How can I fix my hair dryer that's overheating too quickly?

I had a budget dryer that started going nuclear after a minute and shutting off mid routine and so I get the worry. Brushing the vents did nothing, but what finally worked was popping off the rear grill, washing the mesh lint screen with warm soapy water, letting it dry overnight, then blasting compressed air through the intake and nozzle to clear baked-on dust from the heating coil; I also cleaned the diffuser holes and made sure my hand was not covering the intake. If it still overheats or smells hot after a deep clean, the internal thermostat is probably failing and repair is not worth it. I replaced mine with Revlon Infrared Hair Dryer which fixed the issue because the infrared heat runs more evenly and it is 1875W, so I stopped getting those sudden temperature spikes while diffusing curls.

Unplug it and do a deeper clean than just brushing the vents which, yeah pop off the rear cap, remove the mesh screen, wash it with warm soapy water, rinse, and let it dry completely.

Then hit the intake and the front grille with bursts of air to blow out dust that is baked onto the coil.

Check the front grille for lint too since that can choke airflow.

Run max airflow with medium heat for the first minute, and keep your hand clear of the intake so you are not starving it of air, when you use it.

Try a different wall outlet.

If it still gets scorching fast or you smell hot plastic after a thorough clean and a careful test, the thermal cutout or thermostat is probably going bad and it is not worth opening up.

If it is only a few months old, ask the seller for a replacement.

Worth a try.

Vacuum the intake to clear hidden lint and gently blow through it and then unplug and press any hidden reset near the cord. If it still overheats, stop using it and get it checked since internal wear can be unsafe.

Former small appliance tech here... Fast overheating with a quick reset after cooling usually points to poor airflow or a weak fan. The fan can drop speed if that model winds around the shaft behind the intake. With it unplugged and cool, remove the rear cover and look for a ring of that model around the little spindle, then peel it off gently. Clean the screen until you can see light through it. Do not poke inside to the coil, it is fragile.

On first start, listen to the pitch of the airflow. If it sounds low and wheezy even after cleaning, the motor is struggling and the safety thermostat is doing its job by tripping. That is not a user serviceable fix. Replacement or warranty claim is the safe path. Not worth the risk.

Overheating that model dryers are the worst, especially when you're in a rush styling those curls. Mine did the same thing, getting scorching hot super quick, and cleaning the vents barely helped. What I ended up doing was checking the cord for any frays or damage because sometimes that causes weird electrical issues leading to overheating, but in my case it was fine. Then I realized I was using it on the highest setting too often, so I switched to medium and gave it breaks every couple minutes. That helped a ton. But honestly, if it's still acting up after a thorough clean, it might be time to consider if the motor's going bad - not much you can fix there without pro tools.

Tried running it without any attachments too, to see if airflow improves. Yeah, that made a difference for me.

Curly head here and mine started cooking itself after a minute during morning routines. What helped was changing how I run it rather than just the cleaning and... start on the highest fan setting with medium heat for a short warmup, keep anything away from the front that might block air, and every 20 to 30 seconds flip to cool for a few breaths to bring the internal temp down. I tried that and it helped a lot.

Also make sure the rear screen is actually clean and dry all the way through. If you can press it against white paper and still see dust print, keep washing and let it dry overnight. If even with that it still smells hot or trips off, that points to a failing thermostat inside and I would stop using it and ask for a swap while it is within the return window.

I had the same thing and it turned out to be two small issues.

The rear cover was not locked into place after I cleaned it and so the mesh was sitting crooked and the intake was half blocked.

Snapped it on properly and the airflow jumped.

Then I cleaned the front grille by soaking a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wiping away the baked dust on the little bars, followed by a good dry time.

Quick and cheap.

One more thing that surprised me.

If the exhaust is bouncing off a towel or the counter and back into the intake, the hot air recirculates and the internal safety trips very fast.

Keep a clear path front and back.

If none of this changes the behavior, the thermal cutoff may be weakening and that is not an easy home fix, so reach out for warranty service.

Done.

Hey and I've dealt with this exact issue before on my old dryer, and it turned out the problem was all the built-up gunk inside that I couldn't see by brushing the vents. I took it apart carefully - you know, unscrewed the back if it's possible on yours - and used a soft cloth to wipe down the heating elements gently, making sure not to damage anything. After that, I reassembled it and tested on low heat first. Worked like a charm. If you're not comfy with disassembling, maybe ask a handy friend to help, but it saved me from buying a new one.

remember to unplug it before you start poking around in there. Safety first.