Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro Loss of Suction

If the vacuum’s dust cup is full, there is no space for the dirt and debris to go when you are vacuuming, resulting in a loss of suction. To fix this problem, remove the vacuum’s dust cup and empty it.

If emptying the vacuum’s dust cup does not fix the loss of suction problem, there may be something blocking the vacuum’s airway. There are two main places you can check for a blockage, the dust cup air duct and the intake opening behind the vacuum’s brush roll. To check for a blockage in the dust cup air duct, stand the vacuum upright and remove the dust cup. Next, disconnect the stretchable hose and check for clogs in the air duct behind the dust cup.

If there is no clog in the dust cup air duct, check for a clog near the roller brush. Lay the vacuum down and check the opening behind the brush roll for clogs. If there is debris, it is easiest to clean the opening with scissors by carefully cutting away any debris.

If you could not find any blockages in the vacuum’s air ducts, the vacuum’s filters might need to be cleaned. If both your foam filter and felt filter have not been cleaned in the past month, this may have caused your vacuum to lose suction. To clean the foam and felt filters, remove the dust cup and pull out the two filters that are on the top of the motor base. Rinse the filters with lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Let the filters dry fully before putting them back into the vacuum. If the vacuum is still not picking up dirt and debris, your filters may need to be replaced.

If you have checked for airway blockages and have cleared your filters, a damaged or deteriorating hose may be causing your vacuum’s loss of suction. On most Shark vacuums, there are two hoses to check, the short hose between the main vacuum head and the base, and the hose between the handle and the wand. Over time, these hoses can start to crack and peel, and even if there are no obvious splits, there may be microcracks causing a loss of suction. Fortunately, replacement Shark vacuum hoses are relatively inexpensive and are available on Amazon.com and directly from Shark.

If you have tried all of the previous solutions and your vacuum still refuses to pick up dust and debris, your vacuum’s motor may be at fault. Unfortunately, most Shark replacement motors cost around the same price as the vacuum itself and are not easily replaceable.