Vitamix Troubleshooting: Solutions to common issues

New Vitamix?

It’s totally normal for new Vitamix machines to smell like burning during the first few blends. This is simply the motor gelling together. Of course, this all assumes you’re…

Using High Speed?

Especially for thick blends like ice cream, hummus, or nut butters, you need to blend on high speed. This turns on the fan and prevents the motor from overheating.

Use high speed

Your machine runs more efficiently and effectively on high speed. This is when the thermal protection system turns on keeping the motor cool. So for most blends where you’re not creating precise textures, using high speed is going to get you the best results.

Use the tamper

The tamper helps ingredients circulate and get into the blade. With the lid on the container, remove the lid plug and insert the tamper in through the opening. Press down into the corners until ingredients are moving freely. That should help take some stress off your motor.

Add liquid ingredients, first

The best loading order for Vitamix blenders (or really any blender for that matter) is liquids first, hard ingredients last. Soft ingredients can go somewhere in the middle. The liquid at the bottom helps the blade grab onto everything. And the hard and presumably more heavy ingredients at the top push everything down in a natural order.

The Vitamix comes with a thermal protection system to keep the motor from overheating. It’s like when you blow a fuse in your house. It’s an automatic shut off to stop you from doing real damage.

How to get it back on

The motor needs to cool for a bit. Turn the power off and wait a bit. After about 30 minutes, the motor should be cool enough to run like normal.

Don’t want to wait 30 minutes? Try a fan or a blow dryer on the cool setting. Aim the wind into the center of the motor base.

If it still won’t turn on, you’ll want to contact Vitamix Customer Service

I got it back on, but it keeps turning off

Try removing the ingredients from the container and run a water-only blend. There’s a chance the ingredients are too heavy or thick for it to begin from there.

Powered on?

Some Vitamix machine a secondary on/off switch on the side or underside of the motor base. Check to make sure it’s set to ON.

Overheated?

Vitamix machines have a thermal protection system that prevents use then the motor is running too hot. Think like a fuse box in your home. Wait 30 minutes and try again.