SewingMachinesPlus.com - Frequently Asked Sewing Machine and Vacuum Repair Solutions

Is it plugged in?

Of course, it’s plugged in. You’re not stupid. Sometimes an outlet in your house just stops working, though. And even if all of your outlets work, sometimes they require a light switch to be flipped on in order to deliver power. That’s frustrating, but we’ve all been there.

Test your on-off switch.

Test your on-off switch with an ohmmeter, multimeter, or other continuity checker. They’re super cheap. You should invest in one to keep around the house, anyway. Here’s a great guide on how to use a multimeter. How to use a multimeter.

It's getting power, but the motor doesn't run.

If it’s getting power, but the motor doesn’t run, the problem probably lies with the motor itself. If the motor can get power, make sure the motor shaft can turn freely without obstruction. Here’s a quick refresher on how your vacuum cleaner works and what various parts of the motor look like.

Motor is getting power, but still not running

If the motor is getting power, turning freely, and still not running, you probably need to visit a professional or find a replacement motor. We do offer professional repairs for bigger problems such as this. Check here to see what type of services we offer: Vacuum Cleaner Repair

Yuck. That’s the worst. There’s nothing like getting your hopes up with that loud, glorious vacuum cleaner sound and then having your good mood annihilated as the vacuum’s bold roar reduces itself to a whimper.

It's probably overheating.

If it turns on, but won’t stay on, chances are your vacuum cleaner is getting too hot. Unplug your vacuum, wait for a little while (consult your manual if you’re not sure how long,) and then check for obstructions. If it still dies out, you might need to replace a small thermal fuse. Your local vacuum store can sell you the fuse (they’re cheap!) and help you replace it.

That’s no good! This is probably the most common vacuum cleaner ailment. When your vacuum cleaner can’t achieve proper suction, the solution is generally easy.

Empty the bag or chamber.

This is the first step and you’ve probably already done it, but you can never be too sure.

Your height setting might be wrong.

If your vacuum’s height setting is too high for the floor you’re trying to vacuum, it won’t do a great job. Use the bare floor setting for tile or wood and adjust upwards accordingly. A deep carpet setting won’t help you much with a hardwood floor.

Check the filters.

If your vacuum’s air or exhaust filter is clogged, it probably won’t do much sucking. Clean or replace your air and/or exhaust filter. Viola!

Check your hose.

If your vacuum cleaner’s hose is plugged up, it can’t do its only job. If you think something is obstructing your hose, remove it from the vacuum. Then straighten it out, shine a flashlight through one end and see if any light shines through the other side. If not, use a blunt object to try to dislodge whatever is blocking the airflow, just be careful so you don’t damage or tear your hose.

Check your brush roll.

Is it spinning? If it’s not, it might just be over-encumbered by hair. Anyone who has pets or children and spouses with long hair will encounter this, eventually. Fortunately, we’ve already compiled a list of vacuum hacks, including an easy way to clean your brush roll.

If your brush roll is clean, but still isn't spinning, you probably have a belt problem.

Don’t panic. It happens all the time. It’s probably the most common problem we see with vacuum cleaners. Belts aren’t too expensive, and they usually aren’t too hard to replace. Replacing a vacuum belt can be done by anyone at home. You can find follow along guides on Youtube. Our own video guide coming soon.

Have you ever used an old vacuum cleaner that just stinks up a room when you turn it on? It’s pretty gross, right? No one wants that.

When your vacuum cleaner smells like burning rubber.

This is probably because you belt is slipping, or you ran over something that stalled the brush roll monetarily that cause the belt to slip. Your belt could just be stretched out from wear and is slipping. Put a new belt on. Replacing a belt is easier than you think. Scroll above a bit to watch how you can replace your vacuum belt by yourself.

Empty the bag or canister.

You may have done this already, but just in case you haven't; make sure to empty out your vacuum to make sure the smell isn't coming from all the dirt you sucked up.

Check you air and exhaust filter.

Again, you may have already done this, but it's best to always make sure. Clean or replace your air or exhaust filters to see if that's where the smell is from.

Well, that’s annoying. This is a less severe symptom of most of the problems in the previous section. It just means your vacuum is producing some suction, but something’s stopping it from doing its best possible sucking.

Your bag or canister might be full.

Empty out your bag or canister to make sure your vacuum cleaner has space to contain all the dirt it's sucking up.

Check your brush.

Clean your brush roll and its bearings. If your brush is just a lumbering cylinder of lint and hair, it’s not going to do a great job.

If it's not a brush problem, it's possibly a belt problem.

Belts might be broken or too stretched out. They also tend to fall off from time to time. Check for videos on how to replace the belt or consult a professional. Our own video guide coming soon.

Most vacuum cleaners are loud enough to make their presence known. We like to think of it as a boisterous hello. When your vacuum cleaner makes extra noise, though, that usually indicates trouble in paradise.

Check your hose for obstructions

When an object can’t quite make it through the noise, it can make some weird noises once the suction starts. If this is your problem, it’s an easy fix.

Check your belts.

Again, belt problems are the most common problems. When belts aren’t attached or are on their way out, they can cry out for attention with some truly heinous noises. As usual, replacing a vacuum belt is super easy with guides on how to do it on Youtube. Our own video guide coming soon.

If it's not your hose or your belts, your motor is probably on the way out.

Motors get extra noisy before they give up for good. If you feel this is the case, then that's where we can jump in and save your vacuum as we offer vacuum repair services for big problems like this. Check Here to see the services we offer for either upright or canister vacuum cleaners.