Basic Central Vacuum Troubleshooting

A half-headless Owen Perkins reviews several simple things to check when your built-in vacuum isn't working properly.
Just Central Vacuums installs and services built-in vacuum systems in the Chicagoland area. Contact us at [e-mail] or 630-608-0175.

[@Roadwarden18]

Thank you!!! My switch was faulty so i turned the hose 90 degrees so I could use the power bar and the vacuum at the same time again. Also thanks for actually caring enough about your job to make an informative video to help people.

[@Brodobaby]

holy crap, turning the outlet plug in WORKED. i've been trying to find out whats been wrong with my central vacuum for months. I thought I had a clog or an electrical issue and I was just about to call a repairman to come out. this just saved me 100 bucks

[@pinkpetunia65]

Thank you for posting this video, the 90 degree turn worked! Yay!

[@allclevernamesgone]

Looks like a pro and talks like a pro.

[@lisalyall3147]

very helpful! I tried the turn and my suction turned back on! Now I know how to proceed with repairs. Thank you!

[@shaunaveen4002]

This was SO helpful!! Thank you!! We have a problem in our toggle, and you addressed it perfectly. My sister lives in Chicago, so if she ever needs help with this, I'll be referring her to you!!

[@karenfriesen275]

Thank you so much for this video!!!! I was ready to buy a new $200 power head but thought I’d google first to see if there was a fix option. You explained to a tee exactly what is happening with my power head. Now I can just get a new belt and save a ton of money! :)

[@AA-yx2tn]

Thanks kindly. Very nice from you. By knowing these basics, it gives a strong confidence about dealing with another appliance piece in my house!

[@ggalliford2033]

Thank you! I found a pen inside the handle. Great quick video 🎉

[@hyankellytongontijodelima4336]

You help me, thanks bro! From Brazil!

[@sanqoo1105]

Thanks, this is so embarrassing. After checking the breaker and moving to other vacuum outlets. I watched the first minute of your video and realized I just didn't turn the button on from the handle 🤦‍♀️. ❤🇨🇦

[@garthtohms5489]

Imagine what he could do with a whole head! Thanks, the 90 degree turn issue is what I had.

[@ruthchen2020]

Thank you for posting the video. It helped me to understand what problems a central vacuum system can have and how to identify it. Mines is a clogged hose, and starting from here I searched … and found, finally solved the problem, Thank you so much.

[@shelleymiller3921]

Thanks Owen! I sure wish your company was here in North Georgia! I’m a life long Electrolux fan and in addition to my 2 canister vacuum cleaners (which still run by the way) I have a 23 yr old central vac. Would you please post a video on how to repair the re-set button on a central vac power nozzle? N137. I’ve bought 2 now and keep the brush clean and replaced them but I feel the issue the red reset button. Can’t find any you tube videos on theirs and have watched (and 👍🏼) on every single one of your videos. Excellent job on all. Thx Shelley.

[@braydencordrey8544]

Very nice video, a lot of good information

[@performancevacuum]

This is legendary Owen !

[@s3v3nnds1nn7]

Thank you. I just moved into a house and couldn't figure out why it wasn't auto stating. I watched your video and I didn't realize there were connecters on the hose.

[@user-ss8yr1jt8n]

Thank you...90 degree trick did it for me. So I know is a switch part is gone,but hose works. Only inconvenience I have to take hose off the wall to stop suction

[@JohnWells-lm5fq]

So far so GREAT!

[@30daytrial]

Thanks so much - this really helped me out.

[@HighDesertVideos]

Thank you so much! I turned the hose wall connection sideways & it turned my vacuum back on - however, the "off" switch on my hand held hose then failed to turn it off without having to unplug it from the wall. However, I'll work with that as long as my vacuum keeps working :-)

[@Termite159]

Great video Owen! I did not know that about the 90 degree turn. That's a cool technique!

