Why Won’t My Vacuum Suck?

When your perfectly good vacuum cleaner stops picking up dust and dirt. It can work out expensive to replace it with a newer model. But have you ever stopped to think about the reasons why won’t my vacuum suck anymore?

If you think about the way a vacuum works and the job they designed it to do. It will become clear to you that when there is no suction, something is blocked or broken.

Causes of vacuum suction problems

If your vacuum cleaner is showing signs of decreased suction or if the vacuum is not picking up anything at all, it is a sign that something somewhere on the vacuum cleaner is blocked or broken.

To fix a vacuum cleaner with no suction, you need to understand the different parts of the vacuum that could cause the vacuum cleaner to lose suction. The causes and parts are:

• The vacuum is not set at the correct height
• The vacuum cleaner has an air leak
• The dirt canister or bag is full
• The hose is blocked or cracked
• The rotating brush is clogged or broken
• The filters of your vacuum are blocked
• There is something wrong with the motor of the vacuum cleaner

How to fix a vacuum that won’t suck

Now that you know what could be the cause, it is time to find and fix the problem.

Selecting the correct height

If your vacuum won’t pick up and it is a multi-floor cleaner. Check that the correct height has been selected for the floor type you are vacuuming.

Look at the height settings on your vacuum cleaner, there is normally a dial or lever. For example, the dial on a Hoover T-Series Wind Tunnel upright vacuum is on the front of the vacuum near the base. This is where you can change the settings lower for “bare floors” or higher for high pile carpets. Lower the height and see if that fixes the vacuum’s suction or pick up problem.

The vacuum cleaner is leaking air

If air is escaping in areas of the vacuum cleaner that are supposed to be sealed, this will be the result of the vacuum not suctioning.

Check for air leaks where the hose connects to the body of the vacuum cleaner. The hose might not be attached tight enough or you could have managed to re-attach it in the hole crooked. If there is air escaping from that section, your vacuum will have difficulty sucking anything up at all.

Another area where your vacuum cleaner leaks air is the dirtbag or canister. Make sure it is securely in place because if it is not, the vacuum cannot create suction.

The dirt canister or bag is full

If the dirt canister or bag is full, a straightforward way to fix a vacuum suction problem is to empty and clean out the canister or to replace the dirtbag.

As you vacuum your home or office, dirt and debris collect in a dirt canister or bag. After a few times of vacuuming, the canister or bag fills up and because there is no more space for the dust and dirt to go, the vacuum cleaner will stop sucking.

It is difficult to know when the dirtbag of a bagged vacuum cleaner is full. The best way is to check the suction of the vacuum and if it reduces, remove the bag, empty it if it is reusable, or replace it with a fresh bag.

However, if you have a bagless vacuum with a dirt canister or cup, it is a little easier to check. There is usually a transparent area of the canister so you can see if it has reached the maximum, dirt levels have been reached. If this is the case, empty the canister or cup into a dirt bin, wash it out and place it back into place.

The hose is blocked or cracked

Another reason why a vacuum cleaner loses suction is that the hose is blocked or cracked. Unattached the hose from the vacuum cleaner and check if there is any dirt, hair or other debris stuck inside the hose. Once the hose is unclogged, it is best to wash the hose and perform a cracked and puncture hole inspection.

Check the rotating brush for clogs or breakage

Another reason why your vacuum won’t suck up anything is that the rotating or roller brush is clogged or broken. To fix this poor vacuum problem, clean and remove the dirt and debris wrapped around the rotating or roller brush. If the brush is broken or cracked, then you will need to buy a replacement roller brush.

Check if the filters of your vacuum are blocked

Dust and debris may cling to the filters of your vacuum cleaner. If this is the case, there is no need for buying new filters, you can clean and wash most filters. After washing the filters, make sure that before you place them back in the vacuum cleaner, they are dry.

There is something wrong with the motor

If your vacuum is not sucking after you have checked for damages and have cleaned everything else, then there is something wrong with the motor. The best answer that we can give to how do you fix a vacuum cleaner suction with motor problems is to take it to a professional to repair it.

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