Repair Your KitchenAid Mixer

The holidays are coming which means it’s time to get your KitchenAid Mixers and blenders out and make sure they are in working order. If it’s not working properly, has a leak or is missing a piece it’s time to order the replacement part so you’re ready for baking season.

If you mixer is malfunctioning we invite you to give us a call, we can help troubleshoot the problem. 

800-339-9297

Happy Baking!

Blender Repair

When a blender breaks is it time to buy a new one or can it be repaired?

Blenders take a beating by occupation, although there are ways to avoid damaging your blender something may eventually need to be replaced. Depending on what is broken and the kind of blender you have it can most likely be repaired saving you money and the headache of shopping around for a new one.

Is it Under Warranty?
If your blender breaks look at the warranty, if it is still valid it may be worth while to have the manufacturer take care of the problem, especially if it is a Vitamix or a Blendtec blender. If the blender is under warranty don’t mess with it or the warranty may be considered void. Contact the company or an authorized service center.

KitchenAid Blade Assembly 

Available Replacement Parts
If the blender is not under warranty do some research online before you throw it away, find out if the manufacturer offers replacement parts. Brands like Oster, Hamilton Beach and KitchenAid all make replacement parts for their blenders that can be ordered online.

Some of the most common items that need replacing are the jar, gasket, blade assembly and drive coupling. These items are simple to replace with the exception of the KitchenAid blender drive coupling, for that part we made a video to show how to remove and replace it yourself.

If you have any question about blender repair our experienced technicians are happy to help, please give us a call. 800.339.9297

Canning Equipment Repair Needs

Have you ever brought home or harvested a Bushel (or two) of apples with the intention of making applesauce as soon as you got home and pulled out grandmas old Victorio 200 Food Strainer, only to discover that the there are a few repairs that need to be done before you can actually use it?

It seems this is the story of my life. I get a wonderful idea only to discover a small detail is holding me back, such as a broken or missing piece. Until I get the repair part I am stuck and my wonderful idea is put on hold until further notice or I have to come up with a different idea so the apples don’t go bad.

With this tragic possibility in mind I post the following thought:

Get you canning equipment out now before you need to use it! Test the gauge on the pressure cooker, check the seals and gaskets. Test your food strainer, make sure the seals and screens are still good and that you still have all the parts. That way you are ready to process and preserve when the produce is ripe.

If you are in the neighborhood bring your pressure canner over to our store and we’ll test the gauge for free. If you need a new part for your canner we’ll install it for you.

If you are not living in the vicinity call your local Cooperative Extension Office and find out if they test pressure canner gauges; some do and some don’t. If no one in you area tests gauges you can send the canner lid to us and we will test it and ship it back to you.

Testing the gauge on your pressure cooker is really important for food safety. Gauge’s ware out over time and loose there accuracy. If your gauge is reading high then you could be at risk of under processing your food causing it to go bad or worse making anyone who eats it very sick.

If the gasket on your canner is stiff, cracked or it’s falling out of your lid then it’s time for a new one. Worn out gaskets can prevent the canner from sealing and then your canner won’t get up to pressure. Find the model number on your canner and then order the gasket online. If you are unsure about your gasket, give us a call, we are happy to answer your questions.

If something does need to be replaced, like a vent pipe, overpressure plug, or gauge don’t panic. Most parts that need to be replaced on canning equipment are pretty self explanatory and very easy to install on your own. If you’re really having trouble installing it yourself, call us and we will walk you though it.

Have you got you canning equipment out yet? Have you ever had the gauge tested on your pressure cooker? Post your thoughts and questions below.

How to Prolong the Life of Your Blender

If you want your blender to keep working for a long time you need to use it correctly. Here are a few tips help to prolong the life of your blender, brought to you by the friendly technicians at the Mending Shed.

All blenders are not created equal. Don't think a $19 blender is going to work the same as a $99 or $199 blender. Cheap blenders are not made to handle the same kind of abuse that a more expensive model is made to handle.

Ice is rough on blenders; anything frozen should be set out to thaw for ten minutes. This softens food and ice just enough that you can process it without damaging your blender. If your ice is in large cubes I recommend crushing the ice in a bag using a rolling pen or hammer before you put it in the blender.

Make sure the blade has stopped spinning completely before you remove the jar from the base. Removing the jar while the motor and blade are still turning wears down the teeth on the blade assembly and the drive coupling.

Don’t move the jar around while the blender is running. Doing this will not improve the blending action and only damages the couplings on the motor and the jar assembly.

The blender jar is not designed as a storage container; when you are finished blending poor the excess mixture into a different container for storage. By exposing your blender jar to moisture, such as smoothie or wash water for an extended length of time will allow liquid to get into the blade assembly making it sticky and difficult to turn; especially if the blender goes unused for several weeks. 

Don’t stick anything in the jar while the blender is running for any reason; this is not only dangerous to you it is a sure way to damage the blade. Don’t do it. If you feel your mixture needs some coaxing toward the blade, shut off the blender and wait for the blade and motor to stop spinning before you stick something, like a spoon, in the jar to move the food around.

Even with special care, parts on your blender may ware out eventually. Depending on the brand and model, you may be able to buy a new replacement part. Contact the company that made your blender to find out if the part you need is available and where you can purchase it.

Happy Blending!

The most commonly needed replacement part for a KitchenAid blender is the drive coupling. The following is a video on how to replace a coupling yourself.

Let us know what you think about the video, post a comment below.