How to Replace a Central Vacuum Motor

Permanently installed in your home, the main unit of the central vacuum in your laundry room, garage or elsewhere houses the motor, filter and dirt canister. The unit connects to several hoses running through the walls of the house to vacuum outlets. When a hose is inserted into the vacuum outlet, the vacuum motor turns on, providing the suction needed to vacuum the area. If the motor breaks, it must be replaced to resume vacuuming.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Screwdriver
• Wire cutters
• Wire strippers
• Replacement motor gasket

Instructions

1. Unplug the vacuum from the power outlet, or turn off the breaker supplying power to the appliance in your service panel.

2. Use the adjustable wrench to remove bolts from the top of the vacuum unit, and then remove the top cover.

3. Remove the screws securing the motor to the housing all around the motor using the screwdriver.

4. Lift the motor up to expose the two electrical wires.

5. Take the wire cutters and cut the two wires as close to the motor as possible, then strip approximately one-quarter inch of insulation off of the remaining wires with the wire strippers.

6. Pull the exhaust pipe off the side of the old motor using your hand.

7. Remove the motor from the unit, then discard.

8. Peel the backing off the motor gasket, then affix the gasket to the top of the unit on which the motor will sit.

9. Insert one of the ends of the wires from the new motor and one of the wires that was stripped into the end of a wire nut. Twist the nut clockwise to secure. Repeat for the other two wires. It does not matter which motor wire is connected to each unit wire.

10. Wrap the green ground wire to secure it out of the way. The motor is grounded using the three screws that secure it to the housing, making the ground wire unnecessary.

11. Secure the motor into position using the screws that were removed. Use a screwdriver to secure the screws.

12. Connect the exhaust pipe to the new motor.

13. Replace the cover, then secure it with the bolt or bolts removed. Use an adjustable wrench to secure the bolt or bolts.

14. Restore power to the vacuum.

References

• Built-In Vacuum: How to Replace the Motor in your Kenmore Central Vacuum Unit