Kenmore Canister Power Nozzle Smells Hot

Nozzle Obstruction

• If there is a clog in the power nozzle while the Kenmore canister vacuum is running, the nozzle may start to smell hot. Step on the foot pedal to bring the lock wand into the straight position. Push down on the wand release pedal on the base of the wand and pull the wand straight out of the base. Inspect the nozzle for items and clear it if necessary. Look inside the opening on the cleaning head and remove any items inside that may be causing the blockage. Slide the wand back into the cleaning head until the wand clicks into position.

Dust Bag and Motor Filter

• When the dust bag is overly full or the motor filter needs cleaning, the vacuum may start to lose suction and smell hot. Lift the hose out of the canister and pull on the hood release lock on the canister to open the hood. Open the canister and pull the dust bag out past the red clip and throw away the old dust bag. While the dust bag is removed, lift up on the rubber lip of the motor filter container inside the canister and pull the motor filter out. If the motor filter is extremely dirty or damaged, replace with a new motor filter (available through Kenmore) and slide the white side in toward the dust bag. Make sure the filter fits in the retainer completely and then close the rubber lip. Turn the red bag mount down and put a new dust bag into position so that the cardboard tab clicks into place. Push the bag down into the canister firmly and close the canister hood.

Exhaust Filter

• As with the motor filter, operating the Kenmore vacuum when the filter is completely covered in dirt may cause the vacuum to lose suction and overheat, which will cause the nozzle to smell hot. Locate the exhaust filter on the side of the canister near the wheels and pull down on the cover to remove. Pull the exhaust filter out of the canister and replace with a new filter. The foam seal should face towards the canister. Put the cover tabs into the slots on the canister and turn the cover until the cover snaps into place. Note that you cannot wash the filter. Replacement is the only option.

Belt and Agitator

• If the vacuum cleaner belt gets damaged or the agitator gets caught with strings or other items, the vacuum can overheat. Remove the wand and turn the cleaning head upside down, and then remove the four cover screws on the bottom. Flip the cleaning head back over and hold the swiveling head while pressing down on the pedal release handle until the swiveling head lowers down. Lift up on the rear latches and then grab the latches on each side to pull the cover out. Lift up to remove the cover from the housing and look inside. If the belt is broken or split, remove the old belt and replace a new one, sliding the belt over the motor drive and then along the belt path over the end cap and agitator. Check the agitator for debris or fibers that may have gotten caught. Cut away any strings and clean the end caps thoroughly. Reassemble the base cover and restore power. Contact Kenmore if the smell continues or if the vacuum is not working as expected.