A breakdown of a household appliance always brings some inconvenience. In this article, we will look at what to do if you are about to start cleaning, but the vacuum cleaner does not turn on.
Relevant for the following brands and models of vacuum cleaners: Aura Roboclean, Bork, Bissell, Bosch, Daewoo, DeLonghi Colombina, Dexter, Dyson, Electrolux Ergorapido, Extraflex Ergorapido, Extraflex; Hotpoint Ariston / Hotpoint Ariston, Kambrook / Kambrook, Karcher / Karcher, Kirby / Kirby, LG Kompressor, Suction Power / LG Compressor, Suction Power; Miele, Philips, Polaris, Rainbow, Redmond, Rolsen, Samsung, Thomas Twin, Vitek, Zanussi, Zelmer Aquawelt, Solaris Twix , Solaris Twix; Vityaz, Typhoon and others, including automobile, washing, battery and construction models.
So, let's go!
What to check first
Some of the problems that caused the device to fail can be fixed by owners themselves, without the help of specialists.
Is the socket working?
First of all, check that the outlet is working properly:
- Plug in another household appliance and see if it works. It is best to turn on a small lamp or table lamp - if the socket is working, the lamp will immediately light up.
- Try plugging the vacuum cleaner into a different outlet and see if it works there.
Is the bag too full?
Quite often, the vacuum cleaner does not turn on because the garbage container is full. When the dust bin is completely clogged, air passes through it more heavily and the suction power decreases. The load on the electric motor increases, and eventually it will overheat, shut down, or fail.
Modern models are equipped with an indicator that signals when the bag is full. If there is no such “red light”, listen to the sound of the engine: when it is working for wear, you can hear an increasing hum. Often the unit starts to “stink”.
If the bag is not overfilled in time, the engine will overheat. Electronics or a thermal relay can track this moment and turn off the engine itself - then just empty the bag and let the car cool down. If there are no sensors, the motor will burn out and the equipment will have to be repaired.
Have large objects gotten into the hose?
Debris stuck in the hose will lead to a drop in suction power, and as a result, overheating and engine failure. Usually the culprit is large objects (rags, children's toys) that got inside the sleeve or telescopic tube and could not move into the dust collector. But sometimes small objects also get stuck - for example, a toothpick stands across the channel, catches other debris and forms a plug.
The hose, like the dust collector, must be cleaned - however, this will be much more difficult to do.
Is the engine protection filter dirty?
The motor protection filter, located immediately behind the garbage bag, is subject to regular contamination. Small dust particles seep through the dust collector and settle on the filter: as a result, the passage of air becomes difficult and the engine heats up again.
It is enough to clean the filter once every 5-6 weeks.
Is the cable or plug broken?
The cable of the vacuum cleaner is constantly in motion during cleaning - the cable clings to corners, gets under furniture, and the unit itself often runs over it. All this negatively affects the integrity of the cable.
- Check the cable. Sometimes the damage can be determined by torn insulation, but often the metal strands are damaged internally, and the insulation does not cause suspicion. Open the case and find the place where the cord connects to the electrical board. Plug the cable into the outlet, take a multimeter and measure the voltage at the connection point. If there is no current, the problem is either the cable or the plug.
- Replace the plug or its parts. If the plug is removable, open it and look for burnt contacts or other defects. Simply cut off the permanent plug from the wire and replace it with a new one.
If the other plug does not give a positive result, then the final cause is in the cord - replace the whole thing.
How long did the equipment work?
If the vacuum cleaner stalls, check how long the equipment was running before. It is possible that after a long cleaning it simply overheated, and the electronics turned off the motor to cool it down. Wait a while (at least 20-30 minutes) and your assistant will be ready to work again.
Is there a burning smell?
If during cleaning you smell a burning smell, then most likely the armature or stator winding has burned out. In this case, you cannot do without qualified repairs - you will have to replace the burnt part, and in some cases the entire engine.
Sometimes they suggest rewinding the armature and stator windings; we recommend looking at the economic feasibility. Most often, a new assembled module will be cheaper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1r61XNqIpk
How to prevent the possibility of breakdown?
