Vacuums\015 The vacuum does not shut off even when the switch is set to off. We replaced the switch and it did not help.\015

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 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.
Why won`t my power unit shut off? Make sure the unit is in the Auto mode and that there is not a hose plugged into a wall valve. Unplug the low volt wire at the side of the unit, if the unit continues to run, the relay in the pc board is faulty and the entire pc board needs to be replaced.
Loose connections will cause your vacuum cleaner to lose suction. Make sure that the dust container, the hose, the tube and the brush are all attached properly. If the problem continues, your vacuum cleaner might have a technical problem. If you suspect this to be the case, contact an authorised service agent.
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.
a vacuum motor is at its hotest after you have switched it off because there is no air running through it to cool itoff, Its called heat soak and it is the same with cars too. As long as the bag is not over full and the filters are clean it can do no harm to run the machine for any lenth of time.
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.
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.
Even in a vacuum there remains some pressure… it is simply a pressure at a magnitude below the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Vacuum does not necessarily mean the absence of all pressure; vacuum can be any pressure between 0 PSIA and 14.7 PSIA.
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.
Once all of the checks have been done allow the cleaner to cool down which is usually around 45 minutes. Once its cooled down and plugged back in it should start to work again as the cut out is designed to automatically reset.
A vacuum cleaner gets power from a regular electrical socket, with the average upright design requiring between 450 and 3000 watts. However, the most often used versions use around 1400 watts, equivalent to approximately 1.4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each hour.
Yes, most hair is okay, but don`t use your vacuum for large amounts of hair at once. Long hair can get tangled around the brush roll and clog up your vacuum. Sweep up large piles of hair (such as after a big DIY haircut) before going in with your vacuum.
Suction motors on most vacuum cleaners typically draw seven to twelve amperes (amps) of current from the electrical power source. (Twelve amps is the maximum permitted for any appliance which plugs into a standard household electrical outlet.
In many cases, the smoke you see is actually mechanical pump oil vapor. Many people tend to think that whenever there is smoke emitting from the pump, it means there is something wrong with the machine. But, oil vapor or oil mist is a natural by-product of creating vacuum in an oil sealed mechanical pump.
Motor can run.

It is normal for there to be a slight blue spark right at the carbon brush – but if the blue spark is large and wraps around the commutator then you will need to replace the carbon brushes (if the commutator on the armature is seriously damaged, you will need to replace the motor).

A universal motor is typically used as suction motor across vacuum cleaners. The universal motor is a series DC-motor that is specially designed to operate on alternating current (AC) as well as on direct current (DC). Universal motors have high starting torque, operate at high speed, and are lightweight.
VOLTAGE TYPES (VAC / VDC)

This means the fuse can be used in a circuit he voltage maximum operating at this voltage . For example; if your fuse was rated at 250VAC, it could be used in a 250VAC circuit or in a or less lower voltage circuit such as 12VAC, but it must not be used in a circuit operating above 250VAC ie.

