Vacuums

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced Vacuum Technicians :

Should the brush not rotate freely there may be debris tangled around the ends of the brush, carefully remove any obstructions or replace the brush with a new one. We recommend that you fit a new belt and brush once per year to keep your Reactive vacuum working efficiently.
A beater bar is a smoothly contoured metal agitator bar on a rotating brush roller. See below image. It works in conjunction with bristle brushes to gently beat the fibers, when the beater bar rotates, to loosen soil and allow the brushes to comb away the soil into the suction ports of the vacuum.
If the roller brush is not spinning, it cannot pick up dust. One reason could be that the power button is not set to position II, which runs the roller brush. If the button does not work, here is the link to the power button replacement guide. Another reason is that the roller brush could be broken.
The brush roll or its bearings may be clogged with hair, threads or dirt. Make sure they are clean and the roll spins. The belt may also have slipped because it was loose. Check the fit of the new belt when it is installed.
Clear the brush roll of any hair and debris and inspect by placing it on its end and spin. The brush should spin freely. If it doesn`t spin; it may be time to replace.
Brushes. According to iRobot, brushes should be replaced every 6-12 months. Robot vacuums like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have multiple brushes that allow it to clean.
A vacuum cleaner`s brush roller also called the beater bar assists in cleaning your carpets and depending on your vacuum model, a variety of floors. The brush roller is usually located under the vacuum cleaner and some in the attachment tool.
We recommend dusting before vacuuming, this is because dust particles usually get moved around the room when you dust, meaning all your hard work will go to waste. A top tip is to wait at least 2 hours after dusting to get the vacuum out.
Check the hose for any clogs

If your Shark vac has a hose, feel along the length for any lumps. That indicates a clog that`s causing your suction issues. See if you can break the clog by applying gentle pressure with your hands, or gently move it to the end of the hose to remove it.

After a year or so, you may need to replace your vacuum`s beater brush. If the bristles seem to be squished, broken or are varying heights, it`s time to replace the brush. These can be found online with the vacuum`s brand and model of your vacuum cleaner.
If your vacuum is set too high above the carpet surface, the vacuum can`t attract the gritty soil below. If the setting is too low, the vacuum`s beater bar or brushes can “fuzz” the carpet`s surface, causing it to look worn or frayed.
If all you hear from the vacuum unit is a click at the when you try to start the vacuum motor from inside the house, then the motor in the unit is dead and has to be replaced. A strong odor from the shellac, which coats the copper coil windings, is an indicator that the motor is about to or has burnt out.
This tool has rotating brushes that move counterclockwise together to trap and absorb dirt and more without the use of a vacuum cleaner or mop. Learn the many benefits of using a counter rotating brush.
Inspecting the Vacuum Commutator for Motor Brush Problems

Test that by turning the motor off and pushing on the center shaft, the armature. If it has any play, besides spinning, then replace the motor. If solid then replace the brushes – motor brush replacement instructions.

The average life expectancy of a mid-range vacuum cleaner is about six years. You can fix or replace things like blocked filters, jammed brush rolls, frayed hoses, worn-out stick vac batteries and broken accessories yourself.
Bacteria thrives.

Carpet that`s neglected, and not vacuumed consistently, can become a breeding ground for bacteria to live. This can be dangerous for your kids and pets who may lay on the carpet.

When you vacuum water, you could damage your vacuum`s motor, risk electrocution, and make a huge mess. Unless your vacuum is a wet/dry vacuum rated for water, you should never vacuum water.
You may have stalled the brush motor. To reset, turn off and unplug, then plug back in and turn on. The brush roll may have lodged debris or other entanglements keeping the brush from rotating. To fix, you`ll need to remove the brush roll to inspect.
Hair screw tool

It`s designed with an anti-tangle conical brush bar so that you can pick up long hair and pet hair – fast. Unlike other anti-tangle tools, Dyson`s doesn`t compromise on performance. An integrated motor in the brush bar spins at up to 3500rpm to remove ground-in dirt.

