Hoover U5172900 Fold Away Widepath Bagless Upright Vacuum

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

The most common cause of loss of suction is that the filters have become blocked. They may require cleaning or replacing. Another cause could be that the vacuum cleaner hose is blocked.
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.
Check the Rotator Brush and Wheels

Sometimes pieces of string or other objects get wrapped around your vacuum`s rotating brush or around the wheels of the vacuum. Unplug your vacuum. Turn it over and have a look at the wheels and brush. If you see any pieces of string or objects lodged there, remove them.

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.

If the machine will no longer efficiently pick items up, the filter might be dirty. If after cleaning the filter your vacuum is still not sucking things up, turn your vacuum around and pull the red tab at the bottom of your Dyson out.
If your vacuum is experiencing a loss of suction, please try the following: Check for any debris or blockages in the tubing and main body. Ensure the filter has been cleaned and left to dry as per the maintenance and care instructions. Check to see if the issue is happening on all attachments.
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.
The air filter traps particles as the air travels through the vacuum cleaner. If the filter is clogged, the vacuum cleaner will not have proper suction. If your vacuum filter is clogged, refer to your owner`s manual for cleaning instructions.
Check for a plugged hose:

Plugged vacuum hoses are sometimes the reason for a loss in suction. Hoses can get clogged with hair, dust bunnies, string, or anything else that can`t pass through the other end of the hose. Airways inside the machine should be looked at as well. Wherever there is an air passage, check it.

Vacuum cleaning is one of the household chores that may leave us with pain. That is because while using a vacuum cleaner, weight is transferred back and forth between the back and the front lower limbs. Vacuum cleaning also involves bending which indirectly puts pressure on the lower back.
Filters need to be cleaned

Rinse the filters with lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Let the filters dry fully before putting them back into the vacuum. If your vacuum is still not picking up dirt, you may need to replace the filter.

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.
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.
The suction power is to be measured at the end of the tube of a complete vacuum cleaner (i.e. with tube, hose and filters – but without nozzle). Some manufacturers show the results from measurements made at the suction of the actual vacuum cleaner.
The battery creates the suction power, so some cordless vacuums lose suction as the battery starts to deplete. Cordless vacuums with a lithium battery last longer and provide consistent suction power, but only the best cordless vacuums can perform as well a plug-in vacuum.
The type of dust collector or vacuum cleaner bag and the size of it affect the suction power of a vacuum. When a vacuum cleaner bag has an extra filter, the vacuum needs a higher suction power. That way, the air will flow outwards through all the filters.
Boil old suction cups to revive them.

Take the pot off of heat and drop your suction cups in for about 30 seconds. Take them out with a pair of tongs and pat them dry on a lint-free towel. Try to use the suction cups right after you dry so they`re still warm and flexible.

Vacuuming every day, or even a few times a day, is not going to create any long term problems.
So a 1000W vacuum cleaner will use 1 kilowatt (1000 Watts) of electricity in 1 hour. The point here is that it is a consumption measurement, rather than a power output measurement… it tells you nothing about suction. If you want to use more electricity, then use a vacuum cleaner with higher wattage.
Push harder than you pull.

Many people naturally exert more force when they`re pulling their vacuums back than when they`re pushing them forward, but this can leave dirt on the floor. Vacuums are designed to be pushed forward at a rate of about 12 inches per second and pulled back at a rate of 6 inches per second.

The History of Vacuum Cleaners

McGaffey invented the first vacuum cleaner, called the “Whirlwind,” in Chicago in 1868. However, the Whirlwind was difficult to use because the operator had to turn a crank while pushing it across the floor manually.

In fact, vacuums are superior to mopping practices when it comes to your hardwood, because they suck up the debris and dirt straight away, rather than just spreading those scratch-causing particles around.
There Is a Blockage

If there is anything blocking the floor nozzle, the vacuum will not pick up debris. To check for blockages, first, check all openings on the dust cup and remove anything in the way of the openings. Reinsert the dust cup. Next, remove the wand from the vacuum and look inside for any blockages.

If you don`t vacuum your carpet, the dirt will break down carpet fibers and create a breeding ground for dust mites and bacteria. In addition, your home will begin to smell musty from the dirt, mites, and other organisms settling into the fibers.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

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.

I have a Eureka Altima vacuum cleaner that doesn’t pick up very well. The suction seems fine but the brush roller doesn’t seem to pick up from the top of the carpet. When you lower the height of the vacuum the belt rubs and smells horribly. How can I get the vacuum to pick up better?
ANSWER : That means that you need to replace the belt. Here is the belt you need to replace and the manual which has instructions:

Eureka Altima Belts

Owner’s Guide

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.

The original belt on my upright Kenmore Progressive broke and I replaced it with the spare that was in the vacuum. The vacuum and spare belt are about 10 years old. Then the spare broke after one vacuuming session and there was a burning smell coming from the vacuum. I ordered new belts and replaced it with the new belt. It seems to be working fine with no smell. I checked the belt after I vacuumed the family room and although it was in tact, the belt was very hot. Is that normal? Should t
ANSWER : The belt heats up due to the friction, as well as being in contact with the shaft of a hot motor. It is normal.

The suction is good, but it can’t pick up most of the stuff on the floor. The hand held hose works very well, but it doesn’t even pick up little fuzzies reliably when I push it along. And, the suction is too hard I think because it used to push easily and now I have to push really hard, even on flat carpet.
ANSWER : Check entire length of hose, including the piece in the power head, for clogs. Simply drop a marble in one end and allow it to roll out the other. If it doesn’t, then the hose is clogged somewhere.

My Dyson Animal has good suction and works fine for actually picking up dirt, but when I use the vacuum with the roller, I hear a grinding/rumbling noise. Its only when I use the vacuum with the brush rotating. It does not happen hen I shut the roller brush off. The belt is fine. I cannot figure out what is wrong as there are no clogs, debris, or foreign objects stuck in the brush or in the belt. The noise seems to be the only issue. The vacuum picks up fine. It just doesn’t sound right a
ANSWER : Trace the path of the suction into the tank and see if there is anything loose or ingested..Also, remove the brush and clean as best you can. Perhaps there is something caught in it. Lubricate where it makes sense with some WD40.

I have a Dyson vacuum cleaner …upright….all of a sudden my vacuum started making this awful sound…like a loud buzz…but only when I have it on carpet….when I have it on “floor” mode it’s fine….sometimes(although seldom) it has worked without buzzing…and it’s LOUD!!….I have only had this vacuum for a year….and no…I have never picked up any coins or hard stuff.only use it for 2 rooms.the rest of the house is wood floors…….what shall I do?
Thanks……Gloria
ANSWER : It may just be, that on carbet the brushes make noise that you dont hear on woodfloors.
.If there is a hights adjustment, set it higher for shaggy carpet and lower for berber.

Need Kirby Generation 3 Vacuum cleaner manual. Vacuum is not picking up dirt from floor. Seems to have enough suction to inflate the bag, but when you check the suction under the vacuum, there seems to be extremely litle suction.
ANSWER : If your brush roll is turning and your bag is not overly full, then the only other thing it can be is a clog where the bag connects to the vacuum. Turn the plastic part out away from vacuum and lift off to see if you have something clogging it. It would have to be something big, but not so big that it could not get past the fan. As a rule of thumb, KIRBY never clogs. I suspect that your belt is stretched out and your brush roll is not turning while on the carpet so the brush roll is just in the way rather than brushing your carpet to pick up dirt.