This is unlikely to ruin a vacuum cleaner completely; however, it can still create a mess within your bag or vacuum chamber. You`ll probably need to let it dry out before using the vacuum.
It depends on what needs vacuuming. Carpeted areas that aren`t used by four-legged fur-friends should be vacuumed twice every week. Hardwood and tile need the least amount of upkeep and should be vacuum cleaned once per week.
Yes, as long as there is no safety hazard associated with continuous operation. In fact, it may be necessary to do so to pump down the base pressure.
Many cleaners are made with plastic bodies, which make loud noises when they vibrate. The motor – the motor could be the main cause of a vacuum cleaner being loud. As the motor spins around inside the machine, it moves the belt and uses electricity, but at the same time, also produces a loud noise.
An upright vacuum cleaner should be around 100 air watts and a cylinder vacuum cleaner needs to be about 220 air watts.
So a 1000W vacuum cleaner will use 1 kilowatt (1000 Watts) of electricity in 1 hour. The point here is that it is a consumption measurement, rather than a power output measurement… it tells you nothing about suction. If you want to use more electricity, then use a vacuum cleaner with higher wattage.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I purchased a brand new Eureka Pet vacuum, sorry don’t know exact name but it the one that has the self cleaning duster on it. Last night I used the vacuum on my carpet, it was working fine until I accidently sucked up the corner of a scarf that was hanging off a couch. I shut the vacuum off, pulled out the scarf and and resumed vacuuming. Much to my dismay the suction on the vacuum had ceased. Can you tell me if there is a reset button on the vacuum? The vacuum does not appear to be damage
ANSWER : If the motor is running, there should be suction. Possible problems depend on whether it’s a canister or upright and are:
.A clog in the hose, UR or canister. Detach hose. Drop small coin in one end and lift hose causing it to roll out the other. If it does, no clog in hose. Drop same coin into hose opening on power head. If it rolls out, no clog in PN.
.Broken fan blades, UR. Needs to be taken to shop for repair/replacement.
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.A reset button is for use if the motor isn’t running, so won’t have anything to do with the suction.

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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.

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Our Electrolux canister vacuum just stopped working when we were vacuuming the floor. The power does come on when the power head is attached but as soon as the power head is removed the power shuts off. I tried pressing the reset button but that doesn’t help. Is there a solution that I can try at home?
ANSWER : Sound like you problem is in the connection going to the power head you will see a small screw on the power nozzel where it joins to the handle take out the screw and take it a part you will see where one of the bars have been disconnect from the power.

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Electrolux vacuum brush not turning problem:

was vacuuming and rug got caught auto shut off kicked off power to brush. instead of hitting red button to restart brush I disconnected brush to vacuum some hair in Conner. after i reconnected the brush and hit the red button but no power to brush. Light won’t even switch on. Hope you can help

ANSWER : Under the vacuum, there is a guard..remove the guard , either by 2 screws or by 2 clips..there is a belt under the guard..that is connected to the brush..the belt need to be replaced.

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My home has a central vacuum system hook-up but no vacuum installed. My friend upgraded his central system and gave me his Eureka Mega Boss central vacuum system and the accessories, including the pow
ANSWER : The power head requires 120 Volts. Some hoses have a receptacle in the handle for the power head plug, and the hose has a cord at the wall inlet end that plugs into a receptacle. Some hoses have a plug at the wall inlet end that plugs into a 120Volt receptacle built into the inlet. The hose plugs into this receptacle when you push the hose into the inlet. The power for this built-in receptacle is wired with line voltage when the system is installed.

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I have a Kenmore Elegance Vacuum with Dirt Sensor, Model # 116.30750400C, Serial number M41901532. When vacuuming the carpet the power head will work for 3-6 mins then automatically shut off, power is still there and lights work but the power head motor turns off and the suction stops. I will turn it off and on, check the outlet, flick the on off buttons…nothing. I will turn it off for a couple minutes and it turns back on and runs like normal. I’ve check the bags, filters, cleaned the hos
ANSWER : It is an electrical problem in the handle, if you can or know somebody that has any fix it ability it can be fixed in about ten minutes. Oh, and Sears SUCKS!!

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I have a tank style vacuum. When I vacuum with the power head it dims and slows down when I push the power head back and forth, but it powers back up louder when I stop pushing it If i remove the powerhead from the hose the vacuum works fine.
ANSWER : Most likely the belt. Thats the cheapest so try it first

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Miele Champagne Vacuum Cleaner Model S548 I was using the vacuum as normal, moved locations so I plugged into another outlet & suddenly there was no power to the vacuum! I tried it in several other outlets, tried the reset button… & still no power to the vacuum. Any ideas what could be causing this? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
ANSWER : Greetings from ,
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.This definitely sound like a cord reel issue to me. This is really the only problem that I ever see on a Miele vacuum cleaner. 9 times out of 10 the cord reel needs to be changed. If you purchase the cord from us, and it’s not the problem you may return it up to 60 days later for a full refund, that’s how confident I am that is what’s wrong with your machine.
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Ok, so you need to replace the cord reel on a Miele , no problem! I’ll attempt to try and walk you through this repair with a detailed explanation of it, and along with some pictures to help you. You’ll first want to buy the new Miele S500 series cord reel

