Wiki

This page covers fault finding and repair of vacuum cleaners.

Summary

Vacuum cleaners often experience fairly heavy use, and so are one of the commoner domestic appliances to fail. They are fairly low-tech devices and so not difficult to diagnose or repair.

Safety

On opening a vacuum cleaner, live mains may be exposed. Double check that you've unplugged it before you start. It's a good idea to keep the mains plug on the bench in front of you while you work so as to be sure it's unplugged.

Vacuum cleaners contain powerful electric motors. Keep fingers, loose clothing and children etc. well away from moving parts.

Diagnosis

Bags, Filters and Blockages

First of all, check that the problem isn't simply that the bag (or the dust canister for bagless models) isn't full.

Check the filter or filters and make sure they're not blocked or in need of replacement. People don't always realize that bagless models also have a filter on the air intake. On some, this is washable.

Make sure the bag and filter(s) are correctly fitted.

I think I've only done one or two vacuum cleaners and they seem to be mainly common sense. I think my knowledge can be summed up in a few bullet points:

• Check the bag isn't full, or the filter blocked, both are properly fitted and no blockages anywhere else.
• If it has a rotating brush, check it turns freely (not jammed with hair) and the belt is ok.
• Check for broken plastic parts.
• Check the motor and belt, in particular, clean the commutator and check the brushes (see the Electric Motors page).
• Check the fuse, and electrical continuity from the plug, through the switch and through the motor. Check for frayed or damaged insulation on the lead or other wires.

Actually, that could form the start of a wiki page. Orsetta - can you think of anything else? Anyone else?

Oh, one other thing - before starting, make sure there's soap and a hand dryer in the toilets! That's where I came unstuck on the last vacuum I did.

Regards - Philip

For bagless cyclone vacuums, if the dust canister is overfilled, the pre-motor filter will get blocked. Some of these (e.g. Dyson) are washable. People often don't realise these vacuums have filters which need occasional cleaning.

If filters or air path get blocked, motor cooling which relies on the airflow will become ineffective, and the motor may overheat. This may result in the motor cutting out for 10 mins whilst it cools, but it can also permanently damage the motor, which then causes it to overheat even with enough airflow. Overheating will eventually burn out the windings - careful inspection of the windings may reveal overheated areas or even broken wires.

In theory, motor brushes can wear out too, but I don't think I've actually seen this in a vacuum cleaner yet.