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Vacuums

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

A lot of new bagless vacuums have a drop door on the bottom of the bin, so they`re a lot cleaner and easier to empty than the bagless vacuums made within the last 13 years. You can either hold them deep into a trash can, or take take them outside, and the dust cloud is reduced.
Press release button and lift off dust cup. To empty debris, press lever to release bottom lid. Place vacuum in upright position.
A senior test project leader stated that one of his top tips for lengthening a vacuum`s lifespan is “Don`t let the bag or bin get filled to the brim, which can clog the machine.” In addition to the extra work, dust escaping from a reused bag tends to go right back into the motor, causing damage.
You can remove the plastic strip on the bottom to quickly empty the dust bag. After emptying, slide the plastic strip back onto the dust bag and place the dust bag back into the appliance.
Dump the Dust

If your vacuum has a disposable bag, remove and discard it. For vacuums that use a plastic canister, remove the bin and dump the contents in the trash.

How Often to Empty the Vacuum Canister. Yes, the chart says to empty the vacuum`s canister after every few uses, but that`s at the very minimum. Rather than waiting for the canister to fill up all the way, the Vacuum Experts suggest you empty it after every use.
Clog located in the vacuum hose

Turn the unit on and feel the suction at the end of the hose handle. If there is no or low suction, then the clog is in the hose. You can remove the clog by running a long, stiff object through the hose, such as a butter knife, starting at the wall end.

To open the bag, you simply pull the zip apart. You don`t let the air in via the valve. All vacuum storage bags will leak in air over time – Neusu vacuum bags have been tested to keep out most of the air, with only minimal leakage, after over four months.
Flushing vacuum dust down the toilet bowl will cause your toilet to be blocked, and even the pipes that lead to the sewers could be blocked. It might take a long time before you notice that the sewer pipes are blocked, and it is impossible to flush anything down the toilet.
Cotton and canvas reusable grocery bags are the easiest to clean! Throw them in the washer with detergent and hot water and you`re good to go. They`re even dryer-friendly.
Use a mild detergent and a soft cloth to remove dirt. Pay close attention to cleaning the corners of the lining, as some dust or dirt might stay there. Mix the detergent with water to dampen the cloth. Gently wipe down the inside of your bag with the fabric in a circular motion.
Once your bag is cleaned and stuffed, we highly recommend that it is stored in a dust bag. Bags have a tendency to discolor over time, especially when exposed to prolonged artificial or natural light. Leather oxidizes naturally, but when properly stored, this oxidation process can be delayed.
It`s in the bag

That`s where the bag—or the dirt container of a bagless vacuum—comes into play. The vacuum`s bag is tightly sealed. It doesn`t just hold dirt, it also acts as a filter for the air coming out of the vacuum`s exhaust.

Failing to empty it will lead to the machine`s reduced performance, risking overheating and damage. Even when you`re in a hurry, avoid assuming the machine can handle just one more cleanup before you empty the dust bag or bin. Plus, you can get more suction out of the machine if you empty it.
The Full Dust Bag Indicator in On

It is often recommended, however, that dust bags are replaced when they`re around two thirds full or once a month. Daily and extensive use of vacuum cleaners will create a need to replace dust bags more frequently.

Bagless vacuums can require additional filters. They are costly and most people don`t clean or change them. If you don`t clean or change these filters, the vacuum loses suction.
In general, bagged models tend to work more efficiently than bagless vacuum cleaners because they have an extra layer of protection for their filtration system. If someone in your household lives with allergies or asthma, it`s in your best interest to choose a model that will filter out the air as best as possible.
The most common cause of vacuum cleaner not picking up dirt properly is clogged air filter. Remove the filter and either clean or replace it as needed.
The most common problems found in vacuum cleaners are low suction force, excessive noise, burning smell, vacuum not turn on, and overheating. These issues can be fixed by either cleaning the device or replacing some parts of the device. At times, it is best to seek a professional to fix the cleaner effectively.
If possible, wash it in warm water. You may be able to remove and wash the hose, wand and accessory heads too, if they`re very dirty. Make sure all parts are completely dry before you put the vacuum cleaner back together.
Convenience – One of the most obvious reasons to choose a bagless cylinder vacuum cleaner is because it is much easier to manage. You don`t need to think about buying spare bags – ever! See your dirt – It is much easier to see when the cylinder needs emptying if you don`t have a bag inside your vacuum.
Similar to dental floss, sending hair down the drain can cause larger problems later on, experts at American Water note. Hair tends to stick to the inside of pipes, leading to build-up and clogs over time. Don`t flush large clumps of hair down the toilet, and use drain covers to protect your shower and sink drains.
Anything sticky or wet

Just as you may suspect, sticky items are not safe for your vacuum. They can stick to the brush roll, hose, or interior, causing a clog. Even if they make it safely inside the vacuum, sticky or wet pieces can mold and spread mold spores or foul smells every time you vacuum.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I purchased a brand new Eureka Pet vacuum, sorry don’t know exact name but it the one that has the self cleaning duster on it. Last night I used the vacuum on my carpet, it was working fine until I accidently sucked up the corner of a scarf that was hanging off a couch. I shut the vacuum off, pulled out the scarf and and resumed vacuuming. Much to my dismay the suction on the vacuum had ceased. Can you tell me if there is a reset button on the vacuum? The vacuum does not appear to be damage
ANSWER : If the motor is running, there should be suction. Possible problems depend on whether it’s a canister or upright and are:
.A clog in the hose, UR or canister. Detach hose. Drop small coin in one end and lift hose causing it to roll out the other. If it does, no clog in hose. Drop same coin into hose opening on power head. If it rolls out, no clog in PN.
.Broken fan blades, UR. Needs to be taken to shop for repair/replacement.
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.A reset button is for use if the motor isn’t running, so won’t have anything to do with the suction.

