No matter how well you safeguard it, dirt, dust, hair and other forms of debris will progressively find way into your vacuum cleaner and this contracts its suction power with time. Whether you have the upright model or canister vacuum cleaner, the process of unclogging is awfully similar because it involves accessing the clogged area and cleaning all the debris. Here is a do-it-yourself guide that will take you out of the mess of buying another vacuum cleaner.
Step #1: Power the appliance
Turn your vacuum cleaner on and adjust the settings such that the appliance makes use of the hose. If you experienced a drastic drop in its suction power, you may need to check the power cable for any signs of breakage.
Step #2: Troubleshooting
Powering the vacuum cleaner should tell you whether there is any suction coming out of the cleaning appliance. Actual diagnosis of the clogging problem begins with troubleshooting the probable shortcomings once you are sure of absence or reduced suction power. Turn the cleaner off and start inspecting it step by step.
Step #3: Inspect the hose clearance
Begin by detaching the hose from the holster and suspend it perpendicularly to the ground. Twist its base upwards to achieve this and proceed to drop a coin or any solid substance of reasonable size through the base. If the substance passes through the hose with little or no obstruction, then this is not the source of clogging. If the solid substance is held somewhere within the hose on the other hand, probe the hose closely and clear all the clog using a mob handle or a straightened wire coat hanger.
Step #4: Inspect the bag/soil chamber
Look at the connection between your hose and the bag or bagless chamber. Try to reach this connection spot and feel whether there is any form of clog. If you detect any foreign material, clear as much as possible. Nevertheless, note that a bare hand may not be as operative in this step. Use an industrial strength pipe cleaner. Twist it around the spot repeatedly to ensure that all debris is successfully cleared.
Step #5: Reassemble the appliance and test it
If you strictly followed this outline, the steps should clear any clog from the hose. Assemble it back and power the device once more. Its proper functionality should be restored if the clogging was confined to the hose. Persistent problems indicate that there is more clogging in your device, and will need more observance but still it does not necessitate the contracting of an expensive repairman.
Step #6: Replace bags / empty the canisters
Sometimes clogging may not be a result of faulty hoses but rather jam-packed bags and canisters which cannot empty automatically. Before any air leaves the vacuum cleaner, understand that it is passed through the vacuum bag to trap particles. The vacuum pores only allow air to escape, so it serves as a replacement filter. The vacuum engine will incur a lot of pressure, which reduces the suction power unless you remember to replace the vacuum bag periodically. Once you are done with the hose, therefore, inspect the vacuum bag or canister and make appropriate disposals and replacements to power you device up again.
Step #7: Disassemble the brush assembly for scrutiny
Unplug the device once again and overturn it. Using a good screwdriver, detach the cover enclosing your brush assembly. Position the vacuum cleaner as flat as it can get and start unclogging from underneath. There are various spots underneath the vacuum cleaner through which debris may make way into the appliance. Reach all these areas with bare fingers and feel any debris that may have accumulated. Clean it instantly and bring in the industrial strength pipe cleaner once again to ensure that the place is fully cleared.
You may also be required to use a broom handle. Push the debris through the vacuum cleaner’s body until it gets to the point where it will drop to the bag or canister.
Step #8: Finish and test it again
Convinced that this part of the vacuum cleaner is clear too? Reassemble the brush casing and turn your appliance upright. Power it and attempt to vacuum the floor. You can then celebrate cleaning all the debris that may have littered the floor in the process of unclogging. If these steps do not restore its optimal suction, however, it calls for the services of a professional repairman. At this point, you are assured of a technical problem and not ideally a waste of resources on simple unclogging procedures that you could have handled.
As simple as it may appear, there are precautions you should take when unclogging the vacuum cleaner. Please adhere to the following:
Avoid technical work
Sometimes the reduced suction power can result from technical issues. If you suspect any electric faults and other problems that require replacements of parts, set the appliance aside and call a qualified repairman. You could end up spoiling rather than repairing the vacuum cleaner. Similarly, get appropriate recommendations when purchasing replacement parts to avoid malfunctioned spares which only reduce the efficiency of this appliance.
Keep water away
No matter how obvious this sounds, a number of people have been forced to invest in a new vacuum cleaner because they thought of water as a shortcut to unclogging. This is an electrical appliance and as common operational manuals indicate, water will cripple the device. Use the right unclogging tools such as a straightened wire coat hanger, broom handle and industrial strength pipe cleaner but at all times, never dream of using water. On the contrary, it may cause unnecessary accidents such as shocks and short-circuiting.
In general, a vacuum cleaner is only functional if it is guarded as expected. Adhere to the guidelines on the user manual, replacing bags and emptying canisters when needed. If you choose to unclog a vacuum cleaner yourself, stick to what you know from such guidelines and keep off guess work. Rather than spending a lot of money in repair and replacement, do as much unclogging as you can and leave the technical repair work to the professionals.
Still couldn’t find what you are looking for? Have a question for me? Write it bellow, I’m eager to check out what you got to say!
Jason Roberts
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Mark says
Great information. I was wondering if you done a buyer’s guide or if you’d like to write one for us?
Jason Roberts says
Hi Mark. I was planning to do one for the upcoming holidays. Contact me and let’s get things going.
Patsy A. Halton says
Your step by step guide about vacuum cleaner is awesome and very helpful for me. Thanks for being so descriptive with the topic. Thanks
Mansfield OH Vacuum says
This problem mostly arises if your vacuum cleaner isn’t picking up dirt, and cleaning the filter or changing the bag doesn’t solve it. This is what is probably a clog. I want to add that when this happens with me I just pull clogs out of the suction port with a bent coat hanger or stiff electrical wire.
Jason Roberts says
Just make sure not to perforate the hose! I’ve seen it happen for a couple of times.
Laran says
I have a kenmore vacuum cleaner 116.23512300. Want to clean the hose (beyond running water through it with garden hose) with a piece of either fabric or paper towels with the hope that the friction will remove caked dust from long ago. I’ve done this with vacuum hoses that were straight, using a pole, broom handle, etc.; but I don’t know how to negotiate the elbow on the hose end that attaches to the canister on this vacuum cleaner (I can disassemble the handle end). It’s a “cleaning by pushing”, but can’t push a straight rod through an elbow. Thanks.
Jason Roberts says
You can use a thicker wire, the kind you can get from a clothes hanger. It should be flexible enough to go round the corner.
Susangh says
Why can’t they just design away the elbow from the head to the hose? Why is it the same problem on all vacs? It should be curved, not an angled elbow. I have 3 vacs with their 5 respective heads all clogged at the elbow. They should make elbow jointed parts cheap and disposable if not curved.
Tim says
I have a canister vacuum with same kind of elbows at each end of hose. What worked for me was to connect my shop vac blower(5 amp) hose to the end of my vacuum hose to blow out the clog. A huge wad of dog hair and other stuff came right out. Worked perfectly!