A carpet beater bar is essentially a floor nozzle for a vacuum equipped with a rotating beater bar that spins while the vacuum is in use. By spinning, it agitates the carpet and loosens any lead dust that might be stuck in carpet fibers.
“We would recommend vacuuming at least once or twice a week—and more often if we have pets—with the right tools to remove dust quickly and effectively,” Patel advises.
The science behind why damp dusting is more efficient than a dry cloth comes from the fact that a damp cloth introduces capillary force to the dust particles. In short, the damp cloth draws the particles in and lifts dust from the area instead of moving them around.
There Is Blockage on the Brushroll

There may be debris wrapped around the roller that is preventing it from turning. This is often due to hair, string, or other larger items that may be suck in the roller. Open the brushroll garage by sliding both of the release buttons away from you and then lift off the garage door.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Beater brushes sometimes work and very often not. Hoover windtunnel bagless and beltless
ANSWER : Http://geeksquad.fixya.com/ThreadView.aspx?prdid=0&thid=783732
.Generic problem for all Vacuums
.Beater brushes sometimes work and
.Posted by patarmao on Jul 14, 2008
.Beater brushes sometimes work and very often not. Hoover WindTunnel bagless and beltless.
.Hello,
I would advise you to ALWAYS to FIRST UNPLUG YOUR VACUUM before beginning any service procedure. Your problem is that you may need to change the belt every 4 to 6 months as a recommended belt change on the vacuum and also keep an eye on the brushes or brush strips, they also help in the vacuum working properly. Here is a typical belt change on a Hoover. Normally there are screws, clips or levers that would remove the bottom plate or if that does not work then the top cover will come off and that will expose the belt. Once that is off and the belt is exposed then cut off the old belt and then lift up the brushroll on the pulley end and install the new belt around the pulley end and re-install the brushroll. Then use a belt puller or a screwdriver with a bent right or left end to stretch the belt onto the motor pulley and then track the belt in a straight line and reverse you steps in the reinstall of the top cover or bottom plate. So if you need further assistance, please feel free to contact your local vacuum cleaner dealer in your area or in the yellow pages, or contact the factory phone number or website to further assist you with your questions.

.http://www.hoover.com Telephone
Contact our Customer Service Department at 1.330.499.9499
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. – 7 p.m. EST

.Thanks, Don the Vac Man
Go Ahead. Use Us.

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My model F5906-900 — problem is the brushes have stoped working… I pulled the brush assembly out by holding the two tabs, and all seems clean and the brush assembly rotates easly… onced the brush assembly is removed. What I did notice is the female driver slot (found in the main assembly unit) that drives the brushes seems stuck..Is that normal when the machine is not hooked up to power? How can I get the brushed going??? it is a good machine, but the brush options is important too it’s ab
ANSWER : (1) Assure the Brush Control on the hood is NOT set to the OFF position.
.(2) Remove the brush assembly by pulling/unlatching it from base on each side.
.(3) Does one of the brushes have the drive pin present? It should be about ¼ inch square, and two inches long. It attaches the brushes to the drive mechanism.
.(4) Remove and clean the intake filter. One the base of the cleaner, behind the brushes, squeeze the two red abs together and pull the panel down to access the screen. Clean the hair/debris off the screen and reassemble.

