I bought a Philco hair dryer about 6 months ago and suddenly the air started coming out really weak. I cleaned the filter, but it's still like that. Could the motor be burning out or is it something I can fix myself?
If the motor's starting normally and making its usual sound, then clogging is definitely the culprit in most cases. Besides the filter you've already cleaned, check if there's dust buildup in the rear outlet of the unit - sometimes it gets stuck in there and completely reduces the airflow. Take off the back grille (it's usually just a few clicks) and wipe it down or even use a vacuum carefully. If it's still weak after that, then it could be motor wear or damage to the fan blades, but try clearing the clog first since that's the most likely thing.
Can you hear the motor turning on normally or is it making a weird noise? Most of the time it's a clog - cleaning the filter is the basic thing, but sometimes the problem is in the rear air outlet or the internal duct. Open up the hair dryer's casing carefully (unplug it first) and check if there's lint buildup inside, especially near the heating element. If everything's clean and the motor turns on but it's running too slow, then it could be a worn-out motor, but that's rare with only 6 months of use.
I understand the concern, but burning out the motor usually isn't the problem in this case - when that happens, the device simply won't turn on or gets really hot. Weak airflow is almost always a clog, but it can be in a spot people forget about. Besides the filter, there's an area that accumulates dust quickly: the tube or air chamber between the motor and the front outlet. You can disassemble the front of the hair dryer (usually just 2 or 3 small screws) and run a dry cloth or an old toothbrush inside there.
Another thing to test first - fill a cup with warm water and put your hand on the rear outlet when the hair dryer is on. If you feel air coming out there with force but the front is weak, it's definitely a clog. If you don't feel anything at the rear either, then you might actually need a repair, but that's rare. Until you take it apart, avoid using it because that forces the motor unnecessarily and can actually cause damage.
The problem is almost certainly a clog, but not where you're thinking. After the front filter, there's an air chamber before the motor that constantly accumulates dust - that's where most of the stuff gets stuck. Remove the rear grille (usually with two or three screws) and run a damp cloth inside it, then blow carefully. This fixes it most of the time.
If it's still weak after that, the internal air duct might be clogged too. Some Philco models have a plastic tube inside that collects lint. Try running a thin wire or a vacuum tube through the inside of the hair dryer (with it unplugged, of course). Just be careful not to damage anything - go slowly, don't force it.
A burning motor would be much more obvious: you'd smell something burning, the device would get too hot to hold or it would just shut off. Weak like this is a sure sign of a clog, and these get fixed with cleaning. If it still doesn't improve after all this, then it's worth taking to a technician because it could be something internal with the fan.
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