[@trevorhall4973]

-Thank you very much for your help. I was experiencing the same problem where I have power lights on my unit in the basement but there was no suction as if no electricity to the vacuum. I was unaware I had a three way switch. Left/right didn't work. When I pressed forward it works. Power and suction. Thanks again for your help and for uploading this video. I've subscribed to your channel. Take care. 👍

[@roberthiday3342]

Very nice...helpful. Thanks

[@aimsleynoodle]

Thank you! This was my first time using the central vac in my house (I just bought the house). We'd had one in my gran and grampie's house growing up, but by the time it became my parents house when my grandparents downsized, I'd never actually used it. I'd plugged in the power cord and the sweeper was working really well, but I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting any suction. I was up and down the stairs three times thinking I must have missed a switch to activate the suction. Turns out I just had to rotate the air part that plugs into the wall. Works SO well!

[@phiphilicious]

I’m

[@SantaClaus-bm7jh]

Very interesting

[@philipgelinas]

Thanks mate

[@gertrudweber7641]

THANK YOU

[@robinastips6986]

The 90 degree worked well for the upstairs vacume outlet. The one in the basement doesn't go on at all.

[@owenperkins]

Sounds like a bad contact in the outlet. If you take the outlet off the wall, you'll see two wires connected to the two pins visible on the inside of the neck of the outlet. If touching the wires together activates the vacuum system, just replace the outlet and you're good to go!

[@TBN1337]

My unit wasn't responding at all but the light was green, i did you 90o degree angle trick and the unit started to work again, i dunno if the time i leaved to rest help or your trick but thank you!

[@TheRagingBeaverCo]

Thanks for making me think I have sound problems on my computer while trying to troubleshoot my vacuum problems...doing wonders for my blood pressure.

[@Centvac]

If you're stressed out, try vacuuming. It's very therapeutic :)

[@marlainehysell5989]

Thank you! I am going to try turning the hose 90 degrees to see if that works. The vac works from all of the inlets but the upstairs hall. I took off the garage inlet to see if it would work at the hall location but it didn't. I did get it to work by connecting both wires to the same post. Not ideal! Doing it that way means it doesn't turn off. So I run from the second floor to the basement and unplug the vacuum. I wish it wasn't so hard to line up the screws in order to screw the vac connector to the wall.

[@marlainehysell5989]

I give myself A for effort. I removed the inlet, yet again and disconnected one of the leads (the inlet works if both leads are connected to the same post) and connected it to the other post. I went back down 2 flights of stairs to plug the vac back in. Climbed back up the 2 flights of stairs to the inlet that isn't working right. I attached the hose to the inlet and turned it 90 to the left and 90 degrees to the right. Neither positions works. Boo hoo.

[@c_farther5208]

That's why I put a thick hepa filter in my Rigid and went to town; I will guarantee my home is cleaner.

[@jpm42080]

Nice

[@Mr70Cenzo]

Any comments about condensation - water getting into the system? Thanks.

[@rhodamcquiston9705]

The power nozzle works great in the rugs. When I put the floor nozzle on, nothing happens.

[@_multiverse_]

Our central Kenmore won't turn on. Tested the switch with multimeter and it's good, there's power to the two little prongs in the wall... Vacuum will not turn off with the switch on the wand or on the vacuum itself. Only turns off When you unplug it.

[@Centvac]

So the main unit (vacuum producer) runs until you pull its plug from the wall? Or the system runs when the hose is inserted, but shuts off when it's removed? Many Kenmore systems (older ones especially) have the suction running the whole time the hose is in the wall, and the switch on the hose handle only controls the power brush. A new hose will allow you to control both suction and brush.

[@_multiverse_]

@@Centvac The hose used to be able to control vacuum and the brush, it still operates the brush but no longer turns off the vacuum. I tested the hose switch and it is working properly. My best guess is that the contactor on the vacuums circuit board is stuck in the closed position regardless of the coils being magnetized or not. I have yet to troubleshoot the contactor.

[@maemae4345]

Wow this video is from a couple of years ago...not sure if you still answer questions? However, I will ask anyways....do you know if there is a reset button for the head? I vacuumed up a Strand and the head shut off..now absolutely zero power in the vacuum head...I only used this vacuum 3 times so I'm hoping it's an easy fix and have been searching the "how to fix" which is how I landed on your video...TIA

[@Insomniac89]

Hello Just Central Vacuums Inc! I really could use your advice! I have contractors extending the central vac rough in from my house to the unit in the garage, but I think they just ignored the low voltage cables there and now its all drywalled up and sealed. would this 90 degree trick work for me? how does it know to turn on the Vacuum?

