Paper shredders are an essential accessory in the battle against identify theft. At home and at the office, paper shredders reduce documents to confetti, making it much more difficult for a would-be thief to steal personal information such as Social Security numbers, back account numbers and other financial information. Most of the time, paper shredders do the job efficiently and effortlessly. When something goes wrong, a little investigation can usually solve the problem.
Paper Problems
If you attempt to shred too many documents at once, the paper may jam. The shredder will either continue to run, with nothing happening, or the motor will shut off. If this happens, unplug the paper shredder and remove any paper clogging the mechanism. A pair of tweezers can help you remove small bits of paper that become stuck between the teeth of the shredder. Never force an object between the shredder teeth, as this could bend them. Feeding a stiff piece of cardboard such as a file folder through the shredder will sometimes dislodge small bits of paper blocking the feed mechanism.
If you try to feed paper into the machine and it won't run, the paper may not be sufficiently wide to activate the feed mechanism. Most shredders have a sensor near the middle of the feed mechanism that triggers the shredder motor when a piece of paper passes over the sensor. When shredding small pieces of paper such as canceled checks, make sure to feed them into the center of the shredder and not to one side.
Mechanical Troubles
If the shredder stops operating, unplug the machine and check for paper blockage. If you've been shredding several documents and the shredder suddenly stops working, the shredder motor may have overheated. Allow the machine to cool down for 15 to 30 minutes and try again.
If the shredder motor continues to run even after you've finished feeding paper through, check to make sure no paper is blocking the sensor. If you've been shredding plastic or envelopes with gummed flaps or stickers, glue may be blocking the system. You can dribble a little vegetable or sewing machine oil onto a piece of paper and run this through the shredder to try to remove the stickiness. You may have to repeat this a couple of times. Run a file folder or very thin cardboard through the shredder to remove excess oil.
If the motor only runs in reverse, the sensor may be detecting some blockage. Unplug and try one of the above methods for clearing a blockage.
Shredder Failure
Sometimes you can't fix the shredder. In this case, the best option is to replace it.
If the shredder motor runs but it won't pull the paper through, you may have a bent or damaged feed mechanism.
If the shredder motor overheats and refuses to restart, it may be burned up and you'll have to replace the shredder.
If the paper feeds through but doesn't cut, the shredder cutting blades may be dull or bent.
