According to The House Wire, vacuums are expected to last anywhere from 5 -11 years. There are several factors that affect vacuum lifespans, but one of these factors is its warranty. “How long a warranty lasts is a good indication of how long the vacuum will last,” Jeneva Aaron states.
We cover some of the best vacuum maintenance tips that can help you extend your vacuum’s life. Regular maintenance to extend your vacuum life will provide several benefits: a machine that will serve you for several years, decreased overall costs, and pristine floors. Read on for more information.
Safety and Maintenance Tip: Unplug
Before you get to work on any maintenance, be sure to unplug your vacuum. Failure to do so can result in the vacuum unexpectedly turning on as you’re working on it, which can cause serious injury to yourself as well as the vacuum. Make sure your vacuum has a ground prong, and if it doesn’t, don’t use it. Get the vacuum repaired by a manufacturer.
Clean and Check Your Brush Roll
Check your brush rolls regularly. You don’t want your brush roll so full that you can’t even tell it’s a brush roll anymore. Once hair, fur, and string gets wrapped around it, turn the vacuum off, unplug, and get to work cutting the offending debris off the roll. You can use scissors, your own fingers, or seam rippers to do this. Make sure you get all the hair and debris closest to the bearings and where the belt engages.
You’ll also want to check your brush roll for signs of wear. If they’re getting worn down, you have a couple of options:
- You can have it serviced to replace the worn brush roll
- If the product is no longer under warranty, you can order a replacement brush roll and replace it yourself
Warning: Replacing a brush roll might void your warranty, so don’t do it yourself unless your warranty is already expired or you don’t mind voiding the warranty and are confident in your ability to replace the brush roll.
Change Your Bags Before They’re Full
Keep an eye on how full your dust bags are. Once it starts to feel about half-full, you should dump it. When you wait too long to change your bags, you risk damaging the vacuum and making a giant mess that could have been avoided.
If you like to push your luck and are thinking, “Ah, I’m sure I could fit more in there,” here are some signs your dust bag is getting too full (that is, if you don’t already have a full-bag indicator light):
- Vacuuming an area and seeing debris there that wasn’t there before
- Weaker vacuum suction
If you see these signs, change your bag immediately. Try not to make this a habit if you care about extending your vacuum life.
Check Your Hoses for Clogs
Hoses and vent covers need to be regularly inspected for clogs. You can do this by using a thin broomstick, pen, or other long object to push dirt and clogs out of the way, making them easier to throw away.
Signs that hoses or vent covers are clogged include:
- Less-efficient cleaning
- Poor suction
By regularly cleaning clogs, you’ll protect your vacuum from overheating or burning out.
Know What NOT to Vacuum
Although this is more of a usage tip than a maintenance tip, we thought we should include a list of what not to vacuum:
- Liquids. You shouldn’t do this unless you have a wet-dry vacuum like the Numatic WV900 and a GFCI outlet to protect yourself from electric shock.
- Anything sharp. Thumbtacks, nails, broken glass, paper clips, and anything else sharp can tear holes in vacuum bags or get stuck in your vacuum’s moving parts.
- Poisons and fine powders. Don’t vacuum up insecticides or any other powder poisons, since you risk releasing some of it back into the air. You should also avoid vacuuming fine powder like baking soda, corn starch, and earth sediment, since the particles can pass through the bag and ruin your motor.
- Mouse droppings. Some mouse droppings contain hantavirus, which is airborne and can be fatal to humans. When mouse droppings are disturbed, you can breathe the virus in, so contact a pest management professional to get rid of them. They use specialized vacuums like the Atrix High Capacity HEPA IPM vacuum. These vacuums contain the droppings in a safe way. (If you want to take care of it yourself, follow these tips: put on a mask and gloves and ventilate the area well. Pour bleach onto them and allow them to sit for five minutes. After that, you can use paper towels to pick them up. Seal the paper towels and droppings in a plastic bag and put it in your bin outside.
- Hot materials. Don’t vacuum hot ashes, cigarette butts, or hot coals. This presents a serious fire hazard that could wreak havoc on your vacuum, your home, and your family’s health. Even cool ashes shouldn’t be vacuumed up due to their fine particles.
- Sticky substances. If you don’t have a wet-dry vacuum, you shouldn’t vacuum up anything sticky. These things can get stuck in the hose or clog your vacuum.
A Few Minutes for a Long-Lasting Vacuum
The maintenance tips above only take a couple of minutes each to perform, but if you can do it consistently, you will add years to your vacuum life. Your vacuum will also run more efficiently and have a better performance if you take these tips to heart. We hope you’ve enjoyed these vacuuming maintenance and cleaning tips, and remember to contact us if you have any questions about the vacuums we offer!
