How to Fix a Toaster

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Given how inexpensive the average toaster is, it's not worth putting a lot of time and money into repairing one if it refuses to heat up. But before you consign yours to the scrap heap, there are a couple of quick things you can check that might just put it back into operation.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Step1

Pull out the plug.

Step2

Turn it over and remove the screws in the bottom, using a screwdriver (see A). On a toaster with a metal body and plastic end caps, just remove the screws that connect the bottom to the front end cap. On a toaster with a full plastic body, remove the screws that hold the entire cabinet body in place.

Step3

Pull the knob off the carriage lever. This is the part that lowers the toast into the toaster.

Step4

Remove the front end cap or the cabinet body as needed to get to the electric contacts.

Step5

Locate the electric contacts. They'll be below and in line with the carriage lever.

Step6

Inspect the contacts. If they are burnt or pitted, clean them with fine sandpaper, then move to step 7. If one set of contacts is melted together or appears to be seriously damaged, replace the toaster.

Step7

Depress the toast carriage lever and check to see if the two sets of contacts touch firmly. If they don't, you'll have to adjust them, as in step 8.

Step8

Use needle-nose pliers to grab the movable contacts. Slightly bend them up and away from the fixed contacts (see B). That way, when you depress the carriage lever, it will apply more pressure to the movable contacts and press them firmly against the fixed contacts.

Step9

Reassemble the toaster and test it.

Tips & Warnings

If you have a new toaster that is controlled by an electronic circuit board, you're better off letting a professional repair it.
If following these steps doesn't fix your problem, you probably have a bad electric cord or a damaged heating element. If so, replace the toaster.