Because every vacuum cleaner shows wear and tear occasionally, knowing how to fix and repair its various parts will save you a big money. Fortunately changing a vacuum cleaner belt is a very simple and easy task. One should never go to the replacement shop for just a broken belt. This article is about general instructions on how to change or repair a vacuum belt yourself at home.
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This can take just five minutes.
A vacuum cleaner belt is a part of the vacuum that connects the brush roller to the motor shaft of the vacuum. It transfers power to the roller brush from the vacuum’s motor. Vacuum belt is also called agitator brush, and brush rollers are called agitator brushes. With a broken belt vacuum clean will
still suck but without the rolling brush, it will not collect much debris from the carpets. A properly sized belt is a must for any vacuum cleaner to work well. Vacuums with rubber belts need replacement once a year. If you do not replace it accurately, it will break again and again.
Signs The Belt Is Broken
When the rolling brush of the vacuum cleaner stops, you must check what is making it stop, mostly it is the belt that makes it not work. A broken belt makes vacuum cleaner run very slowly and hardly on the surface. Another symptom is that the vacuum cleaner is not picking up much debris than
usual. When the belt is broken you hear a louder noise in the vacuum cleaner that is similar to the noise of an engine running. Also another great indicator, is the vacuum starts producing a bad smell. You should try to replace the belt yourself at home (and it’s not a difficult task) before consulting with the service providers.
Why do vacuum cleaner belts break?
First of all, we should know why the belts of the vacuum cleaners break. There are a number of reasons given below:
- Normal wear and tear
- The belt installed does not match the vacuum
- The belt installed wrongly Blockage in the brush roller (most common cause)
How to install/change the belt of a vacuum cleaner?
Changing a belt of a vacuum cleaner is a very easy task if you do it at home. Instead of paying money to the service providers you can easily do it yourself.
The things you need to change the belt are
- Screw driver
- And a new vacuum belt
Step by Step Guide:
1. Accurately order the new belt
There are so many types of vacuum belts available in the market. You need to know the exact size of the vacuum belt that is suitable for your vacuum cleaner. Purchasing a wrong belt can create
difficulty for you. You must know the type of your vacuum cleaner. You can also ask at the shop by telling the type of your vacuum cleaner. A little more easily, you can find the new belt in less than £10 on any online store in the home appliances section for example amazon.co.uk. Or you can go directly to the manufacturer/company website to find the proper belt for your vacuum cleaner.
2.Unplug the Vacuum Cleaner
Never replace the belt when your vacuum cleaner is on. To keep you safe first unplug your vacuum cleaner and then remove the belt.
3. Turn the Vacuum cleaner upside down
Turn your vacuum cleaner upside down. Now place it over a table or work station. Hang the handle down. It will make it easy to access the area of the brush roller and the vacuum belt
4. Remove the Bottom Plate
To remove the belt it is mandatory to remove the base plate first. The bottom plate of the vacuum has four to six screws that hold the plate. Sometimes there is another plate which holds the roller brush.
5. Remove the Screws
Use your screwdriver to take all the screws out of the plate. In some vacuums there are two screws, in some, there are 4 to 6 screws depending upon the model of your vacuum cleaner. Use a small negative (flat) blade screwdriver and twist the screws anti-clockwise to remove them.
6. Removing the old belt
The place of the belt is the same in every vacuum cleaner. The broken belt must be in the head of vacuum head around the brush roller. It can be somewhere in the top or bottom of the vacuum head. Find where the belt is attached to the motor with your hands. Remember the place because you have to attach the new belt here.
7. Taking out the brush roller
Remove the old belt and the brush roller, separate it from your vacuum cleaner and clean the roller, because you have to put it back in. If the roller is dirty it will create blockage and can break the belt again.
8. Installing the new belt
Connect the new belt to pulley spindle where the belt is going to attach with the motor. Put the new belt around the spindle and work it back around the roller brush corner. The belt must be well pushed around the roller end or it is going to break again. The belt must not be too tight to stop roller from moving on to the carper. You will find it hard to put the roller back in because of the tension of the belt. Do it correctly.
9. Recheck
Recheck that the belt is attached properly and is attached to the motor. Spin the brush to check whether it’s running freely and has no dust, dirt, pieces of carpets attached to it.
10. Place the plate back to the vacuum
Place the plate back to the vacuum cleaner and fix all the screws which were removed earlier.
11. Turn on your vacuum cleaner
Turn on the vacuum cleaner and see if the roller is moving fast and good. If it doesn’t your belt is not properly fixed and you need to reinstall it properly
Recommendations:
1. Change your Belt Often
You must change your vacuum cleaner belt, normally after 6 to 12 months. Over a period of time, the belt loses it’s fitting and become more flexible. It loses its grip around the brush roller, which stops the vacuum cleaner to operate to its maximum competence. You must keep extra belts at home.
2. Do not overheat the belt
Sometimes thicker things clog the vacuum and stuck in for example corner of a rug. The belt becomes stuck, stops working and overheats. It results in immediate breakage of the belt. To avoid overheating to the belt to make your vacuum works properly.
Sources For Article:
- https://www.smartvacuums.co.uk/how-to-replace-fix-a-vacuum-cleaner-belt-simple-task/
- https://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Replace-a-Vacuum-Belt/
- https://www.familyhandyman.com/cleaning/how-to-replace-a-vacuum-cleaner-belt/view-all/
Founder of homeappliancegeek.com, avid cook, and lover of Asian food.
Signature dishes include Thai Red Curry, Chicken Saag, Bibimbap and Sushi.
Massive clean freak; a habit baked-in after spending 9 years in the catering industry.
The one appliance he couldn’t live without? Easily the dishwasher (total relationship saver!).