[@Centvac]

The 90 degree trick only works if you have an electrical problem in the hose. The wires still need to be connected between the central vacuum power unit and the wall inlets. If there is no control wire present (and fishing it isn't practical) you can get a wireless RF key fob that will turn your system on remotely. Comes with the transmitter box that you connect to your power unit.

[@Zainz834]

Hello, Thanks for making this video. The issue I have is that the vaccum runs fine but I don't have any suction until I block the wand end and then suddenly it starts sucking. This happens every time I run the vaccum. What could be going on?

[@rodrigues0484]

When I plug hose to any inlet it doesn't work but it will make my kick vac under sink run.

[@mobileasmr6448]

What if it works just fine on both floors, but on the main floor, the power head doesn't work. It works in the basement, but not the main floor. Yet the other heads work

[@davidandrews8007]

I need to put my hand on the end of the hose to create suction.

[@ciarabrown3215]

No luck turning the hose 90 degrees. Won't turn on in any outlet, and there is power to the unit. I was advised if using the vacuum in the house, the unit in the garage should be switched to the "Off" position (switch to on if using the unit locally) - is this correct? Any other tips to get it to turn on??

[@JMatta-on2gy]

Try filping the on/off switch on the power unit and see if the system turns on and if it does go back to where the hose in plugged in and see if the suction is running.

[@ikeb3146]

What brand/model is the power unit? It sounds powerful

[@owenperkins]

It's a Central Vac International Model CV-11 from about 1965. Actually not tremendously powerful by today's standards, but a neat vintage system that is renowned for its longevity.

[@chadfoisyrealestate]

My system seems to stutter. Could this be a motor issue or something else? I’ve checked for cloggs, connections and noticed I have a blinking green light on the tank. Filter has been cleaned and emptied.

[@jimgrant5815]

I am remodeling my kitchen that has the dust pan Vacuum feature that we no longer want. Can I just cap it off? What about the electrical wires?

[@thomastadler3296]

My central unit in the basement runs when i turn the power on but no outlets are open or hose connected. It will not shut off. Ideas?

[@m-eguesthouse8130]

My problem is exactly how you described it! No suction when you though there is suction as your motor head works. So I tried the 90 degrees trick and still did not turn the suction on I tried both wall outlets. Including the trap do underneath the kitchen sink and still no suction. I took the motor out looked at the rotor and brushes and I found the rotor black in color and the brushes burnt looking with heat checks indicating a high heat condition. Could this cause the same problem? Please advise and thank you....

[@MH-bl8dl]

That happened to me. My motor was completely burned out. I ended up replacing it with a higher quality bagged unit from MD and it's been fantastic ever since.

[@The_Eric12]

HELP!!❌❌❌ We have central vac that looks very similar in the garage, but it blows out so much dust the cars are filled. Not sure why cause we changed the filter and there’s no leaked holes other then the slits at the top and the exhaustion. I’m honestly about to build a cabinet around it or put a damn tarp over it. Can I do something like re route the exhaust away from the cars? Or how bad would it be to put a bag over it?

[@johna5428]

Hi mine works in the house no problem but when I plug it in the garage it will not turn on the system it was working fine before then will not work today not sure why

[@fionahl7292]

Haha, turn 90°, it really works again. Thank you.

[@marmac2850]

Whats about if brush not spinning in power head.New power head.Checked connects and no power come through..

[@cryptonator1988]

Yeah im having the same issue brand new vacuum system just bought a brand new home not even 1yr old im rarely home and hardly use the vacuum you cant tell me the belt is bad already thats insane..

[@cryptonator1988]

So your saying i need a new belt i just bought the vacuum with my house like not even a year ago and ive barely used it .. the floor agitation isnt spinning but everything else works it has power it has suction great flow just the carpet agitation isnt spinning how much is a belt to replace? Im not handy when it comes too fixing things i have no patience and never home..

