My air fryer is not heating up anymore — what should I do?
Home Nura guide — category Air Fryers
Diagnosis
An air fryer that stops heating usually has a power supply problem, a basket that isn't latched, or a tripped thermal cut-out. If the fan runs but the air stays cold, the heating element or its thermal fuse is the most likely culprit.
Possible causes
- Basket not fully latched — a safety switch cuts the heating until the drawer is pushed completely home.
- Faulty socket or extension lead — the unit barely powers up, or not at all, on a worn or overloaded multi-way adaptor.
- Thermal cut-out tripped — after overheating caused by grease build-up or blocked vents, the safety fuse switches the heating off.
- Failed heating element or temperature sensor — the fan spins and the display lights up, but the air stays cool or only lukewarm.
Recommended procedure
- 1Unplug the unit, let it cool, then plug it straight into a wall socket you have tested with another appliance, without any extension lead.
- 2Take the drawer out and slide it back in firmly until it clicks, checking that no crumbs are jamming the closing switch.
- 3Clean the bottom of the drawer, the rack and the air vents, because built-up grease can trip the thermal protection.
- 4Leave the unit unplugged for an hour so any protection can reset, then run an empty cycle at 180 °C for ten minutes.
- 5If the fan runs but the air stays cold, stop there: do not open the casing, and contact the retailer or manufacturer about the warranty.
Repair or replace?
If the element or thermal fuse has failed and the fryer is out of warranty, the repair cost often outweighs the value of a new model. Replace it too if the cable is damaged, the housing overheats abnormally, or you notice a burning smell.
If you replace it
Air Fryers: the models in our buying guide
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Best overall
Philips Airfryer Combi XXL Connected - 8.3L
8.3 L, 22 cooking functions, a built-in food thermometer and the HomeID app, which sends recipe settings to the appliance.
Photo: © Philips
- View on Amazon →
Best value
Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer Pro 4L
Entry-level price, Xiaomi Home app with 100+ recipes, 24-hour scheduling, a viewing window and Google Assistant support.
Photo: © Xiaomi
- View on Amazon →
Best for a family of four
Cosori Dual Blaze Smart Air Fryer - 6.4L
Dual heating elements for even cooking, 6.4 L for 4 to 6 people, the VeSync app and Alexa or Google voice control.
Photo: © Cosori
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Other common failures on this category
These incidents affect the same type of appliance — diagnosis and recommended procedure for each.
Frequently asked questions
In Europe, any air fryers bought new from an official reseller benefits from a legal conformity guarantee of at least two years (Directive (EU) 2019/771). This guarantee covers defects present at delivery, whenever they first manifest.
You can pick: European law puts the legal guarantee on the seller, not the manufacturer. In practice, a store return is usually faster, but the manufacturer can repair if the damage is out of warranty. Keep proof of purchase.
Our public methodology adds a Nura Score /10 penalty to any air fryers whose recurring failures are documented in European user feedback. A model that breaks too often never tops our charts, brand notwithstanding.
Yes, within the limits of the European "right to repair": routine maintenance tasks (cleaning, gasket replacement, calibration) never void the legal warranty. Only irreversible hardware modifications can be a problem. For a air fryers, any handling documented in the manufacturer's manual stays covered.
The directive imposes a two-year legal conformity guarantee, with a presumption of pre-existing defect during the first twelve months — the burden of proof is on the seller. For a air fryers that breaks in that window, you're entitled to free repair or replacement, no strings attached on typical use.