How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced Vacuum Technicians :
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 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.
One of the easiest ways to increase vacuum cleaner suction is to empty the dust bag or container. Dust containers need to have enough space for airflow, otherwise, they could get clogged and have less suction power. Regularly check your dust compartment and empty or change it when it`s already 70-80% full.
Suction is measured in air watts (a European test standard IEC60312 for vacuums) and is a measurement of the airflow at the end of the cleaning hose.
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.
Suction pressure should be kept at less than 200 mmHg in adults. It should be set at 80 mmHg to 120 mmHg in neonates.
So, the usual areas that cause suction loss include the wrong height setting, stuck rollers, a faulty gasket, a broken vacuum belt, a filled bag, or a clogged hose.
Gravity and friction are the two main forces that make vacuum suction work. While gravity pulls molecules in the air toward the earth, creating an atmospheric pressure, the suction cup and vacuum pump cause a pressure difference, attaching both surfaces.
There can be a variety of reasons why your vacuum cleaner has low suction. It could be clogged filters, a dirty bag or container, or an obstruction in the hose. Check all these areas and replace any parts that need it to restore full suction power.
Next, you need to consider suction power. Typically expressed in Pa (pascals), this is a measurement of how powerful the motor is inside a robot vacuum. A good number to look for here is around 2,000Pa or above for an effective clean.
Max(4000 PA): It can deeply clean the place that needs cleaning, dust cleaning is up 80%, garbage collection is up 30%, and the cleaning times are up to 80 minutes.
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.
Often when your machine is not picking up it is due to loss of suction. If your vacuum cleaner turns on but won`t pick up on carpet or bare floors, something is impeding suction. You may need to change the vacuum bag, unclog the hose, replace/clean the filters, replace the hose, change the belt, or repair the motor.
The equation for determining how much of a suction lift you can pull with your pump you can take your Atmospheric pressure(Pb) subtract your Pump NPSHR, Vapor Pressure (Vp), friction losses (hf) and NPSH Margin (Safety factor) and you will have your maximum suction lift.
A suction lift simply means the maximum level of the liquid to be pumped is physically below the centerline of the pump impeller. Most centrifugal pumps can operate with a suction lift if they are primed first.
Low suction pressure/low superheat:
Apart from refrigerant leaks causing loss of critical charge, the most common problem associated with low suction pressure is: LOW LOAD, i.e., not enough warm, moisture laden airflow across the evaporator coil.
Some GI suction regulators can provide full line vacuum; others have a range of 0 to 120 mm Hg or 200 mm Hg. Thoracic suction regulators provide lower vacuum pressures than other types do, generally in the range of 0 to 45 mm Hg and 0 to 60 cm H2O.
The sealed suction of a vacuum cleaner is measured in inches of water lift. This rating is taken when the motor is totally sealed, and the term refers to how many inches the motor will vertically lift a 1″ column of water.
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.
Air watts refer to the number of watts used by the vacuum cleaner to carry a unit of air through an opening or nozzle. The higher the air watts, the higher the suction power.
Take your time. Vacuuming slowly will allow your machine to suck up more dirt and dust, and ultimately get your rugs and carpets much cleaner. Slow vacuuming allows the brush to agitate the carpet properly and suck up the unclean bits that emerge.
Air watts are a European test standard (IEC60312) for vacuums. An upright vacuum cleaner should be around 100 air watts and a cylinder vacuum cleaner needs to be about 220 air watts.
Pa refers to the “vacuum level”, which is the force required to lift objects. The typical range of Pa for a regular robot vacuum cleaner is around 2500 to 3000 Pa. The higher the value of Pa, the greater the force lifting the debris off the floor.
I found out that pa stands for pascal and is the unit of measurement applied to vacuum suction. 6000 is considered optimal in terms of performance. The weak area with smaller vacuum appliances is the filter which needs to be kept clean to maintain it`s performance.