Do you know what to check for when your vacuum cleaner loses suction? There are four quick checks that can help you resolve the problem before you visit Calgary’s favorite vacuum repair shop. We will always help you with your repair or vacuum service problems, but if you are handy, you can try these first:
Check the vacuum cleaner bag
Seems simple right? All vacuum cleaner bags collect micro particulates as well as visible dust and dirt in your space. Vacuum bags are designed to fit your specific vacuum cleaner model so air movement flows out, and the dust, dirt, and allergens stay in. The first step should always be checking the bag to see if it is installed properly, or too full. A bag vacuum works optimally when the bag is at most, ¾ full. Always have 2-3 replacement vacuum bags on hand. Like a spare tire, better to have it than not. While it may sound more economical to empty out a vacuum cleaner bag and re-use it, this can create unnecessary wear and tear on your vacuum. Not to mention, it can spread invisible particulates back into your air (plus, messy result). Choosing this method will accumulate a very fine layer of particles inside the vacuum bag after the bag is emptied. A dirty bag will impede proper airflow required for optimal suction. As the airflow is restricted, the suction will die. The easiest of these on the checklist, just replace a new bag. Try the new Riccar R10CV upright cordless vacuum 9lb Supralite
Check for a plugged hose
My favorite hose story is the one about Grandma who brought hers into the shop for service, the hose was suddenly not sucking. Junior had sucked up a Christmas Gnome ornament when cleaning up the tree. Mr. Gnome completely blocked suction, and silently jostled in the hose. Our qualified service gent used the jaws of life, and fished Mr. Gnome out, unharmed. Presto! Hose can now suck!
When I was a teenager, my father, rather disappointedly, had service people manually pull a lodged bobby pin out of a 30’ central vac hose. “Unnecessary abuse of equipment” was his cry! All kinds of things hang up the suctions in a vacuum hose. This can be the number 2 reason for a loss in suction. Hoses can get clogged with everything! It’s the throat of your vacuum! Dental floss, hairballs, dust bunnies, toys, string, or anything impassable through the bend. Including roaming gnomes. Try the Riccar R50SS Prima Straight Suction Mid-Size Model
Check the vacuum cleaner’s filter
Vacuum filters are, in addition to bags in some models, the crucial step to keep dust from coming into contact with moving parts in the machine, while the air is circulating. Some vacuum models have no bag (like Dyson with centrifugal force) to filter out particles. These models sometimes have “sponge” like filters. Essentially, a filter acts as a sieve to purify the air coming into the cleaner. Check the filter and see if it is clogged with dust or needs replacing. Some models won’t power on unless both an empty bag and a clean filter are correctly installed. This third option is often overlooked. Some look like the 3M Filtrete Eureka Upright Vacuum Hepa Filter EF-6
Check for cracked or damaged hoses:
If you’re still losing vacuum suction, the fourth way to troubleshoot your entire machine for any cracked or broken hoses. Most hoses now sold are marketed as “crushproof”. As we all know, kids and pets might not value the investment you have made in a vacuum as you have. They will do their level best to test the limits of a crushproof hose. If the hose is not used with a hose cover, it can damage your walls & furniture. It also gives the hose itself a level of protection from getting snagged or caught on sharp objects. If you have a small crack, air escaping through can make a big difference for the overall performance of a machine. If you find a damaged hose, we have replacement hoses for just about every machine available in varying lengths. The best available central vac attachment kit is the SEBO central vac hose attachment kit . If you use a Socit central vac hose cover 30’ for your 30 foot hose, you have the best hose cover to work with.
What if the problem with my vacuum cleaner is unrelated to these 4 troubleshooting options? Or it has nothing to do with suction? What do I check next?
- BELTS – A common problem is a belt malfunction or a broken belt. Some machines are simple to open up to check the condition of the belt. We suggest you may want to bring it in to our factory authorized centre so you will avoid warranty issues before you start tinkering. If the vacuum belt is indeed broken, we can easily replace it.