So once you have the cord reel, you’ll need either a Phillips head screw driver for the older S514 models, or a T20 Torx Screwdriver for the newer S514 model vacuums. The picture below is actually of the Miele S518 Cat & Dog series, but for this repair the procedure and parts are identical to your Miele Champagne. You’ll need to remove the hose, wand, and power nozzle from the vacuum cleaner before you begin.

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The first thing you’ll wand to do is open up the bag housing, and remove the vacuum bag, as well as the exhaust filter which may be either the Cloth Super Air Clean Filter, or the HEPA Filter catridge which is blue in color. If you’re using the Super Air Clean filter, remove the filter, and then remove the bracket that secures the filter in place as well. Simply pull straight up on the bracket and it will come out.

Once the bag and the filter have been removed, you’ll need to take off the entire tool lid. While the vacuum cleaner is open so that you can see into the compartment where the bag just was, you need to pry two arms from the tool lid off of the main body housing. Simply put a screwdriver behind one of the blue arms, and pry inwards. Here’s a picture of what this looks like;

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Once you have removed both of these clasps, the tool lid will pull straight upwards and off, leaving you with only the bottom part of the canister. This is how the vacuum cleaner should look now;

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Now you’ll need to remove the black speed control box from the canister. There is one screw in the front of the black speed control box that needs to be removed. After the screw has been removed, turn the vacuum cleaner around so that the back of the machine where the cord reel goes into the vacuum is now facing you. If you look where the black speed control box meets the bottom part of the canister, you can see two clips that you’ll need to release before the variable speed control box can be removed. Simply put a screw driver and push in on the clip while lifting the black speed control box at the same time. Here’s where the clips are located on the vacuum;

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Ok, now that the speed control box has been removed, it’s time to separate the colored plastic from the base of the vacuum cleaner. There are 7 screws that need to be removed in order to get these housings separated. I have circled the location of each screw in the picture below;

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After removing all 7 screws, you can then simply pull upwards on the colored plastic housing, and remove the housing from the base of the vacuum cleaner so that the motor and cord reel are exposed. Once you have exposed the cord reel, you’ll need to remove the internal wires (white wire is in the higher posistion, and to the left of the lower right side black wire), as well as the rubber hose part. The rubber hose part simply pulls off, just like the wire terminals do. After removing these parts, you’ll need to remove one more screw with your screw driver. Here’s the picture of which screw needs to be removed;

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After the final screw has been removed, you’ll have to remove the rectangular shaped wire harness that sits at the top of the cord reel. Pay close attention to how this wire harness is correctly seated which will save some aggravation when putting the vacuum back together. Here’s a picture of the wire harness that needs to be removed from the old cord reel;

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Once the wire harness has been completely removed from the old cord reel, you may simply pull up on the cord reel and remove it. The new cord reel will come completely assembled, with all the parts and compontents that your faulty cord reel had. You simply need to line up the screw hole on the new cord reel with the hole in the bottom of the base of the vacuum. When installing the new cord reel be very careful that you don’t pinch any of the wires down by putting the cord reel on top of them. The wires have a specific place they go, and you’ll be able to see the correct path for these wires when paying close attention. Also remember to install the rubber tube back onto the new cord reel as well. Once the new cord reel has been installed, and screwed down, pull the plug out a little ways, and guide the plug through the colored top housing first, then screw the 7 screws that hold the upper housing to the lower housing back into to secure these housings together.

That’s about all there is to that repair! Please feel free to request a repair clarification if you have any questions about the repair that I can help you with, I’m always more then happy to help.
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If this repair guide was helpful to you, please click the thumbs up icon in the bottom right part of this solution to rate it has helpful.

Thank you so much,

Chris Jones

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