The electric blanket is a comfortable aid in cold weather. There are wires on the blanket that heats up when the power is turned on. The temperature is controlled by a thermostat on the control pad of the blanket. Repair is necessary when the connections are loosened or the heating wire breaks. Determine the cause of the fault before repairing the blanket. Depending on the problem, it may be less expensive and time-consuming to get a new blanket. If your electric blanket has stopped working, you can follow these steps:
Step 1
Unplug the blanket and check that all connections are tight. Often, a portion of the bead or control unit will be pulled loose. This means that the blanket is not receiving enough power and heating. Reassemble all connections and use electrical tape to keep the connections together.
Step 2
Check that no pins or other metal objects are attached to the blanket. This will cause the blanket to shock you when the power turned on. If there is a metal object fasten on the blanket, remove the metal object and sew the resulting hole.
Step 3
Use a multimeter to check that the cable is not short-circuited or defective. Insert one multimeter pin into the plug and the other end to the terminal of the cord. If you read zero on the multimeter while testing continuity, the cable is in good condition. If the reading is high, then the cord needs to be replaced.
Step 4
Replace the fuse in the control box of the blanket in case of blowing. Power surges can cause overheating or hot spots to blow the fuse. If the fuse blows repeatedly, there are too many devices on the circuit it is connected to. Insert the blanket into a wall outlet on another circuit.
Step 5
Open the control unit with a screwdriver and look for loose parts. If the blanket only works in some settings and not for others, the thermostat is defective. Tighten any loose connections inside the thermostat.
Step 6
If you cannot find the problem, replace the heating blanket. In many cases, it is cheaper to buy a new heating blanket instead of fixing the old one.
Why Electric Blankets Stop Working?
As with any product, an electric blanket may also stop working. This is mostly caused by the long use of the blanket, ie more than 5 years. With the wear and tear caused by the continuous use, electric blankets generally wear off after 5 years of use. Among the other factors that may cause an electric blanket to wear off, the interaction of wires inside the blanket with liquid, electrical problems such as lack of grounding, and the rip of the cloth covering the wires can be counted.
Electric blankets, which are the choice of those who want to sleep extra warm on cold winter days, are both functional and extremely safe. Thanks to the electric blankets, your bed will always be warm, so you don’t have to try to warm up. If the electric blanket is used properly, it allows you to sleep safely and comfortably. Meaning it does not stop working if you care using it. So, how to use the electric blankets?
First, unpack your electric blanket and lay it on your bed. Then, lay your sheets on your electric blanket. This means that you do not come into direct contact with the electric blanket. Plug your electric blanket into the wall socket half an hour before you go to sleep. Unplug your electric blanket immediately after entering your bed. Your electric blanket should not be plugged in during sleep. Your electric blanket will keep you warm during the night, which you run for half an hour before going to bed. Set the desired heat temperature from the temperature control panel on your electric blanket. The energy gathered in your electric blanket will make you feel warm during the night thanks to the thermal heat channels.
Cautions When Using An Electric Blanket
Do not fold up your electric blanket. If you fold the electric blanket in addition to the folding in the package, it may cause the electrical circuits that provide the thermal heat inside the electric blanket to malfunction. In addition, the control cord of the electric blanket and the heating cables must never be pinched. For this reason, electric blankets should not be used in sofa beds, adjustable automatic beds or folding chairs. The cables may be pinched and damaged.
The electric blanket should definitely stay away from water. It is forbidden to use on water beds. In another aspect, young children and the elderly who are likely to incontinence should not be accommodated in beds where electric blankets are used. It is recommended that uncomfortable or sick persons do not use electric blankets to prevent problems that might arise from vomiting. Do not contact electric blankets with sharp, penetrating products. Doing so may corrupt the system. You should also keep it away from your pets. Threading or scratching in a possible situation may cause your electric blanket to lose its function.
Do not use dry cleaning chemicals to clean your electric blanket, as you will not be able to have sufficient ventilation. Dry cleaning chemicals can cause damage to the heating mechanism. Never iron your electric blanket. You are likely to damage the heating mechanism of the electric blanket. In short, you cannot do a lot of things with an electric blanket, but you can warm up very well. You should avoid behaviors that may cause accidents and you should pay attention to use the electric blanket in accordance with the instructions.
Also;
- Do not use the blanket in infants, children and the elderly who are incontinent.
- Likewise, patients should not use electric blankets because of the possibility of vomiting.
- Keep your blanket away from pets that may scratch it.
- Keep away from piercing, reaming and damaging materials. Pay attention to use in wool and cotton beds, wrinkling, shrinkage, and collapse that may occur in the bed directly create the same effect on the blanket and it is dangerous.
- Do not use on sofas or on the water beds as it will be dangerous.
- Do not pull on the cable and the control cord while carrying it.
- Do not use safety pins or similar metals for fixing to your bed in order to avoid short-circuiting the built-in electrical system.
- Never iron your blanket. Do not apply excessive pressure on the blanket heating wires to avoid bending.
- Keep in a dry place.
- Use your blanket at the mains voltage according to the specification.
How to Repair & Carry out the Maintenance/Cleaning of Electric Blankets?
