30 seconds or so, but shuts down. Other times it won’t start back up at all. No clogs & bag is new. Please help.
Vacuums

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

Check that the vacuum cleaner is plugged into a working power outlet and that fuses and breakers don`t need resetting. An activated thermal cut-out due to a blockage is the next most likely cause of the problem. Check for blockages in the hose and filters, and remove any obstructions that you find.
One of the first things to do when your Dyson vacuum cleaner keeps starting and stopping is to empty the bin. It may be full, or the machine may simply perceive it as too full to continue working. Dyson vacuum cleaners require constant airflow through them to work, and a full bin can stop this from happening.
Overheating usually occurs because the dust bag has not been emptied, filter has not been cleaned or there is a blockage in the floor tool, wand or bent hand piece. If your vacuum shuts down unexpectedly, make sure you turn the vacuum off and unplug it from the wall socket.
If your vacuum cleaner keeps turning off, this could be due to the following reasons: Blockages – check the hose and head for any obstructions. Filter – always check your filters, if these are clogged this could be causing the vacuum cleaner to work harder and lose suction power.
If your vacuum cleaner has lost suction power, it`s time to empty the container. Vacuum cleaners come with various foam or mesh filters. These might get clogged over time if not cleaned or replaced properly. This will cause your vacuum to lose suction.
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 you find that your machine is turning off intermittently, the filter in your vacuum is most likely full and covering the ventilation system. Remove the filter, then empty and wash it. Allow the filter to dry for at least 24 hours, or until it is completely dry.
It`s possible there`s a power consumption issue, with there just not being enough residual charge to run the machine. A new battery should fix this. My other thought is that it`s overheating. If too much power is pushed through the motor, which MAX power does, it could stop after a few seconds if it become hot.
If there is something that has become caught in the hose in another part of the system, the airflow will be reduced and can cause overheating and a shut down. Clear out hoses, attachments, and brushes of any hair, dirt, and debris. This will allow for restored airflow and should get things going again.
An overheating computer can intermittently restart, shutdown, or experience performance issues. Eventually excessive heat can damage the internal components. When the computer overheats, you may experience symptoms such as: Fans inside the computer become louder as they start spinning faster to remove excess heat.
A vacuum cleaner can run continuously for 30 – 60 min each time. The vacuum cleaner has no suction power. For example, a hair cannot be sucked up.
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.
The two main indicators to determine vacuum power performance are water lift and airflow. The water lift is measured in mmH2O, mbar or kPa. It represents the suction force and is the reference parameter for vacuuming liquids and heavy materials. The airflow is measured in m3/h or in l/s.
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.
Besides getting jammed with dirt and debris, the major problem that cordless vacuums face is a weak battery or failing recharger. Some cordless vacuum batteries are easily replaced while others are not and require that the entire unit be replaced.
Broken vacuum tube or hose: The most common cause of a vacuum leak is a broken, torn or disconnected vacuum hose or tube. Because of the extreme heat generated by an internal combustion engine, these plastic and rubber tubes can deteriorate or break and cause a vacuum leak.
Hot environments speed up battery aging. So it`s best to avoid cleaning the car in hot weather or leaving your vacuum in rooms that experience direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The same goes for cold porches and garages in winter.
When your Dyson no longer powers on even after charging the most likely cause is a damaged battery. This means the battery will no longer hold a charge and will need to be replaced. Once a new battery is purchased you can learn how to replace it by visiting our battery replacement page here.
This is not normal behavior. More often than not, when a dryer shuts off, it`s due to an overheating issue. The most common cause of that is the filter, and you can read more about machine maintenance here.
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.
To reset the Brush bar press the Brush bar control button twice or switch the machine off and back on.
If you put a thermometer into the middle of a bottle containing no air, you would see a rise in temperature because the heat passes through the vacuum the same way light does.
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.
From the System Utilities screen, select System Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > Advanced Options > Fan and Thermal Options > Thermal Shutdown and press Enter. Select a setting and press Enter.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

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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Unbeknownst to me, someone took the bag out of my Kenmore Progressive vacuum and failed to replace it. I have been vacuuming without a bag for months, and today the vacuum stopped sucking. When I opened up the front to replace the bag, tons of dirt and dust came pouring out. I thoroughly cleaned the vacuum, put in a new bag, but still no sucking power. Just dust coming from the rear vents where one of the filters is. Is the vacuum ruined, or is it a simple solution of buying a new filter?
ANSWER : Sounds like you need to buy a new motor. All that grit and dust will ruin a motor and I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did.
.This is where a vacuum that won’t run without a bag would have been nice. (Aerus for one)

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I have no power on a brand new Electrolux Oxygen canister vacuum. This is the second time. After the first time, I took it back to Sears where I bought the vacuum and they gave me a brand new vacuum. This is the second time it’s happened, basically on both units after the time that i brought them home.
ANSWER : Ensure that the tools and the bucket are installed properly, if the bucket is not well in place, the unit wont start.

