Repairing a Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuum cleaners are a great tool for quickly and easily cleaning dirt and debris from your floors. With regular use and the demand put on the appliance to clean, you'll likely need to fix your vacuum cleaner occasionally so it continues to clean the way you want it to. Learn how to fix a vacuum cleaner with no suction by repairing your vacuum cleaner's worn-out brushes and belts and other vacuum cleaner repair and maintenance tips.
Change the Vacuum Bag
The most common and often overlooked maintenance task is changing the vacuum bag. It’s extremely important to check the level of your vacuum bag before each use. A full vacuum bag inhibits performance, places a strain on the motor and can push more dust and dirt into the air.
It can be a dirty job to replace a bag especially if you wait too long and it starts to overflow. If this happens, change the bag outside to prevent dirt from falling on your floors.
Stick vacuums have risen in popularity, partly due to the convenience of emptying a canister straight into the garbage and being able to easily see how full it is. There are no bags required for stick vacuums, but you still need to keep an eye on the filter.
Replace the Vacuum Belt
Broken belts are one of the most common causes of a poor-performing vacuum. These belts are basically thick rubber bands that can snap without notice. You’ll know when your vacuum belt breaks as the brush will stop moving, it will sound different and it won’t clean your floors as well as it used to.
Switching out a belt can take 10 minutes or less. Replacement belts are readily available and often sold in pairs so you always have an extra one on hand. Changing the belt typically requires just a screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the base of your vacuum. Then you simply remove the brush and wrap the new belt around the drive motor. Reattach the brush and you’re ready to go.
Since you’ve removed the brush from your vacuum it’s a good idea to completely clean it since you will have full access to easily remove hair, fibers and any other gunk that is stuck on it.
Replace the Vacuum Brush
Your vacuum’s brush does all the heavy lifting when it comes to cleaning. Over time the nylon bristles will wear down and become less effective at agitating your carpet to pick up debris. Vacuum brushes can also become damaged after getting wrapped up with string, carpet fibers and hair.
Replacing a vacuum brush is as easy as changing the belt. Just remove the bottom cover of the vacuum and switch out the brush. Check the seats that hold the brush for any remaining debris and remove it before reinstalling the cover.
Change the Vacuum Filter
Vacuum filters are necessary to remove dust, pollen and other airborne contaminants from being blown back into your space. Routinely changing the air filter will improve your home’s indoor air quality and place less stress on your vacuum’s motor.
Some vacuums use washable air filters, but these start to break down over time and should also be changed at regular intervals to maintain their effectiveness.
If your vacuum manufacturer offers a HEPA filter option, that is the gold standard. HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns or larger.
Robotic Vacuum Repair
Robotic vacuums are so convenient you almost forget how hard they're working to keep your floors clean. Protect the investment of your robotic vacuum with regular maintenance. Just like any vacuum cleaner, repair their worn-out parts and replace their filters to keep them working as they should. Specialized replenishment kits are available that include filters and brushes, so you can give your robot vacuum a complete overhaul and keep it running in top shape.