My Vacuum Won't Suck Up

Brush-roll

• The brush-roll is the part of the vacuum cleaner's cleaning head that provides the agitation and sweeping motion necessary for effective carpet cleaning. The belt connects the brush-roll to the vacuum's motor shaft to spin the brush-roll during cleaning. If the belt breaks or is damaged, the brush-roll will fail to spin or spin properly. Replace a worn brush-roll by removing the cleaning head cover, removing the brush-roll and replacing the belt. Consult your vacuum cleaner's manual for procedures specific to your model. The brush-roll bristles can also be worn to the point that they no longer make the necessary contact with the carpet. You can replace the brush-roll for a long-term solution or lower the height adjustment setting in the short-term.

Clogged hose

• The vacuum cleaner can only pull in as much air as allowed by the hoses. The main hose in a vacuum cleaner pulls air through the cleaning head while the brush-roll spins to provide the agitation necessary to dislodge dirt and debris from the carpet. If the hose is blocked and cannot pull in air, the brush-roll's efforts will be for naught. Hair and dust commonly gather in the hose near the cleaning head, clogging the hose and disallowing air to freely pass. Clean the hose with a wire clothes hanger or other tool to allow free passage of air and a properly performing vacuum cleaner.

Full or blocked bag

• Air drawn into the vacuum cleaner requires an exhaust. In most vacuum cleaners that exhaust happens through the bag or filtration system. The amount of air that can be exhausted is directly related to the amount of air that will be drawn into the cleaner's cleaning head and hoses (for attachment use). Bags that have exceeded their recommended capacity will not have enough of the unused bag to provide the necessary exhaust. A full bag causes decreased suction. Similarly, the filters used for bag-less vacuum cleaners rely upon their filtration system to allow the exhausted air to be expelled at a rate that will allow the cleaner to continue sucking. Replace the bags and filters regularly to maintain the recommended exhaust rate for your cleaner.

Damaged motor or fan

• The vacuum cleaner's motor is responsible for multiple parts of the cleaner's operation. The motor spins the fan inside the cleaner to draw the air into the vacuum's hose. A motor that is not working properly or efficiently will not cause the fan to spin as swiftly as designed. A slower moving fan will lead to a less effective suction performance. The motor also spins the brush-roll. If the brush-roll spins slowly or does not spin at all, the suction will only be half of the intended effort toward carpet cleaning. Suction alone is not enough to remove relatively heavier dirt particles and deeper set debris from the carpet.