What Is Wrong With My Vacuum Cleaner?

Bag/Filter Clogged

• The bag on a vacuum cleaner is responsible for collecting the dirt and debris sucked through the cleaner's hose. The bag also acts as a filter through which the air needs to pass. A full bag has a decreased ability to pass the air through, which leads to a decrease in suction. Replacing the bag will provide the vacuum cleaner with a greater ability to pass the air through and maintain suction power. Bagless vacuums rely upon the filters when exhausting air from the vacuum. Wet or otherwise clogged filters will not allow the exhausted air to pass freely, causing the suction to decrease and the vacuum cleaner's performance to suffer.

Clogged Hose

• Upright vacuum cleaners use a hose to pull air from the cleaning head into the dirt collector, in both bag and bagless containers. Clogged hoses will not allow the same volume of air -- used to lift the dirt and debris from the carpet, upholstery or other surface -- to be drawn into the cleaner. Canister vacuum cleaners often have much longer hoses through which the air and dirt travel. A gathering of dust, hair or other obstruction in the hose will significantly slow the rate of airflow, which will in turn decrease the suction power. The obstruction can be so large that no air passes and no air is pulled into the cleaner.

Brush Roll/Belt Broken

• The cleaning head of an upright or canister vacuum cleaner is equipped with a brush roll that spins to agitate the carpeting. The vacuum cleaner's belt is connected to the cleaner's drive shaft and brush roll to spin it. The agitation shakes the debris loose so that the airflow can capture and move it to the dirt collector. A worn or otherwise damaged brush roll will be unable to adequately provide the necessary agitation. A broken or worn belt will not spin the brush roll, leaving the cleaner with only the suction through the hose to pull the debris from the carpet. Changing the belt will ensure that the brush roll spins properly to remove the dirt from the carpet or upholstery the way the vacuum cleaner was designed to operate.

Electrical Issues

• All of the components of the vacuum cleaner rely upon flawless electrical operation. The motor powers the fans used to provide the airflow as well as the drive shaft to spin the brush roll. Electrical problems can be found within the motor itself, which will require the replacement of the motor or electrical work by a qualified technician. Other electrical issues, such as a short in the vacuum cleaner's power cord, can be solved by replacing the cord. Consult your cleaner's manual for instructions to replace a faulty power supply cord.