Dyson DC14 All floors Bagless Upright Cyclonic Vacuum

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

On the Dyson ball upright models, if you are getting a burning smell and sparking from the brushbar area, usually this means your brushbar motor has failed.
A clogged filter in a Dyson vacuum can create a muffled sucking sound or a high-pitched squealing during use. You may need to remove and clean out the vacuum`s filter. Remove the filter by twisting the purple dial labeled “filter” located at the top of the vacuum.
If there is a strong burning smell coming from the motor area of your Dyson DC14 or DC07 then it is most likely that your motor has burnt out.
A high pitch whistle could indicate a seal is damaged or the machine is blocked. If the noise occurs without the Wand and Cleaner head, it is likely to be caused by either the bin or cyclone.
The most common cause of excessive sparking is an old motor that is beginning to fail. The armature is blackened, pitted, and scared with build up. The brushes may still have life (are longer than 3/16 inch) but the armature, sometimes spurred on by a not-so-tight bearing, is being damaged.
It is impossible for a visible spark to form in a vacuum. Without intervening matter capable of electromagnetic transitions, the spark will be invisible (see vacuum arc).
With excessive use and regular exposure to dust and dirt, the filters attached to the vacuum cleaner get grime on them. This dusty layer closes the way for air to pass through the channel. Thus, the machine puts a lot of effort and generates noise in excess to pass the air throughout the system.
Check the LED light to determine the battery level. A solid blue light indicates that the machine is in normal operating mode. A flashing blue light indicates that there is no power, and the battery needs to be charged for a minimum of 3.5 hours.
Burning smell can indicate motor damage

If you suspect that the motor is damaged, you should not continue to use the vacuum cleaner! The cause of motor damage is usually wear and tear or damage caused by prolonged improper use (e.g. overheating). In most cases, it is not worth repairing.

Within the first few uses it is normal to expect a smell from any brand new appliance with a heater element (e.g. toaster/oven/kettle etc.) The smell will fade with time and usage.
This is due to the machine constantly seeking to maintain a good air quality, and in scenarios such as rooms with leaky windows, the machine must work harder to maintain a good air quality. This will only happen when the machine is set on auto.
1 solid blue light will indicate the machine has a low level of charge. If the machine is cutting out/pulsating, this will indicate a blockage. Be careful not to pull the `ON` trigger while looking for blockages.
If the cleaner becomes noisy or starts vibrating, it may be because some debris has got tangled around the brush roll or agitator situated in the bottom of the cleaner.
A small amount of sparking is normal. Small sparks may occur until the carbon brushes bed in properly. Little minute sparks are often present but as long as they are very small should not indicate a problem.
Normal Sparks

Gaps like these can occur when you`re just about to plug in a device or when you`ve just unplugged it. For a split second, the prongs are close enough for the electrical current to reach, and when it makes that “jump” or “arc,” you`ll see a small, brief spark. This is normal and not cause for concern.

The rapid transition from a non-conducting to a conductive state produces a brief emission of light and a sharp crack or snapping sound. A spark is created when the applied electric field exceeds the dielectric breakdown strength of the intervening medium. For air, the breakdown strength is about 30 kV/cm at sea level.
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.

If you listen very carefully, sometimes you can hear a “hiss” sound that is the signal of a vacuum leak. However, the most common way to notice this is when the engine loses fuel efficiency. The reason for this is due to the fact that vehicle exhaust is delayed on exiting the combustion chamber.
Hissing or Sucking Noises

Usually, when the leak isn`t too bad, you will hear hissing noises coming from the engine. This may also sound like whining sounds or whimpering sounds. For more severe vacuum leaks, the noise is sucking or suction, much like a vacuum cleaner.

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.
A Dyson vacuum cleaner has a lifespan of around 10 years. This is considerably longer than most other vacuums. So, if you`re looking for a high-quality vacuum cleaner that will last you for a long time, a Dyson could be a good choice. However, remember that Dyson vacuums are expensive.
Summary. Dyson batteries should last around 2-6 years before needing to be replaced. This wide range reflects the fact that how you care for and maintain the battery will affect how long it lasts. If you want your vacuum`s battery to last longer, make sure it`s stored at room temperature.
How long do vacuum cleaners last? According to Consumer Reports, vacuum cleaners last a median of eight years. But the lifespan varies wildly by not only brand but your own personal use.
Belt is Broken or has Debris

The main reason why a vacuum may be emitting a smell of burning rubber is a broken belt or an object is suck. Excess hair or fur caught around the roller brush can also cause this issue. Turn off your vacuum and let it cool before doing anything.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Dc14 makes a noise and sparks at the back botom just below the pipe
ANSWER : The sparks are coming off the armature. either the carbon brushes need to be replaced or the complete motor.

