Home Swimming Pools: A Care and Maintenance Guide

3 Ways To Keep Your Vacuum In Better Shape

26 December 2014

Ruben Franklin

Nothing is worse than planning out your budget for the month, and then having your financial plans destroyed by a surprise expense. Unfortunately, if you are a homeowner, dealing with broken appliances is just part of the game. You might find that your vacuum doesn't whisk away crumbs as effectively as it once did, making your Saturday chores take twice as long as they should. Here are three ways to keep your vacuum in better shape, so you don't end up shopping for a new model earlier than you need to.

1: Empty That Canister or Bag

If you are like most people, you might not think twice about the health of your vacuum until it stops picking up floor debris or blowing out clouds of dirt. Unfortunately, although that packed canister or vacuum bag might be easy to ignore, it could hurt your vacuum long before you notice a problem.

Once vacuum bags and removable canisters fill with dirt, filters can become packed with grime, which can impede airflow throughout your entire appliance. Your vacuum's motor will have to work harder to pull clean air through the device, which can heat up the system and put extra strain on the parts.

In addition to harming your vacuum, a full bag or canister can also reduce suction. Vacuums work by quickly displacing air, and the more air they can move, the more suction the device creates. Unfortunately, if your vacuum is packed full of debris, it can't move as much air or work as effectively.  

To keep your vacuum operating properly, keep an eye on that bag or canister. If you vacuum daily, empty the bag or canister after each cleaning session. In addition to keeping your vacuum in decent condition, your house might not smell like a dirty dust cloud, and your guests won't end up staring at floor debris through the side of that clear vacuum canister.

2: Free the Beater Bar

Have you ever flipped over your vacuum and checked out the condition of the beater bar? If you have shag carpet, woven rugs, pets, or family members with long hair, you might notice that your vacuum's beater bar is completely surrounded by fabric and hair strands. Although it might not seem like a big deal, those simple hair strands can impede the functionality of the beater bar and burn out your belt.

Your vacuum's beater bar works by constantly rotating and using brushes to flip debris into the suction area inside of your vacuum. Unfortunately, when this bar can't move freely, you might notice that it takes a few extra vacuum passes to do the same job. To make matters even worse, a tied-down beater bar can also put extra strain on the belt, and cause it to burn out or break prematurely.

If you want to keep that bar moving and grooving, flip your vacuum over occasionally to remove hair and strings. Although you can pull each strand away individually, you can speed up the process by cutting sections of tied hair with a pair of kitchen shears. Always unplug the vacuum before you cut away debris, and make sure to stay away from other internal system components. 

3: Be Kind to Your Electrical Cord

Faulty electrical cords are another leading cause of vacuum failure. If your cord shorts out, you might notice that your appliance doesn't power on like it should, or you might even get a little shock when you run your hand over certain parts of the line. Here are a few tips for keeping your vacuum's electrical cord in decent shape:

• Don't Vacuum Over the Cord: As you vacuum, use your other hand to keep the cord away from the from your vacuum's beater bar. Vacuuming over the cord can cause large internal shorts, which can melt the area.
• Mix Up Your Cord Wrapping Technique: When you put your vacuum away, try to wrap the cord differently each time. Using those cord reels religiously could kink the line and damage the cord.      

If you spot problems with your vacuum's electrical cord, don't try to fix it on your own. Take your appliance to a Hoover vacuum repair shop, where a trained professional can remove the old version, install a new cord, and make sure that your device is functioning properly.

Maintaining your vacuum cleaner might help you to protect your investment and keep your floors sparkling clean.    

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