Before you head right into vacuum cleaning, it’s always important to check if your vacuum lost suction partially or completely.

Usually, a central vacuum has decreased suction because one of its components is either clogged or damaged. These blockages or holes also restrict airflow, which contributes to the clogging and overheating of the suction motor.

There are six things that can cause a vacuum suction motor to become congested or dysfunctional. So, if your vacuum is only cleaning up a tiny amount of debris or none at all, your central vacuum system probably needs some of its components cleaned, unclogged or replaced.

How To Improve Central Vacuum Suction

Below are some steps you can take to maintain or boost your central vacuum’s suction power.

1. Empty or clean the canister
2. Change the vacuum bag
3. Clean or replace the filter
4. Make sure the piping and hose are not clogged
5. Check the hose for tears o holes
6. Make sure the roller brush is spinning properly
7. Replace the belt

Empty or clean the canister

Canisters have windows or indicators that let you know how much dirt is captured inside the vacuum. However, it is highly recommended that you empty your canister before or after you operate your vacuum. This prevents dust and debris from accumulating in the power unit, which can impair or damage the motor.

Regular rinsing or washing of the canister is also advised because dirt and debris can cling on to it. Just be sure to wipe both the inside and exterior of the canister after washing it, then wait until it is completely dry before reattaching it to the vacuum.

Change the vacuum bag

If a bag is filled up past 75%, the motor can overheat and clog, which will reduce central vacuum suction and efficiency.

Do not continue using your vacuum once your bag is full. Otherwise, your vacuum’s suction will be reduced and air will be stopped from getting into the suction motor. The heat produced by this could melt the wires or even the belt.

A vacuum cleaner with a full bag will also just recirculate dust all around the house, as it has no room to store the new particles that it has sucked in.

A vacuum bag must be replaced as soon as it reaches 75% of its maximum capacity.

Clean or replace the filter

A vacuum cleaner will have a hard time sucking in air when its filter is dirty, which will cause the motor to become clogged and to malfunction.

Your vacuum cleaner’s suction and performance may be maintained by keeping your filters clean, enabling it to keep collecting debris and improving the air quality in your home.

Filters should be cleaned at least every three months and replaced every six months, depending on how frequently you use your vacuum.

If your filter is composed of plastic or foam, you can thoroughly clean it with running water until all the dirt is cleared. The filter should then be properly dried before being reinserted into the vacuum. A foam filter typically needs around 24 hours to thoroughly dry.

If your filter is paper or cloth, you can completely enclose it in a garbage bag and shake it until the dirt falls into the bag.

It’s also crucial to check your filter to make sure it hasn’t been pierced or damaged. Otherwise, this will also result in the power unit being jammed with dust and debris.

Make sure the piping and hose are not clogged

If you use your vacuum while its hose or piping is blocked, less air will be able to pass through it, reducing suction and increasing the risk of its motor overheating.

Central vacuum system maintenance is crucial, and parts of it are paying close attention to your central vacuum’s suction and checking your pipes and hose for any obstructions that can weaken it.

Follow these steps to clear blockages from the pipes:

1. Check the suction from each inlet after turning on the central vacuum by clicking the on/off button on the power unit. In order to find the one that is lacking suction, check each inlet separately, beginning with the one that is closest to the power unit.
   
   
   
2. Carefully insert an electrician’s fish tape into the inlet to clear the obstruction. 
   
   
   
3. While your power unit is off, you can alternatively use another vacuum to remove the obstruction from the pipe by putting its wand end inside the inlet.

Here are some guidelines you can follow if the hose gets clogged:

1. Insert the wand end into the vacuum’s inlet.
   
   
2. Holding the hose firmly in place to close any additional air spaces, turn on the power unit using the manual switch while doing so. The blockage should then be quickly sucked out.
   
   
3. Put a garden hose or piece of electrician’s fish tape through the obstruction if the hose is still blocked in order to remove it. Just be careful not to cut the hose while doing it.

Check the hose for tears or holes

If your hose is ripped or punctured, you should replace it. A damaged hose could be a reason why a central vacuum has decreased suction, as this refrains air from flowing through the vacuum.

Here are some tips for taking care of a cleaning hose:

• Keep the hose out of direct sunlight when storing. 
• It should be used and kept at temperatures higher than 40 °F (or 5 °C).
• Hang the hose up whenever it is not in use.
• Separate the hose from the wand before storing.

Make sure the roller brush is spinning properly

Your roller brush will be entangled with thread, lint, and hair after a few times of using it. This buildup will cause the belt to be stretched, which will prevent the roller brush from spinning properly. 

On the other hand, the roller brush will continue to spin correctly and effectively capture debris with regular cleaning.

Simply follow to these instructions to clean the roller brush:

1. You can either remove the brush from the power head or leave it in place, depending on the model of the vacuum. Simply lift or remove the plate, then slide the brush out of the slots on either side, to remove it.
   
   
2. Use scissors to cut through the debris that is wrapped around the brush. Remove it from the bristles where it is clinging to.
   
   Like the roller brush, other vacuum cleaner attachments must also be cleaned because they gather dust and debris.
   
   Simply trim and remove hair strands or strings from the vacuum attachments’ bristles before wiping away any remaining material.

Replace the belt

The belt holds the roller brush in place and aids in its rotation. The roller brush will spin more slowly or not at all if the belt is too loose and no longer secure against the brush. Replace the belt with a new one if this occurs.

The belt needs to be changed every six months or once a year, depending on how frequently you use your vacuum.

Key Takeaways

• Do not use your vacuum cleaner if: 
  • Any of its components like the motor, hose and pipes are clogged or damaged
• • The vacuum bag is filled above 75%
  • The filter is too dirty
  • The canister is full
  • The roller brush is not spinning

• These are the main reasons why a vacuum does not have suction. Allowing these problems to continue will do even more damage by causing the motor to overheat.

• To keep your motor clean and free from blockages, you may simply pick up the large pieces of debris that are clinging to your motor by hand or use a dry cloth to dust it.

• To maintain central vacuum suction capacity and performance, you must do the following on a regular basis:
  • Empty and wash the canister
  • Change the bags
  • Clean the filter
  • Unclog pipes and hose
  • Replace a torn or punctured hose
  • Clean the roller brush
  • Replace the belt
  • Observe central vacuum system maintenance