How to Repair a Vacuum Cleaner!

Vacuum cleaners are convenient and effective carpet and hard floor cleaning appliances for use at home. However after several months of service they may begin to lose their effectiveness. Whether your vacuum cleaner isn't picking up dirt anymore or ins't turning on, it can always be repaired to work as new. The problem is often a broken belt or clog which can be handled without the help of a service technician. Below are steps on how check your vacuum cleaner for problems and fix them.

How to repair your vacuum cleaner

A. The vacuum Cleaner is not turning on:

1. Check and ensure that the vacuum cleaner's electric plug is firmly inserted into the socket. Loosely attached plug may interfere with power supply to the vacuum.

2. Inspect the fuse board in your house and ensure that the fuse securing the socket which the vacuum cleaner is attached to has not blown up. If there is a circuit breaker box in your house, examine all the trip switches and ensure that the vacuum's trip switch is not activated. Deactivate it if necessary.

3. Switch on the lights and/ or other electric appliances to ensure that you are not experiencing power failure in the neighborhood.

B. The Vacuum has Little or no suction:

1. If you are using an upright vacuum cleaner, make sure the carpet switch is turned "on".

2. Switch off the vacuum cleaner and examine the dust-bag and the filters. If you find the dust-bag full, replace it. If the vacuum filters are clogged, clean them or replace them altogether.

3. Examine the vacuum cleaner's hose and remove any blockage that you find.

4. In case of an upright vacuum cleaner, check for worn out brush roll and a broken belt. Replace the brush strips if the brush roll is worn out. If your vacuum's belt is broken, replace it with a new one. You can always get a new belt from a local dealer.

C. Dust/ dirt is escaping from the vacuum cleaner

1. Ensure the vacuum's dust cover is firmly secured in position. To do this remove the dust cover from the vacuum cleaner and then return it, ensuring the latch is perfectly secured.

2. Ensure that the vacuum filters are correctly positioned. If the filters are clogged, remove the dirt and clean them or simply replace them.

3. Ensure the dust-bag is correctly positioned with no chance for dust escape. If the dust-bag is full, replace it.

Tips and warnings

a. Use the right vacuum cleaner attachment and suction power for the job you are doing. This will not only ensure maximum efficiency but also prolong the life of your vacuum.

b. Always empty the dust-bag when full and clean the filters when clogged. If you operate a vacuum when the bag is full and/ or the filters are blocked, it may overheat.

Vacuum cleaners are fairy simple machine that are quite easy to service at home. By following the above steps you can repair you vacuum and return it to normal working condition. If it refuses to function after following the above steps contact a repair technician.