It always seems that your vacuum will malfunction right before company is set to arrive. What do you do if your vacuum is not working correctly? Many people will simply throw away their vacuum and purchase a new one. However, did you know that it is quite easy to repair a vacuum cleaner?

You can find a lot of great information by checking out the website of the manufacturer who made your vacuum. For instance, if you have a Hoover vacuum, you can learn specifically about Hoover parts and how they work.

In order to repair the problem, you first need to determine what is wrong with your vacuum cleaner.

There are actually not a lot of vacuum parts which malfunction. The most common problem is a belt malfunction. To check out the vacuum cleaner belt, you will want to flip the vacuum on its front so that the brush is facing you. You will notice a small plate around the brush. Unscrew this. Check the belt. It is possible that it has snapped or has wrapped itself around a portion of the brush. If it is broken, you will want to take the belt with you to a store to purchase a new one. Many stores carry vacuum cleaner parts, including stores like Walmart and Target. You should be able to identify the proper size belt and many times a package will contain several size belts making it easier to insure you have the right one. Vacuum cleaner belts are not expensive at all.

You also will want to check the vacuum agitator brush. Sometimes it can become tangled with hair, pieces of carpet or string. You should use a pair of scissors to cut all of that out. Once it is clean, you can simply replace the belt and screw the plate back on the front.

If your vacuum is having poor suction, you might have something blocking one of the hoses. Remove the hoses one at a time, consulting your owner's manual if needed. If you have trouble reaching the blockage you can use the end of a mop or broomstick to push the obstruction through.

It also makes sense to do some routine maintenance on your vacuum. You will want to check the vacuum filter frequently to insure that it is not too dirty or blocked. The vacuum filter can affect the performanace of your machine. Also check the cord of your vacuum to make sure that it hasn't become frayed. Vacuum cords can often become damaged when they are run over by the vacuum.

Most of the problems you have with your vacuum will be related to either the agitator brush, the belt, or a blockage. You can save yourself a lot of time and money if you do the repairs yourself. You will be surprised how easy it is.

Sometimes a vacuum has electrical problems and those are a lot more difficult to fix on your own. In that case it is probably better to take it to someone who knows how to repair vacuums or make the move to a new machine.