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Now that I just fixed my Lux Legacy canister vacuum, I need help on my other Electrolux Regency Series upright! The vacuum works fine but the rotating brush does not work and the brush motor does not turn on. Tried cleaning the brush and hitting hte reset button to no avail. This upright has a triple setting switch and I checked the each of the wires seem to be attached. Tried rotating the brush by hand and it would not budge. Was going to “encourage” the brush to turn with a set of articula
ANSWER : There are a couple rectangular holes on the bottom of the power nozzle, beside the wheels. These have tabs in them that need released with a standard screwdriver.
.rogerpotts_10.jpg.Once they release, turn the vacuum over and lift cover of power nozzle at the back. This pulls the front of the cover out of the lip on the “bumper”.
.Once this is done, you’ll need to unscrew the screw at each end of the brush. Lift the brush out and thoroughly clean it, including the ends.
. rogerpotts_9.jpg.
.Check the wiring to make sure they’re connected to the terminals of the motor. Also, check the belt for wear and tear. These belts can last for five years or more, but if it looks bad a good time to replace it is while you have the power head apart.
.When reassembling the vacuum, ensure the belt is fitted properly around the motor shaft and brush.
.Insert the front of the cover first, ensuring the edge fits neatly beneath the lip on the bumper all the way around. It takes a little manipulating to press the back into place. Make sure both tabs click into the locked position. Turn the vacuum over and reinstall screws. Try to rotate brush by hand a few times.
.At this point, plug the vacuum in and turn it on. If the power head doesn’t run, press the reset button. If the power head motor still doesn’t run, it could be due to loose or disconnected wires that lead to the reset switch, a bad reset switch, or even a bad motor. The vacuum needs to be taken to the nearest Aerus Electrolux store for further diagnosis and repair.
.
.http://www.aerushome.com/storelocator/

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Have a Hoover model S3670 and the beater brush no longer spins. Have checked the beater belt and it is good, did find out that the light bulb in the unit was bad. Any suggestions on how to test the motor that drives the belt or determine the reason the beater brush is not working?
ANSWER : I usually test the motor with a cord with alligator clips on the wires, and attach them to the black and white wires on the motor ( remove the belt first ). A very common problem with this model was a short circuit developing in the short cord that runs from the nozzle motor into the swivel neck. This is probably where the problem lies. Replacing the cord is best left to someone with experience.

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Kenmore 35923 beltless brush not working after rolling up shlace.
ANSWER : Its due to the grip of the brush and the motor not getting fit its became little bit like streched so this happens and in this case replacing the brushes and checking any other component broken near to it is necessary.

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Hetty hoover not working. It was working ok until I opened it up to search the bag for a missing jigsaw piece and I put it all back and I hoovered the mess on the floor, then switched off and switched on and hoover would not work? Is there a cut off button on Hetty hoovers?
ANSWER : Know cut off switch, its just not getting power ? 2 things its ether at the wall plug or in side the unit. I have never found a fuse in side them , so it may be just a lose wire did you try other plugs in the house . good luck DFD

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Hoover Windtunnel My Hoover Windtunnel is 3 years old. It worked great until yesterday when it lost all suction. I have followed the manual to trouble shoot any possible clogs and could find none. Then I noticed that when I remove the dirt collection cup and held my hand over the vent the suction is fine and strong. So… I replaced the hepa filter thinking that might be the problem. That didnt’ work. The motor runs fine. The suction without the dirt cup inserted is strong. As soon as you insert
ANSWER : Either the hose has a clog, or the inlet down by the belt is clogged. Is there suction at the end of the hose, if not then it is clogged. If there is suction, then it has to be clogged down below by the brush roll, check that inlet. There also is a filter at the bottom where the dirt cup (and bag) is, check it also.

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Hoover Windtunnel My Hoover Windtunnel is 3 years old. It worked great until yesterday when it lost all suction. I have followed the manual to trouble shoot any possible clogs and could find none. Then I noticed that when I remove the dirt collection cup and held my hand over the vent the suction is fine and strong. So… I replaced the hepa filter thinking that might be the problem. That didnt’ work. The motor runs fine. The suction without the dirt cup inserted is strong. As soon as you insert
ANSWER : Mine does the same thing. There is no suction. I found that there is a door that opens when you tilt the handle in the down possition. I think there should be a spring in place so it can open. Until I find a replacement spring I have to open the door manually throught the opening under the light.

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