What Are the Best Tips for Rice Cooker Repair?

A rice cooker is a relatively simple kitchen appliance that uses an electrical heating element for warming and cooking. One of the best tips for rice cooker repair is checking multiple electrical points to verify current flow. In addition, the owner should make sure that the cooker is clean, that the cord is intact, and that the heating element is functioning correctly. Consumers do not need to immediately dispose of the appliance if it malfunctions. Many of the basic electrical components needed for a successful repair job are readily available at local home improvement stores.

The majority of rice cookers use a removable pot enclosed within a cooker housing. Removing the pot reveals the heating element near the housing's base. A basic rice cooker repair tip involves cleaning the area on and around the heating element. Debris, such as loose rice grains, should be cleaned from the element with a damp cloth or paper towel.

Appliance owners should visually verify that the cooker's power cord is not pinched or damaged. An owner can unplug the cord from the electrical outlet and use his or her fingers to check for cracks along the cable's length. Most rice cooker repair tips suggest removing power from the appliance during any electrical verifications to prevent accidental electrocution.

Wiring for the heating element and supporting resistor, or electronic component, commonly resides within the cooker's base. Many rice cookers have access screws under the main housing, allowing the owner to remove and open the base area to reach the internal electrical wiring. Using a multimeter instrument set to resistance, the owner can check that the heating element's electrical wire has 0 ohms and the adjacent resistor reflects 20 ohms. Any numerical deviations from these values requires replacement of the heating element or resistor.

Rice cooker repair also requires a check of the electrical contacts that activate the heating element when the "on" switch is pressed. The rice cooker's contacts reside within the base area; the owner should visually verify the contacts' cleanliness. Dirty contacts prevent the rice cooker from moving electrical current through the switch and into the heating element. An owner should use electrical contact cleaner on the terminals for a successful rice cooker repair process.

Cleaning the electrical contacts may accidentally move their position within the cooker's assembly. Before reassembling the base, the owner should physically verify that the cleaned contacts make adequate connection when the switch is activated. A simple adjustment with a flat head screwdriver can move the contacts back into proper position. After the base is reassembled and the power cord is plugged in, the owner should test the cooker's functions to confirm a successful repair job.