Dyson launched the ball vacuum in 2005. When James Dyson got fed up with the inefficiency of vacuum cleaners, he decided to design his own. After over 5,000 prototypes spanning 15 years, he scored a win in 1993 with his bagless patented cyclone high-efficiency design. Dyson prices run on the high end for vacuums, so when something goes wrong, it may have you worried about how much it might cost to fix. But with a few troubleshooting steps, a nickel and some basic fix-it skills, you may be able to find the problem without calling a technician. Brush Bar Stops Turning When the brush bar doesn't spin, verify the DC14 upright's plunger is pulled out. The newer models of the DC14 use airflow to power the mini-turbine head at the base of the vacuum. On older models, ensure the power switch is in the right position and the setting adjusted by the foot says "Carpet," depending on model type; otherwise, the brush bar won't turn. Clean a stuck brush bar by unplugging the vacuum, turning it over and using a nickel to turn the fastener(s) counterclockwise to remove the sole plate to get at the bar.

Cut away tangled hair, threads and other debris that may keep the brush bar from spinning. Thermal Cut-Out Dyson vacuums are equipped with a thermal cutoff switch that powers down the vacuum if its motor becomes too hot. Clogged or dirty filters, debris-filled brush bars and air blockage can cause the motor to overheat. Unplug the unit and wait 1 hour. Check the filters and brush bar, and clean if necessary. Look for blockage in all suction paths, and remove any obstructions. Plug in the vacuum and test it. If the vacuum still doesn't come on, you'll need the help of a professional; a thermal switch or the motor could be malfunctioning. Dirty Filters If the vacuum loses suction, check it's foam filters, which must be cleaned periodically. While recommendations for cleaning are roughly every 90 days, in a home where you vacuum more often, with a lot of dirt and debris from family and pets, you may need to clean the foam filters in the vacuum once every month or two months. Apply cold water only to the filters, and let them completely dry at least overnight or for 12 hours before reinstalling them in the vacuum.

Internal Blockages Dyson vacuums are designed so you can get at the suction path to remove blockages. Examine the paths and remove blockages from the wand, hose, valve pipe and U-bend, as these can prevent the vacuum from working. Detach the U-bend by pressing the button, and dump out any debris in the trash. Examine the clear container for excess dirt and debris and empty it -- as this can also impact the vacuum's function. References Dyson: Mini Turbine Head Not Working ProperlyDyson: Thermal Cut OutDyson: Filter Washing VideoDyson: How to Remove a Blockage Photo Credits Bruno Vincent/Getty Images News/Getty Images Suggest a Correctionbagless hepa vacuum cleaner reviewsThis short guide is designed to outline the most common problems, a kind of vacuum cleaner faults FAQ if you like, with what we refer to as "Floorcare" appliances, that is to say that they either vacuum, wash or polish floors. vacuum cleaner keeps overheating

This guide is not intended as a "buyer's guide" but we are working on that presently.  Some people call them Hoovers or say that they will "Hoover the carpet" but this is actually a brand, not what the machine actually is, they are vacuum cleaners. When asking for spares saying that you need a part for the Hoover doesn't help us at all, you will need the make and model number as there are hundreds of them! Please remember to keep yourself and your family safe by following our simple basic electrical safety guide. delonghi steam vacuum cleanerQuite simply it is not worth someone's life or an injury just to save a few pounds calling in a professional repairer. To get the best possible service we would recommend our appliance engineer search which will refer you to a local repairer that operates to a standard that we have set in our own code of practice. It is your guarantee that the service that you receive will be a quality repair that is fairly priced and guaranteed.

The problems here are frequently asked about in the forums and you may well be able to help yourself before posting a question or calling an engineer however we must stress, above all else, that your own safety is your primary concern. Over 90 % of the most common problems of poor performance related to conventional vacuum cleaner product's come under the what I call the Five B's and though it may seem obvious these should be checked at regular intervals. The bag should be checked and emptied at regular intervals, if it is of the sealed type you should not reuse it as once the pores of the bag become blocked it will cause the motor of your cleaner to run too hot shortening the life of the appliance. The filters should be replaced for the same reason, plus the fact that dirty filters will only result in dust being blown back into the room you are trying to clean. The vast bulk of the common cleaner bags and filters can be found in the vacuum cleaner section of our online store from this link

The belt should also be changed periodically as they can over time, have a tendency to wear, stretch and eventually break resulting in poor performance. Again, the common cleaner belts can be found in the store from this link It is all too often forgotten that the bristles on the brush roll will over time wear down and as a result become far less effective at cleaning and brushing up the pile of your carpets. Another problem is that threads, hair, or string like fabrics can easily get wrapped around the brush roll, reducing its ability to turn freely, thereby putting extra stain on the drive belt .This is why the brush roll should be removed periodically checked, cleaned and the end caps and bearings inspected, to keep the appliance working at optimum performance.  New brush rolls can be purchased in our online store from this link but if you cannot find the one you need do please ask. We can all, on occasion inadvertently vacuum up objects such as, matches, cocktail sticks, hair clips, etc.

All of these items can cause blockages to form in the internal or external hoses or airways of the appliance. So if you suspect that your cleaner has a blockage due to poor performance or the fact that it seems to be running warmer than usual. Then it is very important to stop using the appliance and investigate the problem, otherwise you can seriously damage the appliance. Be careful not to overstretch the flex of your cleaner during operation especially when it has an auto rewind device for the flex, If your appliance cannot easily reach then use a suitable extension lead as a lot of flexes are damaged by putting to much strain on the flexes resulting in broken flexes, usually at either the plug or the appliance ends. Probably the number one fault is that the cleaner will go dead and, as with many faults on appliances, there can be many reasons why this would happen. The first obvious one is the mains flex is broken, as noted above in the 5b,s, but also do make sure to check the fuse in the plug and make sure that that's okay before you open the vac itself.