Keep Blending This Summer with Vitamix Replacement Parts

If you are cooking every day, then you already love your Vitamix blender. These amazing, high-powered mixers can take on everything from nut butter to entire apples, reducing everything down to pastes or liquids. However, age affects these beautiful machines just like any other cooking essential. You don’t want to have to take your vichyssoise off your menu just because you forgot to order your Vitamix replacement parts. Here is a quick look at the parts inside your blender that you will need to keep maintained to keep that Vitamix ablaze.

Container

The container is the heart and soul of your mixer. While they are extremely sturdy, they can occasionally crack after a fall to the floor or a mishap in the dishwasher. Resist the temptation to reach for the duct tape and go ahead and purchase another one. A cracked container can lead to a host of problems, with tomato bisque spraying all over your kitchen being the least of them. You could also end up with small bits of plastic in your food as the edges of the break start to corrode and affect your liquids. Cracks also harbor bacteria, so any cracked kitchen equipment should always be replaced. Once you have replaced your container, you may want to try out some fun salsas. Green salsa is my personal favorite. It can be traditional and chunky, but after a spin in your Vitamix, it becomes a lovely side sauce.

Wet Blade Assembly

Wet Blade Assembly is just a fancy name for the blade in your blender that takes care of any liquids. This blade creams your soups or creates your smoothies. This part can rust, break or warp over the years, but is an easy part to replace. When it’s time to swap out the blade, all you need is your Vitamix wrench and the original part inside the container. Take off the lid, turn the container upside down and fit your wrench over the base. The hole in your wrench should line up with the socket in the center. Turn the wrench to the left to loosen the blade’s nut. Once it’s out of its hold, grab a kitchen towel and, keeping it on your hand, reach inside with one hand to unscrew the blade while holding the base with your other hand. The blade is really in there, so you may have to give it a firm tap to get it out. Reverse the process to put your new one in. Test your blender with a little water to make sure everything is nice and tight. Once it’s ready, try a mango smoothie to celebrate your hard work.

Drive Socket

Your drive socket is incredibly important. It’s the connection between your blade and your motor and is also a silencer that keeps your blender running gently and quietly. The teeth of the socket can get worn down if you are blending without the centering pad or if you tilt your container a lot during blending. To remove the original, unplug your blender and make sure it is switched off. Then, take off your centering pad (it peels right off) to reveal your drive socket. This socket is the circle with little teeth in the center of the stand. It should have the word Vitamix and a little arrow on it. Line the arrow up with the notch on the side of the housing for the socket. Use a small Allen wrench to slide inside that opening and then pop the original socket out of its home. Replace your new one by lining up the arrow once more and then pushing it down onto the nut inside. Got it just right? Try this easy gazpacho and listen to your new drive socket purr.

Variable Speed Switch

Occasionally your speed switch can go out. Replacing your Vitamix speed switch will depend on which model you have (some are on the bottom, and some are on the side). This replacement is a more advanced job to tackle in the kitchen and requires several tools. The most important thing about this process is that the problem does not mean the end of your blending days. You can keep your original with the help of readily available parts, even a switch. Just be sure to check the model number of your blender and keep in mind that each model has its own variations and needs. You can find your model information on the bottom of your blender’s base.

Final Thoughts

With a little maintenance and tender loving care, you can keep your blender working for years to come. When it comes time to replace parts, even if you aren’t mechanically inclined, you will find it simple to do yourself.