new machine and decide if it’s worth it to you.
Additionally, if the fan motor breaks, you might want to call it quits. The fan motor is very important and is the powerhouse behind the whole dehydration process. Some people are willing to identify a replacement, buy it, and go through the effort.
Although it can be a little time-consuming. It’s ultimately up to you when you think it’s time to pull the plug on your old dehydrator. But most of the damage is repairable and isn’t necessarily a death sentence.
Before you decide to throw out your dehydrator, make sure you thoroughly clean it. Most malfunctions are caused by dirt and food and are easily fixed with a little effort.