Rainbow 75th Anniversary Canister Vacuum\015 When I sweep, the Rainbow smells really bad like something is burning inside of it but I don’t know how to dismantle it to see what is going on. \302\240Any help would be appreciated. \302\240Thank you.\015

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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Typically the burning rubber smell is caused by friction from the rubber on a wooden brush, or the hair and fur is caught and is starting to burn. To prevent this, the unit should be cleaned at least every few months to remove hair and fur buildup.
If you`re smelling rubber, the belt has either burned out and snapped or the belt has become so stretched out that the roller is not moving and the vacuum belt is getting super heated from the motors RPM.
In order to remove this bad smell, you`ll need to remove, clean, and reinstall your HEPA filter. It is also highly recommended to pour a cap of the Rainbow concentrate Fresh Air solution into the Rainbow water basin. Fill with water as always and let the Rainbow run for 10 minutes.
Vacuums cleaners can smell from for various reasons; pet dander, moisture was sucked up… The most common cause is old dirt sitting stagnant in the collection chamber, bags, or filters. Vacuum bags should be changed every four to six weeks or once full.
A strong odor from the shellac that coats the copper coil windings is an indicator that the motor is about to or has burnt out. If the motor is still running, even if it turns on and off by itself as it is heating and cooling, you can still run the motor until it gives up for good.
That being said, an electrical fire can smell like the following: Burning Plastic: The acrid odor of an electrical fire is often described as that of burning plastic. This is because wiring insulation, connectors, and many other electrical components are made of plastic materials.
It does this by literally “water washing” the air. Air pulled into the Rainbow is cleansed through a swirling water bath and then is filtered through a HEPA neutralizer, returning fresh, water-washed air to your home.
If you follow these basic guidelines, expect your Rainbow to last some 20 to 30 years because it is a very robust machine. Let`s go through them one by one. Here are some basic maintenance tips from what to do after you throw water away to cleaning the brush roll…
This unique water filtration system captures typical household dirt, while remaining microscopic particles are caught by our HEPA Neutralizer Filtration System. This two-stage filtration combination removes nearly 100% of dirt and contaminants from your home.
Q: It smells like the belt is burning. What is wrong? A:It is likely the belt isn`t turning freely on the brush roll. Flip out the belt lifter handle and turn it clockwise until the green arrows line up.
Burning Smell

All in all, the belt is worn out and needs replacement. To fix the burning smell problem in a vacuum cleaner, you will have to replace the motor belt. You can do this by detaching the vacuum cleaner to get to the motor belt. You should then carefully remove the belt.

Rinse the filter

Any fine dust remaining in the filter can usually be removed with a gentle rinse under a cold tap – hold the filter under the running water until the water runs clear. You shouldn`t need to use any detergent – just water.

Clear out hoses, attachments, and brushes of any hair, dirt, and debris. This will allow for restored airflow and should get things going again. Make sure there are no cracks or broken belts impeding the system from running optimally.
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.
Phantosmia is a condition that causes you to detect smells that aren`t actually in your environment. It can happen in one nostril or both — and the odors may be foul or pleasant. Common causes include colds, allergies, nasal polyps and dental issues.
An electrical fire smell is often described as a “burning plastic” smell. This is because when wires overheat, the insulation surrounding them begins to break down and release chemicals into the air. These chemicals can have a strong, acrid smell that can be difficult to ignore.
How Long Does It Take for an Electrical Fire To Start? An electrical fire can start slowly or happen instantly, with the source sparking in 2 minutes or lurking for 2 years.
It is the only vacuum that is a certified air purifier and is designed to run 24/7 on a lower speed to purify the air in the home. The unique difference is the water. All dirt and dust is trapped in a basin of water so that no debris can re-enter the home atmosphere.
With a high and low speed, you can run your Rainbow 24/7 to clean the air without disturbing your home in the process. The low speed is quiet and unnoticeable when standing right… The Rainbow water filtration is something you must see to believe. Once dust and dirt get wet, they can`t go back into the air.
The Rainbow uses Mother Nature`s most powerful element, water, to trap dirt and odors, returning only naturally clean, water-washed air to your home environment.
Immediately after using the Rainbow, remove the water basin and pour out the dirty water through the air intake opening.
Average Rainbow Restoration Sales Representative yearly pay in the United States is approximately $98,773, which is 49% above the national average.
Louder sounds, like knocking or banging, should be looked at immediately. In most cases, this is often caused by something clogged in the hose or an attachment, but may be a motor issue.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Rainbow Vacuum smells like something is burning.
ANSWER : Your belt is worn and that is why there is a burnt rubber smell. You need to change your belt. You can find a replacement belt and instructions here:

Rainbow Replacement Belts

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.

Burning Smell Hi, I have a Rainbow E series that when I run the vacuum there is a burning smell. I have cleaned the entire unit and filter but still have the smell? I am afraid that the motor will burn out?
ANSWER : Check the carbon motor brushes, there might be arcing on the armature. New brushes may help if the armature is ok.

Burning smell I had purchased a hoover widepath tempo vacuum two years ago and recently when I turn it on to vacuum it smells like something is burning.
ANSWER : The belt needs changed. its slipping. make sure its not clogged with carpet or string ect. first. if not buy a belt at walmart. in stock…

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.

Motor is sparking and smells like burning rubber. When it first happened I thought the vacuum had something jamming the beater bar. That was the smell it had, like when the belt gets burned. But when we turned it over, it wasn’t jamming. Took off the base plate and turned it on. The motor area is sparking and it makes a weird noise (I assume that is because the motor fails and restarts). I looked for loose wires, can’t find any. I believe I need some sort of part replaced, maybe even a n
ANSWER : From sound and description most possible is motor is burnt up sparks usually mean metal on metal either bearing or bushings went on motor if u can jiggle the shaft thats bearing if u rotate the shaft by hand and feel and or hear rough grinding the brushes are damaged and the (windings)are also would need to replace motor oreck has a costumer service 800 989 3535 number give them a call not always but some times they will ship a replacement part for free

Rainbow Vacuum smells like something is burning.
ANSWER : When it is running look on top of unit to see if there is any flashing from the brushes, if your unit has been getting pretty hot on top, it would probably be motor brushes. These are not very expenseive to replace and by doing so you will have your unit for so many more years.

Burning Smell coming from the moter
ANSWER : This could be a motor problem. There is always a slight blue arcing that occurs when an electrical motor runs and can be visible through the exhaust vent, but any excessive arcing indicates a problem. If the carbon brushes are sticking, this will cause excessive arcing and can be corrected by an experience service person, but if there is any electrical failure, the motor would have to be replaced. There are no parts available for these motors and the expense of replacing an armature (the likely culprit) would be more than the motor. This could also be as simple as a worn belt, but usually, belts will not produce the smell your describing. When a motor is burning out, it will produce an acrid odor that will linger for a long time.