Why Does My Motor Get Hot in My Vacuum Cleaner?
The motor on the inside of a vacuum will naturally get hot during use. However, if the motor begins to get too hot, you could start to smell smoke or find that your vacuum stops working altogether. Learn to recognize a few different things that could be causing your vacuum cleaner motor to get too hot, including stuck brushes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Thermal Switch
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Some vacuum cleaners have a small switch called a thermal switch located right near the motor on the inside of the unit. This switch is supposed to turn off the vacuum cleaner if the motor starts getting too hot. Press the switch to reset the thermal sensor on the inside of the device, and use the vacuum cleaner as normal. The problem with the motor could simply lie with the switch and not the motor itself.
Brushes
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Most vacuum cleaners have a series of brushes on the bottom of the unit designed to help pick up obstructions off the floor. If you've tried to suck up something too large for your vacuum -- like a piece of paper or a small plastic bag -- and it's stuck in the brushes, it could stop the brushes from turning which will then overheat the motor. Remove the obstruction. Let your vacuum cleaner cool down, and then use it again.
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Dust Bag/Container
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Depending on the exact type of vacuum cleaner you own, the unit will suck dust up into either a bag or a container. When bags get filled, you replace them with new bags. When the container gets filled, empty it into a garbage can and then reinsert it into the machine. If you continue to use your vacuum cleaner while either the bag or the container is completely filled, it could cause the vacuum to work too hard, which could cause the motor to get hot.
Fuses
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Many vacuum cleaners have a series of fuses inside the case near the motor. If one of these fuses has blown, a wide variety of things could happen. The vacuum could start to work improperly, or it may not turn on at all. Likewise, the vacuum could work but the motor could begin to get too hot too quickly. Replace the fuse and use your vacuum cleaner again.
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