In an American culture that is only too quick to throw away instead of repairing, it's refreshing when you run across someone who decides to give the repair option a shot. However, there are just some things that you shouldn't try fixing yourself. One of those things is an electric blanket.
The Real Cost of Electric Blanket Repair
Electric blankets are highly sensitive devices that pose a great risk of personal injury and property damage if they are not operating 100% as originally intended. Just one loose wire, for instance, could spark a fatal fire. I doubt most of us would consider it a good trade-off to lose a family member in exchange for saving the $80 it would cost to replace a broken electric blanket.
When an electric blanket malfunctions it's usually due to one of three issues. The first issue is a faulty cord that runs from the control unit to the electrical outlet on your wall. If this is the case, the rest of the blanket is fine and your "repair" simply boils down to purchasing a replacement cord. If there is a break in the cord, don't try to fix it; even with solder and screw caps. Remember that you're sleeping under that blanket. You could break the cord at the same place you repaired it simply by tossing and turning during the night. Once that cord is broken you are prime candidate for a fire.
The second possible reason for a malfunctioning electric blanket is a faulty controller. Today's modern electric blankets feature electronic circuit boards inside the control unit which act as the brains of the unit. If the circuit board or switches become faulty, there is no practical way to repair them unless you're a professional. And taking the control unit to have it repaired by someone who's knowledgeable would still end up costing more than simply purchasing a new blanket. So if the control unit malfunctions discard the blanket and buy a new one.
The third cause of malfunction, and the most common, comes from the normal wear of wires running through the blanket's fabric. Nothing lasts forever; not even your electric blanket. And after 15 to 20 years of unfolding, sleeping, refolding, and storage, the wires that run through the blanket tend to wear out. They can fray, break, or even short out due to a sudden surge in electrical current. Because these wires are so sensitive, replacing or repairing them is neither practical nor safe. If the interior wiring of your blanket malfunctions you're better off with a standard blanket than risking your life with a malfunctioning electric blanket.
At the end of the day, the best tip for repairing electric blankets is to just not do it. You're far safer in throwing it away and buying a new one. If you can't bring yourself to throw out your old blanket, you can remove the wiring altogether and use it like a standard blanket. Please, just don't try to fix it yourself.