Vacuum Cleaner Has Stopped Working

A vacuum cleaner that won’t turn on or stay on is a common problem – but with a little expert advice, it’s often easy to fix. These trouble shooting tips should help you to get your appliance up and running again.

1. First Things First – Check the Power

It might sound simple, but lack of power is often the cause of a vacuum cleaner that won’t work. Check that the vacuum cleaner is plugged into a working power outlet and that fuses and breakers don’t need resetting.

2. Activated Thermal Cut-Out

An activated thermal cut-out due to a blockage is the next most likely cause of the problem. Check for blockages in the hose and filters, and remove any obstructions that you find.

You will also need to leave the machine switched off for the recommended cooling time, which will be stated in its user guide.

3. A Full Bag

In some cases, a full vacuum bag will prevent the appliance from being turned on. To fix the problem, simply replace the bag.

4. Damaged Vacuum Cleaner Cord

If all else fails, a damaged vacuum cleaner could be the cause of the issue. First, check that the cord is properly connected to the vacuum cleaner (again, this is surprisingly easy to overlook) and that there are no splits in the rubber. If the cord is damaged, it will need immediately repairing or replacing.

4. Faulty On/Off Switch

The on/off switch can break over time and need replacing.  Whilst different vacuum cleaners have different switches they are all very similar to replace.  Watch our video on how to replace the switch on a Henry vacuum cleaner.

5. Motor

If the motor is faulty the vacuum cleaner will appear to be dead.  Remember that a faulty motor is often caused by another issue such as blocked filters or over use of the same vacuum bag.  So when replacing the motor remember to check that there isn't an underlying problem that has cause the motor to fail.

If your vacuum cleaner isn’t working properly, take a look at our vacuum cleaner spare parts page – whatever the issue, we’ll have the spare part you need.