It can be very frustrating when your vacuum cleaner stops working in the middle of vacuuming. But did you know that it is a common problem that can be easily solved? Yes, you can bring to life your vacuum cleaner on your own. Before we get to the solution, let us answer the question, why did my vacuum suddenly stop working?
Your vacuum cleaner can stop working because either there is an issue with the power source, the power cord is damaged, the vacuum switch is off or damaged, activated power cut-outs, full dust containers, tangled brush roll, faulty motor, or an issue with the electrical path.
As hinted earlier, dealing with a vacuum cleaner that keeps shutting off is an easy task. The challenge comes in figuring out the source of the problem.
The information in this article will help you diagnose and solve the issue with your vacuum cleaner. Read on.
Why Did My Vacuum Cleaner Suddenly Stop Working? (10 Reasons!)
Some of the reasons your vacuum cleaner won’t work are simple, and you can work it out independently. Others are complicated, and you should hire a technician to fix them.
Many people think of the worst when a vacuum cleaner shuts down and starts to budget for a new appliance. However, take your time and look into all the possible issues discussed below before purchasing a new vacuum cleaner.
The main reasons that will cause your vacuum cleaner to stop working include:
1. Issues With The Source Of Power
As simple as it might sound, your vacuum cleaner might have stopped working because it is not plugged in or because the power outlet is spoiled.
Push the plug fully in to see if the vacuum cleaner turns on.
So many people have confessed to having forgotten to plug in the vacuum cleaner or kicked out the cord by mistake and spend the next hours figuring out the problem.
If you call a vacuum cleaner technician complaining that your appliance stocked working in the middle of vacuuming, the first thing they will ask you to do is check the power source.
This tells you that this is a common issue, and you should not ignore it.
Before looking into other parts of the vacuum cleaner, ensure that there is power coming in. You can even try to change the power outlets and see if it will turn on.
To be sure that there is power on your outlets, plug in your phone charger or any other electrical appliance.
If it is working and your vacuum cleaner is not, then the issue is your cleaner, not power.
2. Damaged Power Cord
Now that you are sure that the power outlets are working find out if there are issues with the vacuum cleaner cord.
A broken cord will not supply power to the vacuum cleaner and hence the switching off.
Pet parents complain of broken cords all the time because of the chewing character of pets.
Also, ensure that the connection point of the cable and the plug is intact. Most of the time, the wires at this end break because of frequent twisting and movement during vacuuming.
3. Confirm That The Vacuum Cleaner Switch Is On
You might have power on the walls, a cord in good conditions but your vacuum cleaner won’t work if the switch is not turned on correctly.
It can happen that you started well, but in the middle of vacuuming, you knock the switch off, automatically switching off the device.
It is a simple mistake, but it cost you a whole day trying to find out why your vacuum cleaner stopped.
Also, ensure that the switch is still in good condition because it might be damaged.
4. Activated Thermal Cut Out
Modern vacuum cleaners contain thermal cut-outs to prevent them from overheating if there are blockages inside the device.
To prevent blockages, avoid vacuuming large objects, and empty your dust containers before they fill up.
If your vacuum cleaner is overheating, the thermal cut trips, turning off the device.
If this is your issue, you can quickly turn on your vacuum cleaner by resetting the breaker.
5. How To Reset A Vacuum Cleaner Breaker
If you are sure that your vacuum cleaner stopped working because the breaker tripped, reset it following the steps below:
- Unplug the vacuum cleaner as a safety measure.
- Look at the parts of the vacuum cleaner that might be blocked and unblock them. Resetting the breaker with blocked parts will not help fix the problem. Make sure to empty the dust containers and clean or replace dirty vacuum filters as well.
- Allow the vacuum cleaner to cool down. This can take between thirty minutes to one hour, depending on your vacuum brand and how long you had vacuumed before the breaker tripped.
- After the device is completely cooled down, the breaker will reset itself.
Ensure that the device is plugged out during the cooling down stage; otherwise, the breaker reset will not be completed.
6. Full Dust Containers
Some vacuum cleaners will not work if the dust containers are full.
For bagged vacuum cleaners, ensure to replace the dust bags
(View on Amazon) often. The cost of replacing vacuum cleaners is an issue to some users; however, leaving the bags in for a long will mean shutting off problems with your vacuum cleaner all the time.
On the other hand, bagless vacuum cleaners require you to empty and clean the canister before it is full. Please do not wait until the dust cup is filled to overflow to empty it.
After cleaning the canister, make sure to air dry them thoroughly before inserting them back.
7. Overheating Shutoff
Some vacuum cleaners will shut off if they are too hot, even without the cut-out feature.
If your vacuum cleaner shuts off and feels too hot, give it around twenty minutes to cool down.
However, this applies if you have been vacuuming for a while. If it overheats and shuts down within the first ten minutes of vacuuming, overheating shutoff cannot be the issue.
8. Tangled Brush Roller
If the brush roller is tangled, it will not spin, and your vacuum cleaner will stop working.
Because the brush roller comes in contact with dirty floors and carpets, it stands at risk of getting tangled up with pet hair, long human hair, papers, loose carpet parts, and other debris lodged inside the roller.
To revive your vacuum cleaner, unclog the brush roll and test the device to see if the problem is solved.
9. Faulty Motor
The vacuum motor is the heart of the vacuum cleaner. If it is not working, the vacuum cleaner will appear dead.
Note that, in most cases, the motor is damaged by overheating caused by blockages in the hose, filters, and filled dust bags.
Therefore, to take care of the vacuum motor, you must carry out proper maintenance on your vacuum cleaner.
Before you start dealing with the motor, ensure there are no underlying issues with other parts of the vacuum cleaner.
What’s more, issues with the motor are sensitive and should be handled by a certified vacuum cleaner technician.
If the motor has damaged sensitive parts, it is better to buy a new vacuum cleaner (View on Amazon) than trying to fix the old motor.
10. Issues With Electrical Path In Vacuum Cleaner
If you have checked and repaired all the above issues, your vacuum cleaner could be switching off because there is a fault in its electrical path.
If the circuits inside the vacuum cleaner are broken, it will switch off, and they should be replaced.
Also, find out if the fuse connections inside the vacuum cleaner are broken and have them restored.
If you do not have electrical knowledge, it might be hard for you to diagnose the electrical issues with the vacuum cleaner but you can always seek help from the nearest vacuum cleaner repair shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do You Fix A Vacuum That Won’t Turn On?
If your vacuum cleaner won’t turn on, start by checking if the power socket it is plugged in has power. You can confirm this by plugging in another electrical appliance like a radio in the outlet. If it is working, the issue is with your vacuum cleaner. Check for blockages or problems with the motor.
2. What Happens When A Vacuum Overheats?
When there are blockages in the vacuum cleaner’s airways, the motor works extra hard to keep the vacuum cleaner going and ends up overheating. An overheated motor will shut off or, worse, damage the motor.
Conclusion
If you could not get answers to the question, “why did my vacuum suddenly stop working?” I believe the information above answered you.
Most of the reasons your vacuum cleaner stopped are simple, and you can solve it independently.
If you struggle to find out why your vacuum cleaner is not working, there is a more significant issue, probably with the electrical system or the motor. For such, call a certified vacuum cleaner technician for diagnosis and fixing.
What’s more, if you have been using the vacuum cleaner for more than five years, it might be time to consider getting a replacement.