Because In most cases, breakdowns occur due to engine overheating; at a minimum, the load must be reduced. No need to vacuum for 30-40 minutes continuously. After every 20 minutes, the vacuum cleaner must be given a well-deserved rest, which will eliminate the possibility of severe overheating. If you have a model with a dust bag, then it is highly not recommended to wait until this bag is 100% full. Even if 50% of its possible volume of dust has accumulated, you should clean it and remove the contents. Why is this necessary? The fact is that when the bag is full, air cannot pass through it freely, which creates additional conditions for overheating. Our task is to reduce these conditions to a minimum.
Even if you have a cyclone-type model with a dust collector in the form of a plastic container, you should not delay cleaning it. And in general, read the operating instructions - this is sometimes very useful.
Sources
- https://ubratdoma.ru/bytovaya-tehnika/ne-vklyuchaetsya-pylesos.html
- https://chistoclub.com/sovety/chto-delat-esli-pylesos-ne-vklyuchaetsya/
- https://obzorok.ru/neispravnosti-pyilesosov/613-osnovnyie-polomki-pyilesosov-raznyix-proizvoditelej-prichinyi-vozniknoveniya-i-puti-ustraneniya.html
- https://tehnika.expert/dlya-chistoty-i-poryadka/pylesos/pochemu-otklyuchaetsya-vo-vremya-raboty.html
- https://tehnika.expert/dlya-chistoty-i-poryadka/pylesos/ne-vklyuchaetsya-chto-delat.html
- https://1V.kz/almaty/pylesosy/prichiny-po-kotorym-ne-vklyuchaetsya-pylesos/
- https://PyleSOS.tech/ne-vklucaetsa-pylesos.html
- https://kliningovyj-raj.ru/tehnika-i-sredstva/pochemu-greetsya-pylesos/
- https://tehnika-soveti.ru/kogda-py-lesos-ne-vklyuchaetsya/
What requires repair at a service center
So, the vacuum cleaner switched off and still won’t turn on. Let's check which breakdowns can be fixed by professional technicians.
Broken switch
Vacuum cleaners have two types of power buttons - mechanical and touch.
Mechanical buttons are found on early models. As a rule, they break down gradually: they are not fixed in the working position, act up from time to time, then turn on every other time, and then stop working completely. The reason is normal wear and tear. At home, the only solution is to replace the switch.
Touch switches are installed on modern vacuum cleaners. Most often, they break due to moisture entering, which oxidizes the contacts, or strong mechanical stress. You can still fix this breakdown yourself, but not always - sometimes this type of button is easier to replace.
At a service center, you can try to restore an existing switch. Video example:
Engine burned out
Repairing a burnt-out motor at home is not easy, unless, of course, you have certain qualifications.
There are several reasons for engine failure:
- The stator or armature winding is shortened, which causes the current value to sharply increase. What to do: dismantle the fan and electric motor, then check the resistance of the stator and rotor windings.
- There is a burning smell, that is, the armature or stator winding has already burned out. What to do: disassemble the motor and replace the burnt part. In some cases, the anchor can be restored.
- Sparks in the brush-commutator assembly. A little sparking in the electric motor is acceptable, but excessive fire will cause the commutator to burn and burn out. The main reason is that the brushes are poorly ground to the commutator plates due to wear or uneven pressure. What to do: replace the brushes or brush holders and clean the commutator.
- Fast heating of the motor. The reason is a short circuit between the turns in the armature winding. What to do: disassemble the motor and check the winding. If there is a short circuit, repair the anchor.
Control board burnt out
The triac on the control board often stops functioning - the element that is responsible for the operation of the power part and regulates engine speed. As a rule, a power cable from the network runs to the triac, and wires to the motor run from the triac.
Try connecting the motor directly to 220 volts (be careful!!!). If the motor starts working, the triac must be replaced.
Causes
There are several main factors that lead to overheating of the entire engine or its individual components. They are the source of malfunctions in vacuum cleaners. Most often, the device stops turning on or systematically turns off during cleaning.
| Cause of failure | Consequence |
| Clogged dust container or clogged filters | engine heating and shutting down |
| Flexible hose clogged | blocking the possibility of air flow and operation of the vacuum cleaner in high overload mode |
| Poor contact, socket failure | lack of connection of current-carrying conductors |
| Electric motor blockage or failure of its elements or the entire assembly | engine shutdown during operation or complete inability to start |
What exactly can you do yourself?
