Why Is My Bagless Canister Vacuum Losing Suction?

Dirt Container

• One of the primary reasons that a bagless canister vacuum will lose suction is if the dirt cup gets too full and the vacuum cannot suction up more dirt. Remove the dirt container from the canister base, and empty it into a waste bin. If necessary, rinse out the dirt container and dry it before setting it back into the base.

Filters

• Many canister vacuum cleaners have both a pre-motor and media filter, which can get clogged with dirt and reduce overall suction. The pre-motor filter is usually located in the base of the dirt container and can be cleaned by tapping it over a trashcan to remove dirt and debris. The media filter is typically located in the base of the canister, sometimes behind or under the dirt container, and can also be tapped over a waste bin. Check the filters for instructions as to whether the filter may be rinsed with cold water or if replacement is necessary if extremely dirty.

Brushroll

• The brushroll on the bottom of the canister vacuum head can get slowed down or clogged by thread, hair and other debris that gets caught on the brush. Turn off and unplug the vacuum before cutting away any string with scissors.

Hose

• If the vacuum cleaner sucks up large items or debris, this debris may get caught in the hose and slow down the suction. Disconnect power to the vacuum cleaner before pulling the hose out of the canister base. Stretch out the hose and shake it to dislodge any obstruction, and look inside the nozzle to clear out any other debris before reconnecting.