Sometimes people forget that blenders are complicated electrical machines. Your blender is not a magical device – it can malfunction, and it can break down.
If your blender smells like burning rubber, chances are you have a major issue going on inside your machine. It can also be dangerous to continue using your blender at that point.
The smell of burning rubber is typically caused by malfunctioning components. It may smell like burning, or it may smell like a hot electrical discharge.
This can be very alarming while you are making smoothies or doing food processing. But today I am going to help you learn how to diagnose and fix when you notice that your blender smells like burning rubber.
Why does my New Blender Smell like Burning?
You’ve just purchased a brand new blender and have filled it with delicious, healthy food ready to make a smoothie.
You turn the blender on but after about 10 seconds you notice a burning smell coming from your new blender, so you turn it off immediately.
Sound familiar? Before you go looking for the return label, there is something important you need to know.
Almost every electrical appliance with a motor will emit some kind of smell for a short time after first use.
This is because when the appliance is being produced, lubricants are added to the motors and other moving parts to keep everything moving smoothly.
When you start the blender for the first time and the motor reaches a certain temperature, it starts to burn off the excess lubricant. This produces a burning smell, but it should only last for a short time. The key phrase here is ‘short time’.
If the smell doesn’t go away after several uses then there may be a problem with the blender and you may need to return it.
Why does my NutriBullet smell like burning?
The most common brand of blender that draws complaints of a burning smell is NutriBullet. This is not a fault in the design of the NutriBullet, nor is it a sign that the NutriBullet has a defect. So why does your NutriBullet smell like burning?
The answer is simple. The NutriBullet is not designed to be used like a normal countertop blender, such as a Vitamix or a Blendtec.
The NutriBullet is designed to create a quick smoothie in the morning, using a combination of fruit, leafy greens, seeds/nuts, and a liquid such as almond milk or coconut water.
There are two main reasons why your NutriBullet blender will smell like burning rubber, and we will go over both reasons below.
Once you know and understand how to properly use a NutriBullet, you will never have to smell burning again when making a delicious smoothie.
NutriBullet burning smell reason 1: No liquid is present
Vitamix and Blendtec blenders are designed to blend any ingredient thanks to their powerful motors and can make a thick paste, nut butter, and frozen ice cream with ease. This is not the case with a NutriBullet.
As mentioned above, a NutriBullet is designed to make delicious smoothies that always contain a liquid. It is very important to add lots of liquid (up to the max line) to the container before you start blending, or the blades will not spin. This will cause the motor to overheat, which will cause a burning smell.
This is the number one reason for a burning smell in a NutriBullet. Some people don’t realize that you need to add liquid to the blender container for it to blend properly. If you have liquid in your NutriBullet container, continue to the next section.
NutriBullet burning smell reason 2: Blending for too long
Again, the reason that NutriBullet exists is to make a quick smoothie. Ingredients such as leafy greens, frozen strawberries, and oranges don’t need a lot of blending. For this reason, the NutriBullet is not designed to blend for long periods of time.
The manufacturer guidelines state that you should blend for one minute and then turn off the NutriBullet. If the mixture requires more blending, let the motor cool down for 60 seconds and then blend again for another minute.
Stopping the machine after 60 seconds allows the motor to cool down and ensures it does not overheat.
Blending for too long is the second most common reason for smelling burning from your NutriBullet. I have owned several NutriBullets over the years and 60 seconds is almost always enough time to make a well-blended smoothie.
If you are satisfied that the above reasons are not the cause of the burning smell then there may be a problem with your NutriBullet and you should read the rest of this article.
Read More: Why has my NutriBullet stopped working?
Why does my Ninja blender smell like burning?
Ninja blenders are designed to blend for longer than a NutriBullet, but that doesn’t mean you can run it forever. These machines still contain electric motors which can overheat, causing a burning smell in your Ninja blender.
Blending hard ingredients such as ice cubes and large nuts will cause the Ninja blender motor to work harder, which could result in faster overheating.
The best way to deal with these ingredients is to pulse them first until they are smaller in size. This will make it easier for the blender blades to cut through them, giving the motor an easier time.
If you are following all of the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines and you still smell burning coming from your Ninja blender, you may have a worn-out part. The next section may be of some help to you.
Read More: Why is my Ninja blender not working?
