Vacuums

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

How to Safely Vacuum Water. To safely vacuum water, you need a wet/dry vacuum. These vacuum cleaners look like shop vacs, and they act almost identical; however, they can suction both dirt and water. These wet/dry vacs are made to safely suction water without leaking, damaging the motor, or risking electrocution.
To keep your Wet/Dry Vac looking its best, clean the outside with a cloth dampened with warm water and mild soap.
They are majorly used to remove dirt and dust from upholstery, carpets, velveteen furniture and floors made of hardwood and many varieties of floors, including laminated floors. They are also used to clean cars and stairs. Based on the uses, Vacuum cleaners are made into different types.
Depending on the material to be vacuumed, there are dry vacuums, wet vacuums and combination units that can be used as wet and dry vacuums. The new uClean models-Wet are wet or water vacuums that are also suitable as dry vacuums.
No. While it does act as a vacuum for water, you would get a giant mess if using as a regular vacuum without the water running through it.
Using dish soap and warm water, scrub the interior of your wet/dry vac, making sure to get into the corners.
Is a wet/dry vacuum better? A wet/dry vacuum cleaner comes in handy for cleaning both liquid and solid messes. A regular vacuum can only handle a limited amount of dry materials like dust, crumbs, dirt and debris, while a wet/dry vacuum cleaner can also clean up sticky liquids and more.
No. While it does act as a vacuum for water, you would get a giant mess if using as a regular vacuum without the water running through it.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I have a Bissell Pro 2x carpet cleaner. The water heats properly as well as spraying the cleaning product. However, when I go to suction the water from the carpets, the 2 in 1 water tank bladder works properly but there is no dirty water outside the bladder. I have only used this carpet cleaner ~ 5 times and in the beginning I had to empty the suctioned water quite frequently as it was dirty and it could not not hold any more water. So I have done 1 room and all the dirt remains in the carpet
ANSWER : Check that the suction cone is not blocked. Check that the filter or hose to the bladder isn’t blocked as well.

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I do not have my users manual and have never vacuumed wet with this vacuum. How do I change it from a dry to wet vacuum.
Can’t find my manual and I need to use the shop vac for water in basement, do I have to change the filter or what
lost my user manual never used it to pick up water. need to know how to puit it in wet mode i want to clean the dirty water out of my pool.
ANSWER : .Vacuuming Liquids
.1. When picking up small amounts of liquid
.the filter may be left in place.
.2. When picking up large amounts of liquid
.we recommend that the filter be
.removed. If the filter is not removed, it
.will become saturated and misting
.may appear in the exhaust.
.3. After using the vac to pick up liquids,
.the filter must be dried to reduce the
.risk of possible mildew and damage to
.the filter.
.4. When the liquid in the drum reaches a
.predetermined level, the float mechanism
.will rise automatically to cut off
.airflow. When this happens, turn off
.the vac, unplug the power cord, and
.empty the drum. You will know that the
.float has risen because vac airflow
.ceases and the motor noise will
.become higher in pitch, due to
.increased motor speed.
.IMPORTANT: To reduce the risk of damage
.to the vac do not run motor with float
.in raised position

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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 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.
.
.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 Kenmore canister vacuum – model 25614506. Some time ago, I was not able to turn the vacuum off with the on/off switch, but could still use the vacuum. Turned if off/on by pulling the plug. The other day when I went to plug it in, I heard a pop. Now the sweeper runs but the vacuum cleaner does not **** – no air flow. What could be the problem. The cleaner is only 4 years old.
ANSWER : The motor has an inline fuse

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Water is not being discharged. I have filled the reservoir that holds the carpet cleaner fluid And I have filled the water container. I know how to use the cleaner, it has always worked, But now, no water is being discharged to the carpet. I turn it on, squeeze the trigger, but nothing comes out. The wheel that is suppose to spin (to indicate that water is being discharged) is not spinning. Everything else works. I.e. the suction works, and the hand held accessories work.
ANSWER : That means that the pump belt is worn and it needs to be replaced. You can get a replacement belt and view the manual here:

Bissell Pump Belt

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I have a bissell quickwash 1950-e. I bought it Jan. 2006, and have only used it 8-10 times, I live in a very hard water area, so I though if I put some vinegar in with the cleaning solution it would get rid of any hard water deposits, unfortunatly the solution went lumpy in the tank and stoped spraying out water, I have opened it, hose clean, sprayer not blocked, x at bottom of water container when depresed water trickles out, component that opens the x when water container placed, also ran wate
ANSWER : Hard to say what is causing your problem, replacing the cap and insert on the water tank may help, part #2041111, even tho it may trickle out water when depressed, they can still be bad. The other thing would be the rod not relesing the water like it should. The big draw back to this model is Bissell has obsoleted all of its parts and most are no longer available. Might be wiser to buy new.

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I have a Kirby G4 Vacuum Cleaner – MOdel G4 D. I have never had any problems or repairs done to it in the past ten plus years that I’ve had it. This is an upright vacuum. I was vacuuming the carpet floor and was not having any trouble at all. I switched the vacuum off and moved it into a different room. When I tried to turn on the vacuum, it would not turn on. I checked with different outlets, used both front attachment and hose attachment. Checked the front part of the motor/ spiral case. This
ANSWER : Hello,
.My educated guess is that it’s either the switch or the power cord. Here are a couple of guides to help with diagnosis and repair…
.
.http://reviews.ebay.com/COMMON-PROBLEMS-WITH-THE-KIRBY-VACUUM-TROUBLESHOOTING_W0QQugidZ10000000003800312
.
.http://reviews.ebay.com/REPLACING-THE-POWER-SWITCH-ON-ANY-KIRBY-G-SERIES-VACUUM_W0QQugidZ10000000003752018
.
.Hope this helps!!
.Marci

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