Bread maker is a rather complicated device. It is able to please the whole family with fresh pastries. But then a misfortune happened: the bread machine does not work, complex repairs are required. Is it possible to correct the situation at home or have to contact the service center?
Bread machine. What is it?
Baker is a universal assistant for baking homemade bread. There are several programs in the software. Most often, manufacturers provide for the possibility of continuing to work after a short (no more than 10 minutes) power failure.
The weight of the unit is small, the dimensions are small. Therefore, this unit of equipment can be accommodated in any corner of the kitchen. I am glad that today manufacturers supply models economically consuming electricity to the market. Some devices are equipped with an inspection window. In principle, this option is completely useless to the hostesses. It is very important that in the event of minor breakdowns, it is still possible to repair the bread machine with your own hands. Not everyone will be able to seek help from a qualified professional.
According to experienced housewives, a baker is a very necessary thing. Even if you spend one time buying a machine and baking bread every day, then in a year the equipment will fully pay off. I am glad that the set programs of the device allow you to bake wheat bread, and rye, and muffins, and even make jam.
Advantages and disadvantages of technology
Among the advantages, the following qualities stand out:
- Minimize the hassle. It is enough for the hostess to put all the ingredients according to the recipe into the apparatus, set the program and wait for the sound signal about the end of baking.
- The presence of a timer. This option allows you to delay the start of baking.
- Baking is always tasty, fresh, unburnt bread.
- The presence of a free oven. The assistant takes care of the baking process. You can put another dish in the oven.
Of course, this aggregate is not without drawbacks:
- The inability to bake bread with high humidity, such as ciabatta.
- The baking form will always be the same due to the presence of only one bowl.
- You can bake only one loaf at a time.
- It turns out quite expensive if you do the repair of a bread machine with your own hands. Details when replacing an old element with a new one can cost a lot.
The difference between baked bread in the oven and bread maker
If you compare the bread baked in the oven and bread maker, you can find significant differences.
- The ability to decorate the loaf with cuts, sprinkle it with seeds or bran, grease with vegetable oil or a beaten egg. Is this possible if you entrust such an important process to electronics?
- The crust of bread baked in the oven will always be crispy, fragrant, mouth-watering, and browned.
- The uniformity of form in a bread machine can get boring. While in the oven, a loaf can be round, oval, and square. You can try and make a loaf or tortillas.
- An opportunity to bake several rolls at the same time or to cook bread with large pores, high humidity. Alas! The bread maker is not able to do this.
If, nevertheless, the choice fell on the electronic assistant, then in any case, the owners will not be the loser. Doing repairs with your own hands will be much cheaper than restoring an oven.
Bread machine
Today, there are many models from different manufacturers of such a unit. But they all work on a similar principle. So, the device of the bread machine is as follows.
Kneading and baking take place in one dish - a removable bowl. A special spatula for a bread machine, located at the bottom of the mold, mixes all the ingredients (dry and liquid), resulting in a dough. Due to the fact that the walls of the removable bowl are of a special indented shape, the resulting mixture of components is assembled in a “bun” and rolls along rounded sides. As a result, the outer and inner layers of the ball are uniformly mixed together.
In addition to the spatula, an oil seal for the bread machine acts in the operation of the unit. Together with the bearing and shaft, it forms a single unit, which is attached to the bottom of the mold. In turn, the union of the three elements of the breadmaker allows you to fix the bowl on the drive inside the unit.
During the kneading of the dough and its baking, the necessary temperature is maintained inside. With a decrease in heat, special sensors heat the heater at full power. Thanks to the complex temperature control mechanism, the crust of the bread turns out to be the desired color.
Common causes of failure
The reasons for the failure of the assistant can be many. A removable shovel for a bread machine breaks down quite often, since it accounts for most of the load. As a rule, the mechanics of the units deliver more trouble. Large loads, heating to high temperatures, interaction with aggressive environments (which is the dough), high humidity - all this contributes to breakage.
According to experts, electronics rarely breaks down first. At risk may be a board with a power part of the circuit. Since its location is not far from the oven chamber, due to the constant high temperatures in the process of baking bread, this element can seriously suffer.
There were times when the lid of the device broke. The reason for this may be the fact that it closes either too tight or loose. Even if you operate the equipment in accordance with all the rules and instructions, this will not become a panacea. Any power surge, which can not be influenced in any way, can be detrimental to a household unit.
Do-it-yourself troubleshooting
If the first assistant in the kitchen is out of order, then first of all it is necessary to study the instructions. Typically, the technologists of the company that is the manufacturer of this equipment, indicate the most common causes of failure. Sometimes the technique does not work due to commonplace trifles. The instructions attached to the passport of the unit also indicate methods for eliminating breakdowns. If the cord turned out to be broken, the power source is missing or deteriorated, then any man who is more or less knowledgeable in technology will cope with this problem.
Of course, if the oil seal for the bread maker is broken, then there are 3 options for overcoming the situation:
- study specialized literature and try to solve the problem yourself;
- take the equipment to a service center;
- throw out the unit and buy a new model.
Here is the option that experienced experts offer to fix the problem on their own.
- It is necessary to disconnect the bearing from the bowl and not damage the silicone gasket.
- If the oil seal does not flow, then it remains in place.
- The shaft is fixed, a snap ring is placed on it.
- On top of it you need to put on a copper washer.
- The bearing is reassembled and connected to the shaft.
- A copper washer is subsequently put on it.
- The oil seal is removed from the bowl and fully enters the groove of the base of the bearing.
- The 3 screws available are very securely fastened.
It must be remembered that due to leakage, the bowl is not being repaired, but is changing. Therefore, it is easier to contact the service center of the company.
Contacting a service center
You can repair the bread machine with your own hands, but so that it does not cost too much, experts recommend contacting a service center. Professionals will be able to determine by external signs whether the thermal sensor or the node responsible for the moment of torsion of the bowl has broken. Or maybe the belt for the bread machine failed? At home, determining the cause of the breakdown is extremely difficult. Great experience, high professionalism, long work of experts with household appliances - the reasons why you should contact the service center.
Another reason to take a broken unit to professionals is the lack of the need to run around all the shops in search of a spare part for repair. Sometimes restoration of equipment is extremely expensive. It’s easier to buy a new unit than to look for a belt for a bread machine that fits exactly this model. Even if it was possible to successfully eliminate the breakdown at home, this is not a guarantee of a long service life.
Home baking - a thing absolutely necessary in everyday life. Therefore, if it is broken, you can risk repairing it at home. As an option (if the warranty card issued upon purchase is still valid) - refer the device to professionals.