Vacuum Repair: when is it worth it?

A vacuum cleaner consists of many different parts. Because a vacuum cleaner is often used daily, these parts can wear out and show defects. Although many often immediately start looking for a new vacuum cleaner, it is often also possible to repair your vacuum cleaner.

At Vacuumtester.com we have written many manuals to help you repair your vacuum cleaner. In this article I will list what can go wrong with your vacuum cleaner and when it is worth having it repaired.

Why repair your vacuum cleaner?

A broken vacuum cleaner: no one wants that. Especially if you only find out when you want to start cleaning your house. It can be smart to first investigate the problem, because there is a good chance that you can solve this yourself. By repairing a vacuum cleaner, you enjoy the following benefits:

• You don't have to buy a new vacuum cleaner
• You can get back to work right away
• It is (often) better for the environment

The last point of course depends on how old your vacuum cleaner is. Old vacuum cleaners often have a much higher wattage than new vacuum cleaners, so buying a new vacuum cleaner can be smarter.

Most common vacuum cleaner problems

As I mentioned in the introduction, a vacuum cleaner can have various defects. These defects often depend on the type of vacuum cleaner you have. For example, a wireless stick vacuum cleaner can suddenly no longer charge or a robot vacuum cleaner continues to give an error message.

However, there are a number of vacuum cleaner problems that can occur with all types of vacuum cleaners. Below are the most common vacuum cleaner problems:

• The vacuum cleaner may lose its suction power
• The vacuum cleaner can suddenly make a lot of noise
• The vacuum cleaner can become very smelly
• The vacuum cleaner can become clogged
• The vacuum cleaner no longer turns on

Common causes of vacuum cleaner problems

Now it is of course also interesting to consider how these problems often arise. A list of the most common causes:

• The vacuum cleaner is emptied too little
• Vacuum cleaner bags and filters are reused
• The vacuum cleaner itself is not or hardly maintained
• Use of parts that do not belong to the vacuum cleaner
• Vacuuming the wrong waste

In particular, vacuuming the wrong dirt can cause problems. For example, water can get into the vacuum cleaner or the vacuum cleaner can become clogged by vacuuming pine needles.

And believe it or not, I have heard many times around me that people reuse vacuum cleaner bags. It may seem like a trick to save money, but nothing could be further from the truth: the vacuum cleaner can no longer filter the air properly, after which the vacuum cleaner can become clogged. This can ultimately result in a broken vacuum cleaner, which will cost you more money than a new vacuum cleaner bag. AND oh yes, it is also a minus in terms of dust emissions.

You can often repair these vacuum cleaner problems yourself

You don't have to put your vacuum cleaner with the bulky waste for every problem. In fact, you can often solve most of the problems I just mentioned yourself. Check out all the problems I can help you with with my guides below.

• Vacuum cleaner smells
• Vacuum cleaner does not suck
• Vacuum cleaner makes a lot of noise
• Vacuum cleaner hose is clogged

Do you have another problem? Please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this article. I would like to help you.

When to repair your vacuum cleaner (yourself)?

Now that we know which vacuum cleaner defects can be repaired, the question is of course when you should or should not do this. There are also a number of reasons not to do it. For example, you may still be entitled to a warranty or tinkering with your vacuum cleaner yourself can only exacerbate the problem. So here's a handy checklist:

• Check whether you are still entitled to warranty
• Do some research before you just get started
• Always check in advance if you have the right tools
• Check whether buying a new vacuum cleaner might be cheaper

Please note: it may therefore be useful to buy a new, more energy-efficient vacuum cleaner.

Please note: it may therefore be useful to buy a new, more energy-efficient vacuum cleaner.

Tip: find a vacuum cleaner repair shop near you

Although many vacuum cleaner repairs require little technical knowledge, it can also be smart to call in a repairman. You can find vacuum cleaner repairers all over the world, including in your area.

Vacuumtester.com is a partner of the Repair Café. This organization regularly organizes meetings, where you can go with a broken household appliance. Volunteers watch with you and try to repair the vacuum cleaner together with you. The video below shows how this works.

Prevent a broken vacuum cleaner

Of course we want to prevent a broken vacuum cleaner as much as possible. If you maintain your vacuum cleaner properly, the chance of problems is often much smaller. In addition to a longer vacuum cleaner lifespan, you often also enjoy better cleaning performance. A number of tips to prevent vacuum cleaner problems:

• Clean filters regularly, see the manual for cleaning a HEPA filter
• Handle the vacuum cleaner with care and store it neatly after use. View tips for storing a vacuum cleaner.
• Do not use the vacuum cleaner constantly at the highest setting
• Only use vacuum cleaner parts from the vacuum cleaner brand itself
• Empty the dust container regularly or replace the vacuum cleaner bag with a new one