Vacuum cleaners, whether they’re uprights or canisters, have no trouble at all cleaning your floors and furniture, but they can lose suction (ability to pick up debris) over time.
The reason why vacuum cleaners loses suction is that the filter and/or hose become clogged with dust and dirt. When the debris in the vacuum is blocked, there’s no way for the machine to expel the air that’s moving through it, which results in reduced suction.
Most Common Reasons for Loss of Vacuum Suction Power
- Manufacturers recommend that the filters be cleaned every time you empty the dirt cup. If they become clogged over time, the vacuum will lose suction.
- Pet hair can easily clog things, overwhelming the filter and reducing suction. If you have furry pets at home, consider replacing the standard filters with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filers.
- If the hose isn’t connected properly, it could be due to a tear or crack. Dirt and debris can slip through and get stuck at the vacuum’s motor, which reduces suction.
- When certain parts such as the impeller (a fan) get worn down, they need to be replaced immediately to avoid losing suction.
How to fix a vacuum cleaner that’s lost suction?
If your vacuum cleaner has lost suction, the problem could be the filter.
Turn off the machine and pull out the filter. Check if it’s clogged with dirt and debris. If so, remove the clogs by tapping the side of the filter or use a brush to remove them.
If you have pets at home or work in a dusty environment, consider changing your regular filters with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters that can reduce dust from re-entering your house.
Replace any broken parts such as the hose if necessary.
If you have to replace your vacuum cleaner entirely, there are several factors to keep in mind:
- Look for a vacuum cleaner that’s labelled as a ‘canister’ type because they tend to be more powerful than uprights; these upright cleaners are the most common vacuum cleaners on the market.
- Consider replacing your old canister with a newer model that has an air-driven beater bar or is cordless, as these models tend to work better than conventional canisters.
- Look for high filtration standards (as mentioned earlier) to avoid any problem with reduced suction levels later on. Remember, high quality filters will save you time and money in the long run because you won’t need to regularly replace them.
- When vacuuming up wet debris, use a cleaner that has pet specific tools to remove stubborn stains that are difficult to remove.
If you have pets at home or work in dusty environments, consider looking for high filtration standards (as mentioned earlier) to avoid any problem with reduced suction later on. Remember, good filters can save you time and money in the long run because you won’t need to replace them as often.
My New Vacuum Cleaner Has No Suction
If you recently purchase a brand new vacuum and it has no suction there could be several issues you should check for.
First if you have a bagged vacuum, make sure that the vacuum bag is connected.
Secondly make sure all the vacuum cleaner’s filters are attached, this includes HEPA filters.
For a bagless vacuum option, make sure the vacuum hoses are attached properly.
Splits inside the dust container, vacuum cleaner hose or brush roll can cause a loss of suction.
Once you’ve checked all the vacuum filters, vacuum cleaner bag and the splits, the last point of failure is the vacuum belt.
Modern vacuums operate with an electric motor and belt.
The belt drives the rotating brush bar and creates the centrifugal force required for suction cleaning power.
Most vacuum cleaners have a very easy to replace belt, but if it’s not churning correctly, then it may just be loose or not fitted properly.
I recently had this issue on my Shark Upright Vacuum Cleaner, where the belt wasn’t moving correctly, I simply adjusted it and it fixed any suction loss issues.
Use The Correct Settings
One last thing is to remember the correct height setting on your vacuum.
Most modern vacuums come with a bare floor setting, this sets it at the lowest height and puts all the air flow through the brush bar. This can make a big difference and is one of the most common problems that’s ignored.