If winter is not your favorite season, your best friend is sure to be your electric blanket! But what if your electric blanket stops working suddenly? Electric blanket repair may not seem suitable for repairing at home because of its electric structure, but it is possible. In more than one way! To repair your warm blanket, follow these suggestions:
First, be sure to unplug the blanket before doing anything and disconnect the blanket’s battery to prevent damage to the electrical system. Once again, check that all the cables are disconnected and try to see where the problem is. The problem is generally because of the cables or fabric that are torn away. When you find the reason, just search for the disconnection. If it seems that it can be repaired, you just need to reconnect the disconnected cable. If you think you can not handle it, you can always bring your blanket to an expert.
For the cleaning and maintenance of an electric blanket, experts advise you to soak your blanket for 15 minutes in the cold detergent. Then wash your blanket with mild soap and water for 2 minutes at the “sensitive” setting. Then, rinse with cold, clean water and allow it to dry. As a second way, run your machine for one minute by filling it with warm water (make sure it is set to sensitive) and adding detergent. After the process is complete, stop your machine. Put the blanket and let it warm up on your machine for 15 minutes. Then switch the machine on again for 2 minutes and rinse it.
You can dry your blanket in the dryer if you wish. But do not forget to operate at the lowest degree when drying. Run for 2 minutes and then hang your blanket in its damp state. If you do not prefer a dryer, hang your blanket from top to bottom without folding and do not use tongs. Doing so may damage your blanket. Pay attention to these tips when cleaning the electric blanket:
- Do not use bleach when cleaning.
- Never iron your electric blanket.
- Do not dry in a central heating environment, as this may damage the electrical wires.
- Do not expose the electric battery to water.
Electric Blanket and Static Electricity
When properly used, electric blankets can be considered safe. However, it has properties that can affect human health during use. Electric blankets emit electromagnetic radiation because they are electrically operated. Although the effects of this cannot be felt at first, in the following periods, with the effect of radiation, an increase in body temperature and cell burns will occur. In the long term, the magnetic field may lead to disruption of the genetic structure, death and brain tumor in brain cells, white blood cell (lymphoma) cancer, heart disorders, memory impairment, permanent hearing disorders, damage to embryo development and blood cells.
In a study conducted on African and American women using electric blankets, the magnetic field emitted from the blanket was found to be effective in the development of breast cancer. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the frequent use of electric blankets can cause the testicles to overheat and reduce sperm counts and affect the fertility of people. In addition to fertility concerns, people with diabetes should be particularly careful when using an electric blanket. In some cases, high glucose levels caused by diabetes can damage the vessels attached to the nerves.
Experts reported that people who use electric blankets and exposed to the electromagnetic field for a long time may experience health risks. They said that the use of electric blankets, which increased during the winter months, can be seen as an economic solution but may cause various health problems. Experts pointed out that there are people who lost their lives due to electric blankets and added: “When you consider the heating mechanism of the electric blanket, by plugging in and using the heating structure, a static electric field is formed in the bed, that is to say electromagnetic field. If we use the bed in cold weather for a long time, exposure to the electromagnetic field and static electric field, as well as the effects of electromagnetic fields on human health are issues to be discussed. For this reason, the use of electric blankets for a long time may cause too much electromagnetic interference in the elderly, children, and pregnant people. It may cause serious health problems.”
Fire Risk of Electric Blankets
The electric blanket is a blanket with integrated electric heating cables. There are many models used to warm the bed before using it or to warm it up while lying in bed. The heating element in the electric blanket is a special wire consisting of aluminum and ferrochrome alloy and the fabric used in the blanket is special. Some modern low-voltage electric blankets have thin carbon fiber wires and operate between 12 and 24 volts. Some modern electric blankets use carbon fiber elements, which are also used as heating elements in many high-end automobile seats. The new electric blankets feature automatic control and shutdown to prevent overheating and flaming. Blankets without an automatic shut-off system have a high risk of overheating and fire.
One of the safety concerns of electric blankets is the possibility of fire hazard. There are three important causes of electric blanket fires. 1- Overheating of the blanket will ignite the cover. 2-When the electrical conductor breaks, the electric arc is formed and the fire starts. 3- Components such as controller, socket connection outside the blanket cause a fire.
The exact number of fires started due to the use of electric blankets is unknown. In particular, worn electric blankets are an important source of fire. In modern, new electric blankets, fires often occur due to misuse of the blankets or after many years of use. According to the New York Fire Department, 99% of electric blanket fires are caused by blankets over the age of ten. Broken cables can cause fire as well as electric shock. Some electric blanket fires are caused by overheating of the cables and poor contact of the plug to the outlet. As a result of this bad contact, the currents passing through the circuit are in the order of load currents and cannot blow the fuse since it is smaller than the opening current of the fuse. Where there is bad contact, more heat is generated than usual. If a long time passes, the heat caused by the current initiates the fire. If the socket is loose, the plug of the electric blanket should not be inserted into the socket.
Recommended Electric Blanket Products
Biddeford 1001-9052106-700 Comfort Knit Fleece Electric Heated Blanket Full Taup
Pure Warmth by Biddeford MicroPlush Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket King Taupe
Sunbeam Heated Blanket | 10 Heat Settings, Quilted Fleece, Newport Blue, Twin – BSF9GTS-R595-13A00