If the electric power does not come on, disconnect from mains
and check plugs, cable and fuses where appropriate.

If you use always the same socket there may be a problem withthe AC socket, and this may be bloewing the fuse.

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Won’t start. My son was using the vacuum & Didn’t change the bag. The vacuum was making the full bag smell, but the light was’t on & it didn’t stop. I stopped him, changed the bag, checked the filter, closed the compartments & turned on the vacuum. Nothing happened. I checked to be sure that it was plugged in, that wasn’t the problem. I’ve let the vacuum “rest” for several days, It still won’t start. Any suggestions?
ANSWER : There is a reset button at the back of the powerhead. The user manual can be downloaded from the electrolux website, although I didn’t find it very useful. There was some info on how to change the powerhead drive belt.

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While vacuuming the red light for the bag of the vacuum came on and the vacuum stopped. The bag was no where near full so I replaced it with a new bag – same problem. It vaccumes for a minute or then stops with bag light on. It is the correct bag for the machine – so what’s the problem?
ANSWER : I’m assuming this is the Epic 6500 or similar model.
.Detach the hose, turn vacuum on. If it runs, place palm of hand against inport hole. If it shuts off the problem is with either the control valve setting or the control valve assembly itself.
.For cvs, turn dial on top of vacuum all the way to the largest dot, and try above test again. If that doesn’t work, then it’s the CVA. It needs to be cleaned or replaced, which is an in shop job. Fro repair, take it to the nearest Aerus Electrolux store. I recommend a full clean and service to remove any dust/dirt from the motor, fan assembly, and other internal parts.
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.Another problem, which relates to the dial setting, is that fine dust will quickly clog the pores of the bag, resulting in the machine “thinking” the bag is full. Turning the dial to the proper setting helps get the bag fuller. The middle setting is the normal setting, and is for areas without fine dust and sand.

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Lost Suction This is my second hoover steamvac and i am having the same problem with my new one as i did with the old one that i tossed out. I have used it about 12 times and it worked great the first 6 times… Now i’ll empty a full tank of water and only half will get sucked back up. I have tried taking it apart and cleaning and also the rubber seal had some gaps so i sealed those thinking that it was leaking air from there…can anyone help? I am so close to chucking this one and buying somet
ANSWER : Usually when there is no suction, one cause is the lid to the recovery tank is not on all of the way in the back. Also if you have that foam filter on the underneath side of the recovery tank lid, it needs to have a 1/4 in or so gap from the top of the filter to the top of the lid. Some models also have a duct that sits in front of the recovery tank, and if it isn’t there, you have no suction.

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Suction problem I have a Hoover Widepath Fold Away, 12 amp motor vacuum cleaner and the problem I am having is every time I vacuum, the vacuum gets clogged up with carpet. I am probably only able to do one stroke then it gets clogged and I have to stop and unclog it or it spits it out on the carpet. This is very frustrating and I don’t get much vacuuming done. Please can you help me. Thank you. Gwen email is [email protected]
ANSWER : Get rid of the carpet its shredding and falling apart.no sence in vacuuming old rotten carpet.or try using a vacuum without a brush roller and just suction

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We have a Kenmore Progressive Model 116 Upright bagged vacuum with Hepa filter. It’s at least a couple years old. For quite some time now when ever we use the vacuum the vacuum motor will shut off nafter about 5 min. of use. We then need to let it sit for awhile and then we can run it again for another 5 min. The bag has been change. Any one have any ideas how to fix this?
ANSWER : I suspect that you have a restriction. The motor sounds like the thermal break is stopping the motor before damage, due to heat.
.You must witness that the entire suction and discharge side are clear. This is not always very easy, but necessary. I bet that you find something blocking somewhere…

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