One of the worst things that can happen to a vacuum cleaner is losing suction. You’ll know immediately because things like hair and crumbs will be left behind, or it will take more than one pass to clean the same area.
Also, if your Shark vacuum stops picking up heavier material like dropped kibble, you can notice it more than usual.
If your Shark vacuum loses suction, here are seven things you may try. Here, we’ll explain each step in detail so that you can carry them out with complete assurance.
Steps to Resolve Shark Vacuum Suction Issues
With its powerful suction, a Shark vacuum can easily collect dust and other particles. However, if it is not operating correctly, your fabric mats and flooring won’t have that “just vacuumed” appearance once you’re done cleaning them. The following are the causes of a Shark vacuum’s loss of suction power:
If the filters are clogged, cleaning them should solve the problem. If thread or hair is in the brush roll, it needs to be cleaned before it can spin again. Lastly, the hose can have something clogging them up that must be removed.
The whole process consists of six distinct actions. Here are all the steps and the order in which you should do them. Until you’ve resolved the problem or reached the conclusion of this article, a Shark technician should check and repair your vacuum cleaner.
1. Ensure That the Bin Is Empty
An initial check seems like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, the vacuum won’t function till you complete this step. All the dirt taken up in the Shark vacuum is stored in a container.
In most shark vacuums, the bin is present at the front. Examine it to determine whether or not it is filled. To see how much dirt and other particles are inside it.
If that’s the case, you should get rid of it and throw it away. Even when it’s filled, the vacuum will continue to work.
It will build up in the hoses and eventually drain back out. As a result, there will be far less suction, if any at all.
2. Make Sure That the Shroud And the Filter in the Bin Are Cleaned
Shroud is a filter in the form of an inverted cup. It’s unlikely that anything unclean will make it into the trash can, thanks to the protective covering. However, you should unclog it if there’s debris caught within.
Any clog caught in the vacuum may be carefully pried with your hand. It is also possible to take it out of the shark vacuum and tap it to release the air. Most importantly, remember that its shroud will corrode if it gets damp.
You shouldn’t use soft or rough brushes on the filter; it’s pretty fragile. And use caution when you wipe it down.
3. Remove and Wash the Pre-Motor Filters
The filters before the motor should be cleaned since they might be submerged in water. Shark vacuums have a container that can be separated and removed entirely. When you do this, a filter is revealed beneath. It may be a flat, horizontal filter, or it could be a spherical one.
They might be anywhere from one to three in your Shark vacuum. A simple rinse under the faucet is needed to clean these filters. Then, put them out into a wastebasket or outdoors to release some dust they’ve harbored.
The owner’s handbook for most Shark vacuums recommends washing the filters every three months. Depending on how frequently you utilize it and how dusty and filthy the places you clean from it, the product may need to be replaced after a specific time. You may get new filters if yours are pretty old.
If the vacuum filters have holes in them or are so worn out that dust may sneak in through the sides, it’s time to buy some replacements. Genuine vacuum components can be obtained from skilled vacuum specialists. These filters are more expensive than generic alternatives but worth the extra money.
4. Clean The Post-Motor Filter – HEPA Filter
The Shark vacuum’s post-motor filter is hidden in a grill-like structure. It’s outside, often at the front, below the bin of the vacuum. The metal grating, like a post-motor filter on specific versions, is accessible only by bending the vacuum backward.
It can be opened by pressing a clip that is located on it. When you open it, the post-motor filter in your Shark vacuum will be easily accessible for cleaning. Allergens like dust and mould are filtered out by the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
You shouldn’t use water to clean this. However, the ultrafine particles are easily released with only slight pressure. In addition to that, you may use your finger over the ridges.
You can either blow the dust outside with air or vacuum it up, but this method of filter vibration is the most effective. The most important part is not to wet it down. This is harmless carbon dust if the filter is black in color.