- BRUSHES – Personally at home, my most common problem is the agitator brush. It gets string and hair wrapped around it regularly. The agitator brush is the part touching the floor to roll and scoop up debris. Anything can get strung up in it, and wrapped items or tangles, prevent the brush head from spinning. Gently removing obstructions can get things moving again.
- ELECTRICAL/MOTORS – If you are a vigorous cleaner, or just have common general wear and tear, vacuum cleaner motors can also be damaged by moisture. Check to see if your vacuum is rated for residential/commercial use, or if it is rated for wet/dry use. When enough water is sucked into a dry vac, it damages the motor, causing a permanent reduction in suction power. Replacing a motor or some electrical circuitry is often more expensive than a new vacuum cleaner. Some machines will be used in renovations, debris from drywall dust, sawdust, or wood shavings will burn out electrical parts.
This is why we suck! Get your vacuum running well and it will serve you dutifully for many years. Any questions about how to maintain your equipment investment goes a long way. If you are at a loss, and your machine still isn’t picking up Spot’s dirty feet or dog hair, maybe it’s time to check in with us at The Vac Shop for advice. Please remember that each model vacuum is different, and contact us to help you with service, installations, or bags and we will help you if your machine requires more work than any of the advice above. Open 6 Days a Week at 3915 Edmonton Trail NE.
What if the problem with my vacuum cleaner is unrelated to these 4 troubleshooting options? Or it has nothing to do with suction? What do I check next?
- BELTS – A common problem is a belt malfunction or a broken belt. Some machines are simple to open up to check the condition of the belt. We suggest you may want to bring it in to our factory authorized centre so you will avoid warranty issues before you start tinkering. If the vacuum belt is indeed broken, we can easily replace it.
- BRUSHES – Personally at home, my most common problem is the agitator brush. It gets string and hair wrapped around it regularly. The agitator brush is the part touching the floor to roll and scoop up debris. Anything can get strung up in it, and wrapped items or tangles, prevent the brush head from spinning. Gently removing obstructions can get things moving again.
- ELECTRICAL/MOTORS – If you are a vigorous cleaner, or just have common general wear and tear, vacuum cleaner motors can also be damaged by moisture. Check to see if your vacuum is rated for residential/commercial use, or if it is rated for wet/dry use. When enough water is sucked into a dry vac, it damages the motor, causing a permanent reduction in suction power. Replacing a motor or some electrical circuitry is often more expensive than a new vacuum cleaner. Some machines will be used in renovations, debris from drywall dust, sawdust, or wood shavings will burn out electrical parts.
This is why we suck! Get your vacuum running well and it will serve you dutifully for many years. Any questions about how to maintain your equipment investment goes a long way. If you are at a loss, and your machine still isn’t picking up Spot’s dirty feet or dog hair, maybe it’s time to check in with us at The Vac Shop for advice. Please remember that each model vacuum is different, and contact us to help you with service, installations, or bags and we will help you if your machine requires more work than any of the advice above. Open 6 Days a Week at 3915 Edmonton Trail NE.
Do you know what to check for when your vacuum cleaner loses suction? There are four quick checks that can help you resolve the problem before you visit Calgary’s favorite vacuum repair shop. We will always help you with your repair or vacuum service problems, but if you are handy, you can try these first:
Check the vacuum cleaner bag
Seems simple right? All vacuum cleaner bags collect micro particulates as well as visible dust and dirt in your space. Vacuum bags are designed to fit your specific vacuum cleaner models so air movement flows out, and the dust, dirt, and allergens stay in. The first step should always be checking the bag to see if it is installed properly, or too full. A bag vacuum works optimally when the bag is at most, ¾ full. Always have 2-3 replacement vacuum bags on hand. Like a spare tire, better to have it than not. While it may sound more economical to empty out a vacuum cleaner bag and re-use it, this can create unnecessary wear and tear on your vacuum. Not to mention, it can spread invisible particulates back into your air (plus, messy result). Choosing this method will accumulate a very fine layer of particles inside the vacuum bag after the bag is emptied. A dirty bag will impede proper airflow required for optimal suction. As the airflow is restricted, the suction will die. The easiest of these on the checklist, just replace a new bag. Try the new Riccar R10CV upright cordless vacuum 9lb Supralite
Check for a plugged hose
My favorite hose story is the one about Grandma who brought hers into the shop for service, the hose was suddenly not sucking. Junior had sucked up a Christmas Gnome ornament when cleaning up the tree. Mr. Gnome completely blocked suction, and silently jostled in the hose. Our qualified service gent used the jaws of life, and fished Mr. Gnome out, unharmed. Presto! Hose can now suck!
