Canister Vacuum Cleaner Care Tips
If you in currently considering purchasing a canister vacuum, you can really get a good return on that investment with proper care. From my experience canisters generally outlast upright vacuums cleaners. Part of the reason for that is that because canisters vacuums will remove debris and dirt from your carpet and it will travel through the vacuum to the bag without coming into contact with the motor area of the vacuum.
Follow the tips below and your new or current canister should last a pretty long time.
1. Change the filters (if applicable). Most of the current vacuum cleaners (upright or canister) have some kind of filter, maybe more than one. If you have a hepa vacuum cleaner or a bagless vacuum, then you will be replacing a at least one filter.
Generally, vacuum cleaner filters should be changed every 6 months. If you vacuum more than once a week, or have pets, I would change them sooner to maintain effectiveness. Some filters can be cleaned and reused, so follow the manufacturers instructions in regards to cleaning reusable filters. Try to follow your vacuum manufacturers guidelines on filter change duration.
In a canister vacuum cleaner, there is usually a filter inside the vacuum chamber behind the bag. This vacuum filter protects the motor. You want to make sure this pre motor filter isn't caked up with debris or you will risk harming the motor. A clogged filter will place unneccessary strain on your motor, and hamper performance. Replace or clean this filter as needed, and make sure you put it back correctly. It is important that debris doesn't come in direct contact with your motor.
2. Pay attention to the brush roller. Most people neglect the brush roller area unless a belt breaks. Most manufacturers recommend that a roller should be changed every couple of years. At the minimum, you should be checking your roller every month. String, carpet fibers and hair will get wrapped around your brush roller. Needless to say, a worn roller or a roller wrapped in string or hair will not clean your carpet effectively.
3. Change your belt. If you have a Eureka, Dirt Devil, or Hoover canister vacuum, you probably should be changing the belt every year. Neglecting the vacuum belt is one of the most common errors we see in the vacuum cleaner shop.
Some vacuum belts stretch over time. From my experience, most people don't change the vacuum belt until it's broken or they smell the burnt rubber when the roller area has been jammed up during vacuuming.
Change the vacuum belt every year. Think about it, you probably spent hundreds of dollars for your canister vacuum and replacing a belt for a few dollars can be the difference between your vacuum cleaner power nozzle performing well or poorly.
Note: Some canister vacuums, like the older Electrolux models or Miele canisters, have a geared or "long life" belt. Some belts do last for years. If you have a canister vacuum that claims to have a "lifetime belt", these belts will really do last for years. Check with your vacuum manufacturer to find out what kind of vacuuum belt you have.
4. Don't jerk on the the hose or the power cord. I know that pulling a canister vacuum cleaner around by it's handle requires a lot more bending, but it will prevent you from damaging you vacuum cleaner hose. Most canister vacuum cleaners have electric hoses. If you jerk on an electric vacuum hose the electrical connection can be compromised. You can gently pull the vacuum around by the hose, but from my experience when a vacuum gets "stuck" some people will jerk on the hose and create a problem. Vacuum hoses can be replaced, but they are not always cheap.
5. Don't overfill the bags. One of the easiest ways to render a canister or any vacuum useless is is to overfill the vacuum cleaner bag. You can potentially reduce the suction of the vacuum and strain the suction motor. I recommend changing a vacuum bags after it has reached just over half of it's capacity. You can fill it up to about 3/4 of the way, but changing the bag sooner will allow the vacuum to work at capacity. Don't depend 100 % on indicator lights. You should physically open expose the vacuum chamber and check the vacuum bag.
Vacuum cleaner bags are becoming a more important part of the filtration process. Some vacuum bags are being with materials that minize the risk of tearing and improve the vacuum bags retention of dust, mites, and allergens. Some manufacturers like Bosch, Miele, and Sebo have been utilizing high end vacuum bags in there vacuums for years. Other companies are starting to catch up with this. High quality vacuum bags and proper maintenance of them can truly benefit the cleaning and filtration abilities of your canister vacuum cleaner.
Canister Vacuum Features - Paying attention to what features a canister vacuum offers. Don't shop by vacuum brand alone.