The Most Common Home Paper Shredder Malfunctions

After you have verified that your equipment is actually plugged in, and the power button is on, browse through these possible home paper shredder malfunctions to determine why your unit is not working.

Does your shredder have a paper jam?  -This is the most common problem, and can normally be remedied by pushing the reverse button on the unit.  If this fails to work, then turn the machine off and attempt to dislodge the paper carefully, very carefully by hand.

Is your paper shredder overheated?  -All shredders have a recommended continuous usage that is defined in either minutes or number of sheets of paper.  If this is not strictly adhered to, or if the cutting head is packed with paper dust, the motor can be overworked and cause the unit to shut down due to overheating.

Is the unit properly mounted on the shredding bin?  - Many shredders will not operate unless the unit is fully centered on the shredding bin, as a safety precaution. 

Is the paper you are feeding the shredder too thin? - It is possible if you try to feed your compressor wet paper or paper that is thinner than standard copy paper, that the unit will not be able to detect the inserted paper. 

If you have exhausted these options and any you have found in your service manual, then it is probably time to call a service tech or buy a new home paper shredder.  Always try your service tech though, as they are the most experienced with troubleshooting paper shredder malfunctions. If all else fails, the good news is that the price of a crosscut shredder is most likely less than when you bought your current unit.