- Clean the dustbin, filter, and vacuum cleaner hose.
- Change the power button. Replace burnt parts and, if necessary, plug.
- Check the wire and control board.
- Disassemble the engine and (if you have experience) try to restore it. More details in the following articles about vacuum cleaners.
You can also buy a robot vacuum cleaner: they operate on batteries with a voltage of no higher than 15 V, so their motor is unlikely to overheat. Repairing a robot is much easier. Examples of brands are Iclebo Arte and iLife.
Why doesn't the vacuum cleaner work?
It doesn’t matter which vacuum cleaner doesn’t work, Samsung or another . Its “brain” is an electric motor. It is he who is responsible for creating a vacuum, thanks to which there is traction, and the debris ends up inside the vacuum cleaner.
Manufacturers differ in filters and bags, which you must keep clean and change if required by the model..
And therefore, the list of common reasons why a cordless or regular vacuum cleaner may not work is the same for everyone.
Important!!! Before troubleshooting, be sure to unplug the electrical appliance.
Next you need to remove the housing. It’s better to look at the instructions for how to do this, since each vacuum cleaner has its own design features.
Also read: Atlant refrigerator does not turn on: do-it-yourself repair and diagnostics
As a rule, you can remove the filters by unscrewing the fasteners. And make sure that there are no additional screws inside the case that also need to be unscrewed. Otherwise, the case may break.
There is a smell during operation
The cause of such a breakdown may be the hose (this is a common case for Samsung): dirt and debris often gets stuck between the turns of the corrugation, which over time begins to emit an unpleasant odor. Rinse the hose thoroughly with a stream of water, preferably under pressure and using detergent. After this, be sure to dry the corrugation thoroughly before using it again.
Another source of unpleasant odor can be the belt. Check its tension, tighten it if necessary or replace it with a new one. The smell of burnt rubber will disappear.
Checking the vacuum cleaner motor
If you see that there is voltage at the output of the triac, but the vacuum cleaner does not work, then what should you do? Deal with the motor.
Check the thermoregulation relay, it protects the technical “brain” from overheating. If the device operates for a long time, the housing becomes very hot and it automatically turns off. Just wait until the motor cools down and the vacuum cleaner will start working again.
If it's not a relay, the next thing to look at is the brushes. When they have served their purpose, there is no longer a chain between the winding and the rotor. And the parts should stand close to the rotor and have a little margin along the way. The brushes become depleted over time, and then the force of contact with the commutator increases.
Also read: Refrigerator does not work: cause and troubleshooting
Sometimes, to forget that the Lg vacuum cleaner is not working, it is enough to change the brushes. This can be done without a wizard. Then check the circuit, if there are no faults, then the reason is in the rotor winding. And it needs to be changed, let’s say right away, it’s not cheap.
When a Thomas or any other vacuum cleaner does not work because the engine has burned out, you will quickly understand this. You will hear a burning smell. But if this is the reason, but there is no smell, there is a chance to repair it rather than buy a new one.
The engine cannot be disassembled. Therefore, check the wiring only through the holes in the housing. Inspect the places where the windings connect to the terminals and brushes. Since we use the vacuum cleaner often, the wire may break and the circuit will be interrupted.
Pull the wire and secure it. Does not work? Solder a piece, a few centimeters. It may not work right away, but it’s worth a try so as not to buy a new expensive motor.
How to replace spare parts on a Samsung vacuum cleaner yourself?
To replace the graphic brushes, you need to unscrew and remove all the plastic caps, then remove the springs. Be sure to clean the springs with sandpaper. Next, replace the old brushes with new ones. We reassemble in reverse order.
To replace the bearing, the same disassembly steps are performed as with the brushes. After you have taken out all the brushes, you need to unscrew all the covers from the engine, one by one. It is better to do this with a small screwdriver, very carefully so as not to damage the electrical winding. After all the covers are removed, carefully, helping yourself with a screwdriver, replace the bearings with new ones. We reassemble in reverse order.
If you decide to replace the bearing yourself, it is recommended that during disassembly you sketch out all your actions, especially the wiring diagram. It's better to play it safe and not mix anything up.
It is also important, when repairing a Samsung vacuum cleaner, to use high-quality parts and spare parts. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to seek help from a specialist.