[@elydracko2212]

I have a different problem is it normal for a vacuum to start vacuuming by itself at night without you plugging it in the house

[@LordgivemetheStrength]

Ely Germain yikes lol

[@Bman01234]

Only my carpet rollers turn on, would that be a bad switch?

[@semmes5342]

why do I always hear my kitchen floor vent even when vacuuming upstairs...its quite annoying. Should it only be sucking when the vent is opened? No matter where your vacuuming that vent is always sucking

[@yardtoyard3001]

After 20 years of experience... the average service call I go on takes less than 10mins including the time explaining to the customer of what the problem was.... and typically an east walk through/problem solving over the phone free of charge! Check what’s described in the video... and I’d it doesn’t help... call your local vac pro and ask for tips over the phone!!

[@mrshitty]

Let me test your experience lol. My central vac on turns on for a second at a time all of a sudden. On a second, off a second, on a second, off a second. What's the most likely cause? I thought it was the on off switch but I tested the inlet switches with a screwdriver and the system does that same.

[@TheChillimouse]

yea the 90-degree turn works but i can't turn it on or off with the hose then so the hose is at fault?

[@MH-bl8dl]

Sounds like the switch on the handle grip of your hose is broken.

[@marichari5637]

@ pep Demerit

[@JohnPelland-fo1bn]

My unit will not shut down unless the plug at the canister is taken out???

[@trevorgwelch7412]

How do you know if the motor in the main canister is gone . Ours smells like burning and it turns off power.... Kenmore KS 107 . 16 years old

[@Centvac]

The burning smell is a definite sign that your motor has gone bad. You will have to decide whether to fix yourself or call a local central vac tech, then decide whether to replace just the motor or upgrade to a new canister. Thanks for watching and Happy Thanksgiving! (Actually, based on the Kenmore model you gave, I am guessing your Thanksgiving was about 1.5 months ago already) 😉

[@trevorgwelch7412]

@@Centvac Yes . Canada . I got a new motor and computer module . $415 including labour .

[@rodrigues0484]

When I plug mine to any of the inlets it activates the vacuum under the sink

[@migueldeleon4873]

I have my nutone central vaccum since 2005 now when I turn the switch to on position stays on for no more than 1 minute what that could be?

[@Centvac]

Sounds like the motor is going bad. Some models from around that time (VX550 in particular) had issues with a weak thermal protector in the motor causing it to only run for a minute or two at a time until it cools off and restarts. A new motor should fix the problem. Thanks for watching!

[@alysonray6218]

My cleaning service said my unit wasn’t working. Very low suction in two inlets. I used my shop vac to help unstop it. When I did, damp lint was dislodged. Once dislodged, it worked great. My question is what caused this damp lint? Thank you!

[@kenhiggins1807]

My vacuum starts and stops for a few moments. Hose is disconnected when this happens. It will run normally while vacuuming....after finishing, and disconnecting hose-- vacuum will turn on for a few moments then turn off..any ideas?

[@Centvac]

To isolate whether it's an issue internal to the machine or something in the low voltage wiring to the wall inlets, I would disconnect the low voltage leads at the machine first and see what happens. If it continues, your relay/circuit board is faulty. If it stops, you have an intermittent short circuit in the low voltage wiring. That can be tougher to find, but a good starting point would be to take the inlet plates off the wall one at a time and check the wire terminations for short circuits/stripped/damaged insulation.

[@308alaska]

@@Centvac I think I found the problem-- one of the wall hose connect outlets had a screw that worked back out enough to hold open the door flap seal slightly open....resulting in the vacuum leaking down enough to start the vacuum up which then created enough suction to close the flap shutting off the vacuum. After a few minutes it would leak down vacuum causing the screw to open the door enough to turn on vacuum starting the vacuum cycle over again! I'm going to try and make a video..Thanks for replying to my question!! Best Regards Ken

[@sunil671]

there is no volume to hear

[@mairisie25]

Brush not turning on power brush

[@kimberlyu1308]

Possibly the belt

[@jeffo1108]

Good video but really hard to hear on 100%. Suggest using a clip on mic next time.

[@undercover121ful]

Jeez what an ugly contraption,send it back to the 80'S

[@EazyWarrior]

Whoa whoa whoa what's with the yelling...... 🙃