When I was a teenager, my father, rather disappointedly, had service people manually pull a lodged bobby pin out of a 30’ central vac hose. “Unnecessary abuse of equipment” was his cry! All kinds of things hang up the suctions in a vacuum hose. This can be the number 2 reason for a loss in suction. Hoses can get clogged with everything! It’s the throat of your vacuum! Dental floss, hairballs, dust bunnies, toys, string, or anything impassable through the bend. Including roaming gnomes.
Riccar R50SS Prima Straight Suction Mid-Size Model
Check the vacuum cleaner’s filter
Vacuum filters are, in addition to bags in some models, the crucial step to keep dust from coming into contact with moving parts in the machine, while the air is circulating. Some vacuum models have no bag (like Dyson with centrifugal force) to filter out particles. These models sometimes have “sponge” like filters. Essentially, a filter acts as a sieve to purify the air coming into the cleaner. Check the filter and see if it is clogged with dust or needs replacing. Some models won’t power on unless both an empty bag and a clean filter are correctly installed. This third option is often overlooked.
3M Filtrete Eureka Upright Vacuum Hepa Filter EF-6
Check for cracked or damaged hoses:
If you’re still losing vacuum suction, the fourth way to troubleshoot your entire machine for any cracked or broken hoses. Most hoses now sold are marketed as “crushproof”. As we all know, kids and pets might not value the investment you have made in a vacuum as you have. They will do their level best to test the limits of a crushproof hose. If the hose is not used with a hose cover, it can damage your walls & furniture. It also gives the hose itself a level of protection from getting snagged or caught on sharp objects. If you have a small crack, air escaping through can make a big difference for the overall performance of a machine. If you find a damaged hose, we have replacement hoses for just about every machine available in varying lengths. Socit central vac hose cover 30’
SEBO central vac hose attachment kit
What if the problem with my vacuum cleaner is unrelated to these 4 troubleshooting options? Or it has nothing to do with suction? What do I check next?
- BELTS – A common problem is a belt malfunction or a broken belt. Some machines are simple to open up to check the condition of the belt. We suggest you may want to bring it in to our factory authorized centre so you will avoid warranty issues before you start tinkering. If the vacuum belt is indeed broken, we can easily replace it.
- BRUSHES – Personally at home, my most common problem is the agitator brush. It gets string and hair wrapped around it regularly. The agitator brush is the part touching the floor to roll and scoop up debris. Anything can get strung up in it, and wrapped items or tangles, prevent the brush head from spinning. Gently removing obstructions can get things moving again.
- ELECTRICAL/MOTORS – If you are a vigorous cleaner, or just have common general wear and tear, vacuum cleaner motors can also be damaged by moisture. Check to see if your vacuum is rated for residential/commercial use, or if it is rated for wet/dry use. When enough water is sucked into a dry vac, it damages the motor, causing a permanent reduction in suction power. Replacing a motor or some electrical circuitry is often more expensive than a new vacuum cleaner. Some machines will be used in renovations, debris from drywall dust, sawdust, or wood shavings will burn out electrical parts.
This is why we suck! Get your vacuum running well and it will serve you dutifully for many years. Any questions about how to maintain your equipment investment goes a long way. If you are at a loss, and your machine still isn’t picking up Spot’s dirty feet or dog hair, maybe it’s time to check in with us at The Vac Shop for advice. Please remember that each model vacuum is different, and contact us to help you with service, installations, or bags and we will help you if your machine requires more work than any of the advice above. Open 6 Days a Week at 3915 Edmonton Trail NE.