Vacuum and Carpet Cleaner Troubleshooting: Fix Common Problems

Your vacuum has a brush roller that is supposed to spin and help lift dirt from the carpet or floor. But you don't hear that familiar whirring sound. When you take a look, they don't turn, or have no power. What is causing this? How do you sort it out? We will get you there.

It's dead or nearly so. You press the switch and nothing happens, or maybe there's a hum and no more. Here's a place to start checking what could have happened so you can fix it. We start with the simplest and move on from there.

Your vacuum cleaner is making more noise than usual. Perhaps it's a squeal, perhaps it's a whistle, perhaps it's a strong vibration. Here are several items to check and possible solutions. This page is mainly dealing with conventional upright (including some stick models) and canister vacuums.

Your vacuum just doesn't seem to have the pull it used to have. You see it plowing things around on the floor, and all the dust and lint seem to take a lot of work to pick up. You may also notice the motor straining.