Vacuum cleaners are incredible appliances that keep our homes free from dirt, dust, spills and allergens. They have made our lives easy by reducing time required to keep home clean and tidy, further these machines have automated the cleaning process. Vacuum cleaner has become a basic need of every house.
Every machine, appliance or tool we use at our homes and offices do need some sort of periodic maintenance, so that the intended purpose of appliance is fully served. As far as vacuum cleaners are concerned, the most common issue user’s face is regarding suction power. Users frequently complaint that, the vacuum cleaner has lost it suction power and it’s not sucking up the dirt with same energy as it used to collect dirt. So, they ask a question on lot of forums, How to fix a vacuum cleaner with no suction?
A vacuum cleaner with poor suction is not a useful household appliance. An easy and expensive advice a layman can give is to buy a new vacuum cleaner. But, it won’t be a wise suggestion as it will cost some budget. So, it is recommended to look for a root cause of lost suction. You might be able to find a simple solution to troubleshoot a vacuum cleaners suction power.
If you are facing the same issue of lost suction or no suction at all, this article might help you in solving the issue. We have covered few techniques to solve the poor suction fault of a vacuum cleaner. You can easily perform these maintenance tasks at home with ease. It will help you save on repair expenses.
Following are the five possible reasons that limit the suction power of a vacuum cleaner.
- Dust Bag Problem
- Clogging in floorhead and hose
- Blockage in airway
- Clogged Filter
- Air-Leakage
Let’s discuss each issue briefly and also suggest a solution.
Dust Bag Problem
Two types of vacuum cleaners are available in market i.e. bagged or bagless vacuum cleaners. Lost suction or no suction can be due to fully filled up dust bag. You can easily check the bag or canister, that either it is full to its maximum capacity or not. If you notice that bag or chamber is full of dirt, it implies you have found the underlying reason of lost suction. Because a full dust bag makes a vacuum to operate but it is unable to suck the dirt up, as the dust bag is already full.
In case of bagless vacuum cleaner, simply empty the canister and in case of bagged vacuum you may change the bag and start vacuuming. It will most likely solve the issue of poor suction.
Clogging in Floorhead and Hose
Poor suction can be attributed to clogged brushroll or clogged hose that leads towards bag/canister.
To check any unwanted hair or dirt trapped in brush roll, you would require looking into floorhead of a vacuum. You may check any stuck debris or long hair over brush roll. If dust or hairs are wrapped over the brushroll, it will inhibit the capacity of vacuum cleaner to properly suck the dirt and debris up the hose. Simply clean the brushroll from dirt and remove the trapped hairs. You may set a schedule and periodically observe the floorhead for gathered dirt. It will enable you to prevent bristles from clogging and ultimately uniform suction will be provided by the vacuum cleaner.
Another possible reason of lost suction can be clogged hose or extension wand, which connects floor head to canister or bag. You should detach the hose/wand and look into the length of hose for any stuck debris or cluster of hair. If you feel that the hose is clogged, use a long stick to remove the stuck debris. Reassemble the hose and operate the vacuum cleaner, it should give good suction now.
Clean the Filter
Vacuum cleaners use variety of filters to trap unwanted particles and prevent the particles from entering into the motor and also prevent dust particles from leaking into the room. Now, with the passage of time filters become clogged and hence the vacuum losses the suction capacity. Periodic cleaning or replacing a filter will prevent clogging, ultimately maintaining uniform suction power.
Typical vacuum cleaner employs two filters, one being pre-motor filter and other is post-motor filter. You should read the user manual of a vacuum cleaner provided by manufacturer. They usually mention the cleaning or replacement frequency of a filter. It will also help in locating and guiding about cleaning technique of a particular filter.
Another possible reason of lost suction can be clogged hose or extension wand, which connects floor head to canister or bag. You should detach the hose/wand and look into the length of hose for any stuck debris or cluster of hair. If you feel that the hose is clogged, use a long stick to remove the stuck debris. Reassemble the hose and operate the vacuum cleaner, it should give good suction now.
Some filters are washable and others need replacement after specific time duration. In case of washable filters, simply rinse the filter in warm water and let it dry for 24 hrs. Afterwards insert the filter back and continue vacuuming. If the filter is replaceable, buy a manufacturer recommended filter for your home vacuum cleaner.
Check for Air-Leakage
For a strong suction, every connection of a vacuum cleaner should be airtight. You should check the hose and dust container joint, it should be airtight. Any leakage here will contribute towards poor suction of a vacuum cleaner.
Conclusion
For a lost suction, above mentioned points are major concerns and largely contribute towards bad suction of a vacuum cleaner. If you have performed all of above troubleshooting checks and still vacuum cleaner is not giving desired suction power. Then, we recommend you to contact the manufacturer in case of warranty. In case of expired warranty, take a vacuum cleaner to repair shop. Repair shops will surely reach the root cause and will troubleshoot the vacuum cleaner at a reasonable price.