How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced Vacuum Technicians :
Fix your Dyson brush bar
Most cases of a jammed or stuck brush bar are quick and easy to fix, simply pulling the debris gently from the brush bar. Alternatively, if you need to clear a problematic blockage, you can take the brush bar out of the housing easily, for quick maintenance.
Brush Head Bearings Are Clogged or Have Failed These are symptoms of bad or dirty bearings. You should remove the brush roll or rolls from the vacuum. Check to see that the bearings at the end of the brush roll allow it to spin freely. Make sure that there is no hair trapped in the bearings.
If your vacuum cleaner`s motor is running smoothly, but the agitator brushroll isn`t rolling as it should, you may have a faulty drive belt. Replacing a drive belt is a fairly simple task, so if you`re unsure where to start you`ve come to the right place for advice.
The brush roll or its bearings may be clogged with hair, threads or dirt. Make sure they are clean and the roll spins. The belt may also have slipped because it was loose. Check the fit of the new belt when it is installed.
To reset the Brush bar press the Brush bar control button twice or switch the machine off and back on. Please note: In normal use, the Brush bar automatically turns off when the machine is upright and automatically turns on when the machine is in the vacuuming position.
Put a flip switch on the vacuum head itself that raises it up higher off the carpet.
If you checked your brush roll, floor setting, and belt but your brush roll is still not spinning, that means you probably need a Shark micro switch replacement. This small switch tells the vacuums brush when to start spinning.
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.
Clear the brush roll of any hair and debris and inspect by placing it on its end and spin. The brush should spin freely. If it doesn`t spin; it may be time to replace.
If your machine has a clutch, the reason the brush bar isn`t spinning is unlikely to be a snapped belt. The clutch allows your brush roll to be turned off (for certain types of hard floors, etc.). First you should check if your brush bar is turned on. Try to turn the knob one click clockwise to the “auto” position.
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.
If your brush is scratching your floor, or not cleaning as well as it used to, then you may want to replace your brush bar.
Instead of a brush bar with bristles, the soft roller cleaner head uses a roller to capture dust and debris at the same time. Gentle on hard floors, tough on dirt. Soft woven nylon envelops debris, while anti-static carbon fiber filaments remove fine dust from hard floors.
Wash filters in cold water only (don`t use detergent or wash in a dishwasher or washing machine). Rinsing under the water supply then gently squeezing the water out of the filter. Repeat until the water runs clear.
Roller brush is not spinning
Check to make sure the vacuum is switched to the correct mode. The switch should be in the Power and Brushroll mode to make the roller spin. If it is in just the power mode the roller will not move. The brushroll indicator light should be green when working.
The most common cause of no power is the machine overheating and cutting out. In this case once the vacuum cleaner loses power leave it for at least half an hour and then try turning it back on again. If it comes back on again after an hour then clean your filters and check for blockages.
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.
Press the brush control button located next to the ON/OFF switch to turn the brushbar off for vacumming delicate rugs, looped carpets and hard floors. Press the button again to restart the brushbar for vacuuming carpets.
Inspecting the Vacuum Commutator for Motor Brush Problems
Test that by turning the motor off and pushing on the center shaft, the armature. If it has any play, besides spinning, then replace the motor. If solid then replace the brushes – motor brush replacement instructions.
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. First unplug the vacuum cleaner.
Brushes. According to iRobot, brushes should be replaced every 6-12 months. Robot vacuums like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have multiple brushes that allow it to clean.
On average a brushroll should be replaced every year or two. If you`re not sure if the vacuum is working as good as it could or should be, replacing the brushroll can be an easy fix .
What is a Beater Bar? A beater bar is a smoothly contoured metal agitator bar on a rotating brush roller. See below image. It works in conjunction with bristle brushes to gently beat the fibers, when the beater bar rotates, to loosen soil and allow the brushes to comb away the soil into the suction ports of the vacuum.
If you look closely, on the center of the cleaner head, there`s a slide bar positioned with a plus and minus sign. It`s a manual height slider that adjusts how close the cleaner head is to the floor. The plus is for ground-in dust and debris. The minus is for deep pile carpets and delicate flooring.