Oreck XL2200 Bagged 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 bag itself acts as a filter to trap pet dander, allergens, dust, dirt, and contaminants to protect anyone better. High-quality bags are airtight and do not allow small particles to escape back into the room and air.
A senior test project leader stated that one of his top tips for lengthening a vacuum`s lifespan is “Don`t let the bag or bin get filled to the brim, which can clog the machine.” In addition to the extra work, dust escaping from a reused bag tends to go right back into the motor, causing damage.
If your vacuum sealer is melting the bag too much and creating tears in the seal, try decreasing your seal time on your sealer. It may be too long for your bags. If your vacuum sealer isn`t sealing the bags all the way through, try increasing the seal time. The bags may need a little more time to properly seal.
Convenience – One of the most obvious reasons to choose a bagless cylinder vacuum cleaner is because it is much easier to manage. You don`t need to think about buying spare bags – ever! See your dirt – It is much easier to see when the cylinder needs emptying if you don`t have a bag inside your vacuum.
There are basically only 3 reasons a vacuum sealer bag will fail: The seal line area was dirty/wet/wrinkled when the bag was sealed or made (if made from a roll). Something in the bag punctured the bag. The bag is defective.
A full vacuum bag can also cause the motor to overheat and eventually fail, resulting in costly repair expenses or the replacement of a new vacuum. If you are using an upright vac with a belt-driven system, a full bag will increase the amount of force required to spin the brushroll, which can damage the belt.
What`s happening with your vacuum cleaner is that a clog has built up and debris being agitated by the roller is spitting out or stirring up dust without sucking it in.
Whichever vacuum storage bag you are using, the answer to this question is normally that you are overfilling the bag.
Brush Down, Shake Out

Start by shaking out your bag to get rid of loose dust, dirt and crumbs. If you have a large, clean, soft bristle brush – like those used to clean suede shoes – gently brush the outside of your bag to knock off dust and dirt. If you don`t have a brush, dust it off with a towel.

Can vacuum storage bags be reused? Yes. Vacuum storage bags can be used again and again.
Plastic bags can be reused again and again.

Plastic bags aren`t just 100% recyclable — they`re reusable, too! More than 90% of Americans say they reuse their plastic bags at least once, for everything from lining trash cans to packing lunches and picking up after pets.

Rather than waiting for the canister to fill up all the way, the Vacuum Experts suggest you empty it after every use. If that`s not feasible, “empty the vacuum once it reaches half to two-thirds of the way full as a matter of habit,” the Vacuum Experts blog post recommends.
“We would recommend vacuuming at least once or twice a week—and more often if we have pets—with the right tools to remove dust quickly and effectively,” Patel advises.
– Vacuum sealed bags are for the short term, no longer than 6 months. If you`re storing clothing sealed airtight in a storage bag, keep track of your items and remember to take them out after six months. Anything beyond six months, you risk them getting permanent damages such as creases and wrinkles, among others.
On average, a vacuum-sealed product under freezing conditions can last up to 5-6 months or even 1-2 years, depending on your freezer capacity. On the other hand, refrigerated vacuum-sealed products can last up to 1 to 2 weeks.
Neglect your vacuum filter bags, and you`ll swiftly lose suction power. This, in turn, places unnecessary strain on your vacuum`s motor. Eventually, your vacuum will become a lot more difficult to maneuver, not to mention less effective at cleaning your rugs, carpeting, or other surfaces.
Bagged Vacuums

A benefit of vacuum cleaner bags is that there is minimal contact with the dust and allergens. Just slip out the old bag and throw it away. No-fuss and no mess. Bagged vacuum cleaners also tend to hold a couple of pounds of dirt and debris and tend to better at deep cleaning.

If there is a clog in the vacuum, you won`t have good suction and the vacuum won`t work. The clog can be in the vacuum head, the hose or where the hose meets the actual vacuum.
Water poured into space (outside of a spacecraft) would rapidly vaporize or boil away. In space, where there is no air, there is no air pressure. As air pressure drops, the temperature needed to boil water becomes lower.
When the bag is sealed, pressure on the outside and inside of this envelope is equal to atmospheric pressure: approximately 29 inches of mercury (Hg), or 14.7 psi. As a vacuum pump evacuates air from this envelope, the air pressure inside is reduced while air pressure outside of the envelope remains at 14.7 psi.
The answer is that you should always dust first and vacuum later. The reason is simple. When you dust, you`ll find that some of the particles wipe away onto your cloth or duster, but you`ll never get all of the particles.
We recommend dusting before vacuuming, this is because dust particles usually get moved around the room when you dust, meaning all your hard work will go to waste. A top tip is to wait at least 2 hours after dusting to get the vacuum out.
If your vacuum doesn`t have a HEPA filter, it`s likely stirring up more dust than it`s capturing. With the wrong product, you`ll simply pull dust up from the carpet and send it flying through the air. This could be the cause of the dust build-up you`re seeing.
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.

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.

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)

The inside bag is always coming off. – Oreck XL2200 Bagged Upright Vacuum
ANSWER : Assuming you are using the correct bags, a small bungee cord clipped on one side of the vac outlet passed under the lip of the bag opening and attached to the other side of the vac outlet, will do the trick. Good luck!

I would really like to wash the outer bag of my vacuum, but I have a problem. I can remove the outer bag from the vacuum, but the plastic ‘frame’ that is inside the outer bag is sewn to the bag. So what am I supposed to do about that if I want to put it in the washing machine? I have the Oreck XL Silver.
ANSWER : Hi,

you can wash the bag. However you cannot wash the bag in the wash machine. What you will want to do is look for the screw or depending on the model, untwist the cap down on the rod next to the machine. that entire pole section will come off of the unit below with the bag there.

I recommend if it is warm outside to use the garden hose to spray it and scrub inside the bag with a scrub brush and some dish soap.

I usually throw them into the laundry sink and let soak, scrubbing with soap and water.

To dry the bag, a hairdryer or hang to dry before putting the piece back onto the machine.

Good luck.
Mark

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.

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.

Clogged vacuum Rather stupidly, my boyfriend 1) were vacuuming without a bag and 2) vacuumed up a big piece of cotton from a sofa cushion. And now it’s making a horrible noise and I see it vibrating where the tube connects to the machine. When you look inside there’s a white thing sticking out but it looks like it’s part of the vacuum. If it’s a clog, how do you fix it? I tried unscrewing the tray the bag sits in but it won’t budge.
ANSWER : You can start by taking off the bottom plate or top cover, which ever comes off, that is where the inlet starts going in and hopefully the clog is there. Could be in the hose also. But without the complete model number I can’t look it up to see a picture of it.

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.