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How to prevent a Paper Shredder from Getting Hot

By Bethany Taylor August 17, 2020 0 comments

Shredders that don’t jam

It is essential to remove any obstructions that could spoil your machine.

Security experts recommend obtaining the best paper shredder and setting a regular schedule for shredding. However, most of us wait until the “to be shredded” pile grows. 

Then we are forced to shred for hours. That glut of shredding can sometimes overload shredders that are not always designed for high-frequency document destruction. Consequently, they tend to heat up. 

That makes it important to obtain shredders that don't overheat. Smart shredders have a setting to help either do their shredding over a long period or find ways to cool the device down. 

  1. Check your shredder machine's user manual to find out your shredder’s duty cycle. That is the recommended time for continuous shredding and the recommended time to cool down your shredder’s motor, so you can start using it again. If you cannot find the manual, visit the manufacturer's website and look for safety recommendations about the best shredder overheat fix. Some manufacturers say cycle time varies between makes and models, but a common range for many brands is between 15 and 30 minutes.
  2. It would be best to schedule your continuous duty paper shredder under this duty cycle amount. Occasional shredding in a shorter period will prevent the machine from overheating, compared to a continuous operation, which causes the shredder to heat faster.
  3. The best paper shredder won’t compromise your privacy

    With the best paper shredder, you can set a regular schedule for shredding.

    Turn your shredder off and disconnect it after every shredding cycle. That will keep it from accidentally re-engaging or continuing heating up after every shredding session.
  4. If your machine heats up to the point where it stops working, you will wait longer than the minimum recommended duty cycle. Some shredder manufacturers suggest waiting 30 minutes to an hour between overheated shredding cycles to allow it to reset fully. The longer the wait, the cooler your motor will be in the next shredding cycle. That guarantees a longer period in the next round. Likewise, the shorter the cool-down time, the shorter the next shredding cycle will be because the motor may not have sufficiently cooled.


Remove any obstructions that could slow the motor further when the power is off. Obstructions in the shredder's passageway, like lodged paper or plastic will put additional stress on an already stressed-out motor. It is essential to obtain the best shredders that don’t jam. Otherwise, using a shredder with obtrusions may spoil the machine and thus maintenance required for a shredder

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