5. Unclog the Brush Roller
The Shark vacuum draws in dirt and particles via a port at the bottom. Rotating rollers are present. These create a dust cloud and garbage, which is then carried by suction to the trash can.
Brushes on these rollers may collect dust and other particles. In addition, because of the narrow width of the rollers, long strands of hair might become tangled in them. A Shark vacuum’s suction is reduced or eliminated when they get clogged.
Make sure they are clean by visually checking for dirt and hair. Then, disconnect the vacuum from its base—where dirt is removed—to clean it. The brushes of the vacuum can be cleaned by inverting the device and gently removing any accumulated dirt in the crevices.
The roller may be detached from its clip and taken out entirely on more recent models of Shark vacuums. As a result, you can more easily remove stray hairs or other material lodged in the roller, and you may also brush clean the area of the roller.
6. Free The Hoses Of Any Obstructions
Many Shark vacuums come with anything from two to three hoses. They can be slipped off politely or unclipped using the side tabs. The side of the region, the lower of the vacuum where the rollers are located, is the primary location that must be inspected.
The tube runs from the vacuum’s base to the remainder of the machine. With a bench press vacuum, you can get to the machine’s inner workings by simply lifting off the top. Take off the grip and peer through the wand’s long, stiff metal section.
After that, take the hose off the trash can’s lid. Finally, check for obstructions in any more areas that haven’t already been thoroughly examined. The most important part is to inspect each hose and its connection.
7. Get Professional Help If Not Resolved
If you’ve tried everything suggested by experts in vacuum maintenance and your machine still has little suction, here’s what to do. First, if your Shark vacuum has lost suction or is not sucking, you should have a specialist inspect and perhaps replace a faulty part.
Then, if you call Shark, an agent may be able to assist you in making a quick repair over the phone; if not, they will give you instructions on where to send the vacuum for service, whether or not it is still under warranty, and how to get it back to you as soon as possible.
How to Prevent Suction Problems with a Shark Vacuum
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent your Shark vacuum from losing suction altogether. After all, it has a finite lifespan, the same as every other machine.
On the other hand, if you give your Shark vacuum cleaner the attention and care it needs, you may extend its lifespan significantly.
At least once every month, you should give your Shark vacuum cleaner a complete cleaning. In other words, you need to empty the canister and clean the filters regularly. In this method, you may extend the life of your vacuum for as long as possible.
How come this is happening? An extended lifespan may be expected from your vacuum cleaner if you keep it clean and free of dust and debris. If you keep the filters clean and clear of debris, you may extend the engine’s life.
As you probably well know, the life of the motor is effectively the life of the vacuum cleaner, given that it costs about the same as the vacuum cleaner itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a vacuum cleaner to lose suction?
Home settings don’t need complex vacuum machinery. However, the vacuum must provide power to generate enough suction to remove the trash. Incorrect height settings, blocked rollers, damaged gaskets, broken vacuum belts, packed bags, and clogged hoses are common culprits in suction loss.
How do I reset my Shark Lift Away vacuum?
- Turn off the power by pressing the “Off” button.
- Get the vacuum unplugged.
- Verify that the hose and filter are not blocked, then clear the blockage and replace the filter if necessary.
- The vacuum has to cool for 45 minutes before it can be plugged in.
- Move the power switch to the “I-On” position to activate the vacuum.
How do you increase the suction on a Shark vacuum?
Unclog your hose by turning it inside and out. Use your fingers to manually pull out the clog, or use the blunt end of a tiny instrument (like a screwdriver) to force it out. Let the obstruction drop and remove it by hand. You may have to take apart the brush head to do this.
Conclusion
When a Shark vacuum cleaner loses suction, it’s usually because the dirt cup is full. Unplug the vacuum and remove the cup. Clean out any debris that may be blocking the filters or intake valve. Replace the cup and plug in the vacuum.
It should now have regained its suction power. If not, there may be something else wrong with it and it will need to be serviced.