Blender smells like burning rubber: Worn out parts
The problem almost always comes down to parts. Mostly it would be the blades, the motor, or even the seals. Anything can wear down, and with so many spinning parts inside your blender, it is only a matter of time until something malfunctions, no matter how premium your machine is.
The good news is that blenders are easy to fix. All you need is a new part, and then you will be ready to make smoothies again without that disgusting burning smell.
However, it is important to understand that if you have a cheap blender that you paid under $100 for and the motor has burned out, you may be better off just buying a new blender. Repairs can get expensive.
Let’s take a look at the main components that cause a burning smell or an electrical smell from your blender.
The Blades
The blades in your work extremely hard. Without blender blades, you would never be able to blend anything. These come in many different styles, with some being extremely sharp and others being dull and blunt. But they all do the same thing. Your blades spin so that your smoothie gets blended.
But there is more going on than just four jagged pieces of metal. It is a whole assembly, consisting of blades, a bearing, and a sealing plate. If the bearings inside the blade assembly get seized because of food or liquid seeping through the seal and causing issues, it will make the motor work harder, which can eventually result in overheating or burning out completely.
Also, if you have dull blades that are not supposed to be dull, but have been worn out over time, they can put extra stress on the motor, which will result in a burning smell. It’s just like any motor that works too hard when there is too much friction, it starts to stink like burning!
The good news is that the blades can be replaced easily. You just need to take apart the blade assembly and install a new one. Most blenders allow you to unscrew the base from the jar and then pop out the blade assembly. You will need to check the assembly to see if there is any damage to the seal, then replace it if necessary.
You can easily buy replacement blender blades from Amazon. Here are the most common replacement blades:
If there is a problem with the blades, you will undoubtedly need to replace the whole assembly by going through the factory. Most hardware stores are not going to sell a set of blender blades that work for your specific blender. However, if there is an issue with seals, many hydraulic shops and hardware stores have a surplus of different seals that will help fix your blender.
Related Articles:
Motor
The motor is the heart of your blender. This is the key component that makes the machine work. The motor powers the blades, and the blades spin fast enough to blend all your ingredient. The motor is also the most likely culprit for your burning smell.
You see, if anything in the blender fails, it eventually comes back to the motor. Any problems with your blender will result in decreased performance and stress on the motor, which will cause overheating and eventual failure. When your blender begins to overheat or fail, you will smell a very distinct burning or electrical scent.
It is also possible that somehow liquid seeped through the seals and into the motor. If you blend a lot of ice, the blades could fail and cause the motor to be overworked. There are a lot of reasons for a failed motor. If you smell burning, chances are the stench is coming from the motor. This can be a very expensive part to fix. Depending on the price of your original blender, you may be better off just buying a replacement.
O-Rings & Gaskets
Because your blender works with lots of liquids, it is important that everything is properly sealed, from the sealing rings around the blades all the way to special gaskets that keep your motor from getting wet. However, the O-rings and gaskets that keep your internal parts safe can eventually crack, tear, or be worn out. When this happens, liquid will find its way into places it shouldn’t.
This is a fairly easy problem to identify. First, check the seals around your blade by removing the blade assembly from the motor, and if you notice they are flimsy, frayed, or don’t sit right in their grooves, you are going to need some new seals. One of the most important seals is between the agitator assembly and the blender jar.
These are extremely easy to replace, as most plumbing shops sell lots of different types of gaskets. If you bring in the old gasket it can be measured and replaced with a new one, and you can do all the repairs by yourself at home.
You can also buy Ninja replacement gaskets and NutriBullet replacement gaskets on Amazon.
Couplers
Last on the list are the couplers found in your blender. These are special components that are designed to fail if your blades become overloaded. However, many couplers on modern blenders are made from plastic. What happens is that when the blades get overloaded and cause the couplers to fail, so much heat is generated that the couplers melt and cause a nasty burning smell like flaming tires. This is a much more difficult problem to fix than just putting in new seals.
You’ll need to open the blender and check the coupler on the top of the blender base. If it looks melted or disfigured, you need to take it off with a screwdriver and then go to your nearest hardware store and try to find a replacement. Luckily, if you can get the proper coupler it is easy to screw it back on.
Read More: Why does my Vitamix overheat?