This is a sponsored guest post.
It is almost impossible to think of living without a vacuum cleaner. I honestly can’t, not with three kids, a lazy husband and an even lazier cat who likes to sit on every sofa around the house. Every morning when I wake up, I see little bits of food, paper, and dirt here and there, which gets on my nerves. Thankfully, my vacuum cleaner saves the day. Sometimes, just like your bad hair days, your vacuum cleaner can have rough days as well. Those are the days I feel utterly powerless against my kids and my cat. There was one time when the problem was severe. Thankfully, I knew my vacuum cleaner like the back of my hand. Despite my husband’s constant bickerings to get a new vacuum cleaner, I took a few steps myself.
I gathered up as much information as I could about vacuum cleaner repair and worked on it. The result was satisfying. I was able to boost suction power of my vacuum cleaner in no time! In fact, my vacuum cleaner was working just as good as new.
I understand that you might have faced similar problems and can totally relate to me. Is your vacuum cleaner just not good enough for your home? Have you thought of maybe trying to tweak it here and there yourself, but you are not exactly sure how? Here are a few tips that I used to ensure my vacuum cleaner does exactly as it is told and win the war against filth.
Mission: Identify the underlying problem
If your vacuum cleaner is working, but not strong enough, it will be unable to remove debris and dust completely. Your vacuum cleaner cost you money, so its inefficiency is without a doubt, unacceptable. You must go to the root of the problem.
- Is your vacuum cleaner turning on properly? Even if it does turn on, does it eventually turn off without notice? It might be because it is not properly connecting to the electrical outlet, or the cord is wearing away. Often times your vacuum cleaner could become overly hot, which is why it automatically turns off. In this case, check whether the bags and dust traps are full or not. If they’re not full but your vacuum cleaner is overheating anyways, it means the problem could be worse.
- Are your vacuum cleaner brush and hose clogged and congested? Get rid of long hair or larger particles that can get stuck to the brush bristles and make sure the hose rotates properly. Any hindrance in the rotation could indicate that something is wrong with the hose. The hose might be clogged. You can clean out the hose with a broom handle. Or you can dip the hose in a container containing gallons of water (or soapy water) and leave it to soak for a day. Then ensure it dries completely. Or go for a tangle free vacuum cleaner that is designed for long hair cleaning.
- Your home has electricity problems? Circuit breakers protect your home and if your vacuum cleaner is not working, it could mean that the circuit breaker is not working properly. You can change the outlet that you use for your vacuum cleaner or call an electrician.
- Is your vacuum filter clogged or too old? Filters in vacuum cleaners can get clogged over time. These should be replaced with new ones. Do not continue to use the old filters.
- Are you using your vacuum cleaner with proper height? To get better suction the cleaner must be as close to the floor as possible, so make sure you clean with the right height.
- Thought of replacing detachable parts? If you are using a vacuum cleaner with a bag, you should replace the bag with new ones. For extra cleanliness, there are bags whose inner surfaces are coated with antibacterial agents. You can certainly use those to prevent certain health risks. If your vacuum cleaner uses a canister, then you should remove it and clean it. You can rinse the canister and allow it to dry completely before reuse.
- Is your vacuum cleaner too noisy, or smelling funny? Check all the belts. I used my vacuum cleaner user manual to locate the belts.
- Check for any damaged parts. Is the airtight seal damaged? Its damage can cause a vacuum cleaner to lose suction capabilities. If you see holes in the hose, replace it with a new one. Don’t tape it!
If your vacuum cleaner turns out to have any of these eight problems, you have nothing much to worry about. Proper maintenance and cleaning can really help your vacuum cleaner go a long way. If your vacuum cleaner shows more serious problems than these, you might have to consider a few vacuum cleaner repair methods or parts replacement.
Mission: Vacuum cleaner repair
You are probably wondering how to fix a vacuum cleaner with no suction if your vacuum cleaner problems are more severe than the ones I previously mentioned. Vacuum cleaner repair is not as tedious as it sounds. Before starting the repair processes, you should consider the type of vacuum cleaner that you are using.
- If it is an upright vacuum cleaner, consider servicing the switch. Try to remove the switch and see if the wires behind it are worn out, burnt or cut. If you see such wires, replace the switch and wires.
- Upright vacuum cleaners usually have a dirt fan below the motor, which helps to sweep up dust that the brushes do not clean. In general, these fans do not need to be replaced. Simply clean the fan blades with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol or water. Also, check if the motor shaft needs to be lubricated.
- Canister vacuum cleaners are easier to repair. Remove the canister to get access to the back of the switch Then use a multi-tester and check for continuity. See if the wires are not worn out.
- Canister vacuum cleaners have four connectors. There is a connector between the canister and hose, a connector between the power tubes, a hose connector and lastly a connector inside the power head. These wires may need to be tightened, cleaned with a cloth or taped if worn out.
- If everything else is fine, there is still one more thing that you will need to check. It’s the vacuum cleaner motor. You cannot repair the motor on your own though. You will need to take your vacuum cleaner to a repair shop, no matter what type it is.
Rather than repairing, you can buy a replacement for the parts damaged. Or, you could buy a new one, if your vacuum cleaner is old and wearing out. Hopefully, you will not have to go that far. These simple tips can help you fix your vacuum cleaner, keep your home clean and your mind in peace.
