So, you’re going to sit down with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea when you put some bread in the toaster and it doesn’t work.
You wonder why it doesn’t work after being so reliable for so long.
This article will help solve your Sunbeam toaster problem
Materials Needed
You will not require many tools to repair a broken toaster. Of course, you must ensure that you have access to your toaster.
Then, make sure you have a screwdriver, household lubricant, and cloth on hand in case you need to disassemble or clean the toaster. Then you should be able to continue with the cleaning.
5 Common Sunbeam Toaster Problems (Must Read)
Based on our research and experience here are the 5 most common Sunbeam toaster problems
1. Sunbeam Toaster Not Staying Down?
Breadcrumbs clogging the lever are the most common cause of Sunbeam toaster not staying down. Cleaning the toaster gently to remove any crumbs should solve the problem.
For detailed steps to solve this issue see below
Step #1 Make Sure Sunbeam Toaster Is Plugged In
I know it sounds silly; we have all done it before but check Sunbeam Toaster is plugged into the wall. Look at other appliances to see if there is power.
Still not working, check the Toaster cable and look for areas where it might be damaged.
So, it’s still not working let’s move on to the next step.
Step #2 Clean the Sunbeam Toaster
Before you do anything, make sure you unplug the toaster from the wall.
A likely scenario is a crumb or crumbs have blocked the latch.
To clean them out, gently turn the toaster upside down and let the crumbs fall out into the sink or something that can easily be cleaned. Gently blow into the toaster removing any crumbs.
Once complete, plug back to see if the lever goes down.
If the lever still does not go down, unplug from power again grab a screwdriver and remove the front cover.
Remove the top and blow any crumbs from the latch assembly. Check that the latch goes easily up and down. If it still sticks, dab some lubrication on it.
Examine the heating coils as well to ensure that any crumbs have been removed. If not, use the pushed air to blow them out.
After cleaning and lubricating the toaster, replace the cover, plug it in, and make some toast.
If the lever still does not work move on to Step #3 and check the magnet.
Step #3 Check the Toasters Magnet
Inside the Sunbeam toaster, there should be a small electromagnet that holds the lever down, if it gets covered in crumbs it won’t work
Check to see if it’s still there and if it is, clean it thoroughly to remove any crumbs.
Basically, the electromagnet attracts the metal component on the handle, which holds the bread in the toaster.
The basic circuit serves as a timer. A capacitor charges through a resistor and switches off power to the electromagnet when it reaches a specified value. The spring quickly lifts the two slices of bread.
If the toast still won’t go up or down, buy yourself a new toaster.
2. Sunbeam Toast Won’t Pop Up
Sunbeam toaster not popping up is typically caused by crumbs blocking the lever or faulty thermostat.
Typically, all that is required is to turn your Sunbeam toaster upside down and shake it a few times. This should be sufficient to remove the crumbs from the toaster.
If you want to clean your toaster thoroughly, you may need to disassemble it and remove the tray with a screwdriver.
If you have cleaned the toaster and the toast still won’t pop up, follow the next steps
Step #1 Check the Toasters Thermostat
A likely scenario is the thermostat is playing up. The thermostat is used to determine the level of heat required to toast the bread.
Your toaster’s thermostat may be set incorrectly. To reset it, follow these steps:
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Turn off and unplug the toaster.
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Remove the carriage lever and front cover and look for a knob, screw, or nut on the outside of most toasters near the toast light-to-dark adjustment.
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Turn the knob, screw, or switch to the left, as in the lighter-control position.
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Replace the cover, plug in the toaster, and toast a piece of bread to test it.
If the toast continues to burn, the thermostat must be reset. This is usually adjusted by a dial or lever on the front of the toaster. The thermostat can be reset.
3. Sunbeam Toaster Burning Toast
The most common causes of Sunbeam toaster burning toast are a faulty thermostat or a dial set too high.
Nothing worse than having burnt toast so let’s discuss how we can solve this problem, but before you do make sure you haven’t selected the cooking setting too high.
Step #1 Gently clean out any crumbs
The first step is to clean out any crumbs from the toaster by turning them upside down. Check to see that all the crumbs have been removed and no crumbs can be heard rattling around.
Once done, test out some toast to see if still burns. If it doesn’t burn you can continue with having breakfast.
If it still burns, move on to the next step
Step #2 Clean the Thermostat
If the toast continues to burn, the thermostat should be reset.
This is usually controlled by a dial or a lever on the front of the toaster. The thermostat can be changed. This is how.
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Remove the dial knob if you turned it to make the toast light-to-dark.
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Reposition the screw behind it to “lighter” on the toaster — or darker if the bread won’t toast.
You’ll probably only need to turn the screw a fraction of a turn.
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Replace the knob and use a slice of bread to test the toaster.
If the toast remains dark, tighten the screw a little more.
If your toaster has a light and dark control lever, bend it slightly up or down. For example, if you want your toast lighter and the light display is at the top of the lever channel, you will bend the lever up.
If your Toaster is still not working, then it’s time to buy a new Toaster.
4. Sunbeam Toaster Only Toasts on One Side
Sunbeam toaster only toasting on one side is typically caused by faulty nichrome wire or the “Bagel” function being selected on your Toaster, so it just toasts one side (LED is not lit up). The Bagel feature toasts one side of the bagel while only warming the other.
To solve this problem, follow the steps below, but before you do make sure you have unplugged the toaster.
Step #1 Check the “Bagel” function
The first and easiest step is to check the “bagel” function is not selected. If it has been unselected and tests out a piece of bread to see if it cooks on both sides.
If the ‘Bagel” function has not been selected, then move on to the next step.
Step #2 Clean Out Any Breadcrumbs
The next step is to turn the toaster upside down to clear out any crumbs. Inspect that all crumbs have been removed and that no crumbs are rattling around.
Test with a piece of bread to see if the Toaster toasting is on one side or two.
If still not cooking on both sides, then it’s likely to be the Nichrome wire.
Step #3 Faulty Toaster Nichrome
An electric toaster’s heating element is usually made of nichrome wire (an alloy of nickel and chromium). The wires heat up as current travels through them, toasting the toast.
If the nichrome wire is broken or faulty then the other side of the toaster won’t toast.
You can check its working by placing a piece of bread into the toaster, pressing down the lever, and seeing if the nichrome wires light and heat up.
If they don’t light or heat up it’s either time to bin your toaster and buy a new one or take the toaster to a repair person (which will cost the same or more than buying a new one.
How Do I Know If My Sunbeam Toaster Is Broken?
You will know if your Sunbeam toaster is broken when it does not toast your bread. If you have tried fixing your toaster’s issues and it still does not work, it’s a dud that requires replacing or taking to a handyman. Keep in mind that repair is likely to cost more than replacement.
A Toaster’s life expectancy should be anywhere between 7-12 years depending on the brand and how well it is treated.
Conclusion
This concludes this article about common Sunbeam toaster problems and some specific information about their worth, quality, and viability as a home companion.
We hope you can diagnose and repair your Sunbeam toaster as soon as possible.
Remember to call a professional if the solution requires opening the toaster and accessing internal components.
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