How to Fix a Central Vacuum Cleaner When It Is Clogged

Keep a sweeper and hand vac as backup, so your home will remain pristine if your central vacuum is out of action.

A clogged vacuum cleaner is a nuisance. You have to stop working and look for the location of the blockage. It's bad enough when you're working with an upright or a canister, but a clogged central vacuum system is daunting. The suction hose to which you attach the extension wands and nozzles is much longer, and some of the system is behind your walls and baseboards. The best way to approach the problem is to deal with one part of the system at a time.

Things You'll Need

• Wire clothes hanger
• Long broom handle

Instructions

1. Check the cleaning attachment you are using to ensure no dirt and debris has become stuck in the opening or in the pipe that connects the nozzle to the extension wand or hose handle.

   Disconnect the extension wands from the nozzle and hose handle if you are using them. Hold them up to a light source. Look along them. If your view of the light at the other end is totally or partially obscured, there is a blockage in the wand. Grab the obstruction, and remove it with a wire clothes hangar.

2. Remove the suction hose from the inlet you are using, and attach it to another inlet. Check the level of suction. If it is still poor, the obstruction probably lies within the suction hose or its handle. If possible, unclip the handle from the hose, and check for blockages in it. Enlist the help of another person. Hold the hose in a straight line, and shine a light along the interior. If the person at the other end has a partial, or totally obstructed view of the light, the suction hose is blocked. Try clearing it with a long broom handle.

3. Reconnect the hose to the inlet you were using when the suction failure occurred, if suction is normal at other inlets. In this case, the blockage lies in the pipe leading from the inlet.

   Cover the cleaning end with your hand several times to create pressure in the system. If this fails to clear the problem, contact the nearest sales and service center operated by the manufacturer of your vacuum system.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a central vacuum system, it's a good idea to keep a handheld vacuum and a rechargeable floor sweeper as back up, in case your centralized system has to be repaired.

• Be very careful not to damage the suction hose when trying to remove blockages from it.

References

• Hoover: Central Vacuum System User Manual