Dc14 when turned on makes a different noise louder, and it smells like it burning and sparks at the bottom back just below the pipe
ANSWER : I guess you don’t need me to tell you you’ve got a major electrical problem!  Question is, what do you need by way of help?  At the very least you will need new carbon brushes for the motor, and it’s quite likely that you may need a complete new motor.  Trouble is that Dysons generally are not easy for the amateur to get in to and Dyson do not make technical manuals available.  It’s a while since I had to work on a DC14 and I can’t remember how to get at the motor.  The best I can do is spell out your options: 1. Try to do it yourself and risk breaking something, 2. wait for a reply on this site from someone else (although to judge from the number of unanswered Dyson problems here, you may wait for ever),  3. take it to a specialist repairer or call Dyson direct for advice (but they won’t give you any guidance for doing the work yourself).  .
.Good luck.  If you need to ask specific questions, post again here and I’ll help if I can.

Hi. My dyson dc14 wand works great then all of a sudden if something too big or even just the carpet it makes a sucking noise & the purple round bit in the actual Hoover makes a funny noise & then the suction isn’t as great. If it turn it off then on again it comes back to normal! Help!!
ANSWER : Sounds like a blockage. I have a DC14 and I have never had this problem. You can easily remove the wand from the flexible hose and the flexible hose from the machine to check for a blockage. Don’t allow paper or larger items to go into the machine, especially the wand, pick it up by hand first. Find the online manual here: http://www.analogstereo.com/dyson_vacuum_owners_manual.htm

My DC 14 makes a terrible noise when I am vacuuming on carpet, so I put it in the upright postion and it stops. I but down the head and the noise will stop. If I bump the head it will start making the noise.
ANSWER : If the noise is rattly then it means the drive belt needs replacing, if your model has a protective brush on/off mode on the front plate where you would normally put your foot, it would have to be repaired officially by a repairer. Replacing a protective drive belt can only be done by Dyson repairers or those that repair Dysons.

Weird noise i have a eureka the boss and i am getting a weird noise figured bag was full needed to change it so i did. Noise persisted so i checked make sure nothing was caught in the brushes. I even checked the belt it was fine replaced with a new one.Still the noise is there help me I am out of what else to check.
ANSWER : Squealing

Hi folks,
my beam vacuum makes a very loud roaring noise quite often.
the problem started when i was vacuuming up a quantity of vermiculite from my chimney.
i think i overloaded the vacuum i think and it made this loud roaring noise.
the vacuum tends to make thos noise when i am hoovering after 5 minutes or so.
any ideas?.
thanks in advance Tom….
ANSWER : If the filter bag is bad and didn’t trap all of the dust, then it got into your motor, so you may have a problem with your motor now.

I replaced the belt on my Dirt Devil Featherlite Bagless Vacuum and the brush roller rubs and makes a very loud noise when turned on. I have gone exactly by the manual instructions and made sure the belt and end caps were on correctly, but the bristles still rub the back and it makes a very loud noise. Without the brush roller in the vacuum, it sounds and runs normal. What could the problem be?
ANSWER : Http://www.geeksquad.fixya.com/ThreadView.aspx?prdid=0&thid=561283
.Generic problem for all Vacuums
.I replaced the belt on
.Posted by piggytail on May 01, 2008
.I replaced the belt on my Dirt Devil Featherlite Bagless Vacuum and the brush roller rubs and makes a very loud noise when turned on. I have gone exactly by the manual instructions and made sure the belt and end caps were on correctly, but the bristles still rub the back and it makes a very loud noise. Without the brush roller in the vacuum, it sounds and runs normal. What could the problem be?
.
.Hello,
.I would advise you to ALWAYS to FIRST UNPLUG YOUR VACUUM before beginning any service procedure.
.The Royal Dirt Devil Featherlite Bagless Vacuum has just bushings in the ends of the brushroll and not bearings and once the bushings are bad I suggest that you replace the brushroll in the vacuum and put a new belt on the vacuum as well. There is no way to repair the bushing s in order to it to work properly. The suggested belt change is every 4 to 6 months and to store the extra belts in a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. Suggest looking at a local vac dealer. 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.royalvacuums.com
.Customer Service
.For help with a model that is not working, if you want to check an order, if you need help finding a part or service center or have any other comment, complaint or question that is not a technical question about this web site use the link above. You can also call our Customer Service department between 8AM and 7PM EST Monday through Friday at (800) 321-1134.
.www.A-1Vacuum.com 1-800-657-1874 If you cannot find a local dealer near you they can ship you the parts UPS.
.Don – The Vac Man
.Go Ahead. Use Us.
.

When I vacuum w/ the brush control in the on position it make a really loud noise, almost like a grinding sound. I have looked at it and nothing seems to be wrong, but I notice that the pin that engages the belt seems to vibrate a bit, possibly creating the noise. It started when I accidentally got part of a plastic grocery bag caught in the brush. Could it have stretched a belt? Nothing is caught any other place and it only makes the noise when the brush in in the on position.
ANSWER : Yes, the belt could have been stretched and is now vibrating and hitting other parts and creating a noise if much of the bag got caught under the belt. If you have another belt for this vacuum, please put it on and see if the noise stops. If it does, then problem solved, if not let me know and we can try something else and you can send a picture or video to me of the problem.

Let me know how this works out for you.

Benjamin