How to Troubleshoot a Vacuum Cleaner That Turns on & Hums
A whining noise when your vacuum cleaner is powered on is typically a sign of a clog in the vacuum, which is an audible alert that your vacuum cleaner cannot effectively clean your bare floor or carpeting. Large objects that clog the vacuum cleaner are harmful to the machine, as it can break the vacuum cleaner and wear down the vacuum's motor if not extracted as soon as possible. Check your carpeting and floors for large objects that cannot be picked up by the vacuum cleaner prior to using the machine, to prevent the unpleasant alert and extend the life of your cleaning device. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Set the vacuum cleaner's power switch to the off position, and unplug the machine's power cable from the outlet to disable power.
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Turn the vacuum cleaner upside down to check the beater bar.
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Check for foreign objects or other clogs wrapped around the beater brush. A clogged beater bar will not move, and will cause the vacuum cleaner to make a high-pitched humming noise.
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Pull the foreign item from the beater bar -- or cut the clogged item, such as hair or fabric, from the beater bar, using scissors. Pull out any visible clogs from the vacuum's hose to clear the attachment.
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Check the vacuum cleaner's belt for any foreign objects that may be preventing the belt from rotating during use.
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Unzip the vacuum cleaner's bag, and replace the bag's disposable filter bag with a new one. If the filter bag is full, the vacuum cleaner will no longer be able to clean, and will make the humming noise to indicate it's not working normally.
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Zip the vacuum's bag up, and plug the power cable back into the electrical outlet. Turn on the vacuum cleaner to test the machine.
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References
- Hoover: Vacuum Bagged Upright Owner's Manual
- "Good Housekeeping The Complete Household Handbook"; Editors of Good Housekeeping; April 2007
- Bissell: Power Glide User's Guide
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