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I have a 2 fluorescent light fixture in my bathroom. The right side light quit working. I took the starter out of the left side and put it in the right and it worked. Starter, right? I bought a package of 2 Leviton starters FS 2 15w. They didn’t work. Thinking bad, I returned it for another package. Still not working. The original starter is a Sylvania FS 2. Is it possible to have FOUR bad “new” starters? Do I need to replace it with the EXACT same starter? This light fixture is 38 years old. No
ANSWER : It is not likely that you had 4 bad starters.I assume you have more modern lights in it too(not 30 yrs old).Here is a link to Sylvania.It may be just that it requires certain something(who knows what)that only Sylvania has.It seems strange because they are all basically the same and a generic one seems like it would work.I also googled flourescent light starters and under one that talked about operation,it did refer to some older models.But like I said,it probably has newer lights so who knows what the heck.Well,here you go.You may also just want to call Sylvania and ask where you can find a replacement instead of paying $5 to ship $2 worth of parts.
.http://www.sylvanialightbulbs.com/sylvania_starters_accessories_ballasts.html
.Good luck! Greg

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Suction Problem I was vacuuming and stopped to empty the cannister. When I started vacuuming again – the suction wasn’t working properly. The vacuum was just pushing stuff around the floor. I cleaned the hair out the brush on the bottom and it still isn’t working. It was working fine before I emptied the tube 🙁 I can’t figure out what happened.Help!
ANSWER : Greetings from GoVacuum,
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.I believe what may have happened is that your vacuum cleaner belt has either broken, or been stretched so far that ithe brushes are no longer spinning fast enough.
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.Here’s what you should do to diagnose this problem.
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.1. Take the suction hose out of the back of the vacuum (assuming that your vacuum has on-board tools), and see if you have any suction coming from the hose. If you do, this indicates your belt is bad.
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.2. If you don’t have suction coming from the hose, then it may be something as simple as replacing the filters, to a clog in the vacuum, or to your motor going bad.
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.In my professional opinion though I would say from what you stated that the belt is mostly likely going to be your issue. If you can provide me the model number of your vacuum cleaner, I can walk you through step by step on ow to replace the belt.
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.I have posted a short YouTube video on a vacuum belt change, this is not for all vacuums, but it will give you some idea of how to change a belt;
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Thanks, and if you have questions about your particular model, please feel free to contact me at
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.[email protected]
.1-866-468-2288

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Dirt devil vacuum cleaner–trouble vacuuming dirt and pet hair on carpeting –is the problem with the spinning brush which contacts the floor,  not contacting the carpeting??  I thought (when I bought this vacuum) that the aforementioned brush was adjustable to various heights of carpeting.  Sometimes, it seems like nothing is being vacuumed up –unless I have just put a new bag on the vacuum… Do I need or can I replace the spinning brush on the bottom of the vacuum so it kicks up and vacuums
ANSWER : Try replacing the belt. Rubber belts stretch out after about a year.

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I have a kenmore progressive direct drive handi mate jr. upright vacuum. My daughter used it last night to vacuum up some cat litter that had spilled on the floor. I went to use it today and it turned on for a second and then stopped working. I have hit the reset button but it will not turn on. Help this vacuum is only 2 years old Is there anything that I need to reset or do so that the vacuum will work again?
ANSWER : Its probably clogged up with cat litter.might have gotten into the motor.your motor has a motor guard inside if it. when it overheats it will shut down till it cools off.you need to clean all th cat liter out of it.and clean the filters.with a direct drive you might want to take it in to a repairman to sevice. its not a shop vac i advise you not to pick up things like cat liter

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Kenmore canister vacuum model 116-25512506. It has a 2 stage switch on the handle, the vacuum motor will not work, the carpet beater attachment does work, the vacuum motor will not cut on at all with either stage, 1st stage is vac only, 2nd is vac a carpet attachment. Carpet attachment will work, vac does not.
ANSWER : Try to find the reset button. It should be somwhere near the bottom area. It looks like a red dot that you can push inward. If you can press and hold the reset button, it will restart your suction and solve your problem.

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Electrolux Epic 6500SR Full Bag sensor working, Does not Reset properly
ANSWER : The problem was a sticking switch that was not being reset. The vacuum on/off switch mechanism is comprised of two switches. One is the main switch that turns the vacuum on and off. The second is a shut off switch that gets tripped when the full bag sensor is engaged. This second switch is supposed to get reset when you push the on/off switch on the outside of the machine. The full bag shutoff switch was stiff and it, therefore, was taking a couple of presses of the on/off switch to move the shutoff switch back into the running position.

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My home has a central vacuum system hook-up but no vacuum installed. My friend upgraded his central system and gave me his Eureka Mega Boss central vacuum system and the accessories, including the pow
ANSWER : The power head requires 120 Volts. Some hoses have a receptacle in the handle for the power head plug, and the hose has a cord at the wall inlet end that plugs into a receptacle. Some hoses have a plug at the wall inlet end that plugs into a 120Volt receptacle built into the inlet. The hose plugs into this receptacle when you push the hose into the inlet. The power for this built-in receptacle is wired with line voltage when the system is installed.

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