Dysson Vacuum Problem - Anybody Have One?

[Old#5fan]

My better half bought a Dyson vaccum back around the end of April or early May and it had been working great. She got the model especially for pet hair as we have three cats and a Chocolate Lab in the house most of the time. Anyway, it suddenly doesn't have suction like it did before when using the hose.

The power unit still works fine but the only time you get the normal suction from the hose is if you stick your hand up to the hose and block it. Then it draws the normal suction. I cannot find a clog in the hose but maybe I am not checking every where. We regularly empty the cylinder that collects the dirt and pet hair but I cannot figure out the problem. The wife would think I am a hero if I can figure this out without having to take it to a repair place.:)

Anybody have an idea?

[Flip217]

I think I've got the same model -- the Animal. We got it b/c we have allergies and a dog.

Anyway, there's a small filter you're supposed to clean every 6 months, or more if your vacuum is getting a lot of use. With 3 cats and a Chocolate (I'm guessing the word "Lab" was left out in your post, but maybe you actually have an animated piece of chocolate running around, which is cool. ;) ) I'd guess your Dyson gets a good workout.

Anyway, the instruction manual has all the details or you can check online. It's easy to clean but takes forever to dry, and it has to be 100% dry before you reinstall it.

I cleaned ours when I noticed a decrease in performance and it helped quite a bit.

Other than that I wonder if you sucked up some sort of hard object that's clogging the system somewhere. Dyson vacuums are great for dust, pet dander, etc., but I don't think they are meant to suck up small hard objects.

[Old#5fan]

I think I've got the same model -- the Animal. We got it b/c we have allergies and a dog.

Anyway, there's a small filter you're supposed to clean every 6 months, or more if your vacuum is getting a lot of use. With 3 cats and a Chocolate (I'm guessing the word "Lab" was left out in your post, but maybe you actually have an animated piece of chocolate running around, which is cool. ;) ) I'd guess your Dyson gets a good workout.

Anyway, the instruction manual has all the details or you can check online. It's easy to clean but takes forever to dry, and it has to be 100% dry before you reinstall it.

I cleaned ours when I noticed a decrease in performance and it helped quite a bit.

Thanks Flip, and yes, I left out the word "Lab" after "chocolate" as no piece of chocolate would be safe from me if it was running around in the house!:laughlol:


Other than that I wonder if you sucked up some sort of hard object that's clogging the system somewhere. Dyson vacuums are great for dust, pet dander, etc., but I don't think they are meant to suck up small hard objects.

Anyway, I cannot find our manual so I will look on-line as you suggest. However, do you know how I could detach the hose from the main connection where it enters the vaccuum? I am wondering now if perhaps there might be a hard object inside there blocking the passage way, but I cannot figure how to take that apart? I guess the manual tells how eh? BTW, it does get a good workout you are spot on.:)

[Flip217]

You might not even need the manual; there's little instructional pictures on ours that sort of show you what to do. If you remove the canister to empty it you should see what I'm talking about -- the filter is directly below where the canister sits.

[Old#5fan]

You might not even need the manual; there's little instructional pictures on ours that sort of show you what to do. If you remove the canister to empty it you should see what I'm talking about -- the filter is directly below where the canister sits.

Yeah, I see it and will wash it but I already solved the problem. There were two dog chew sticks stuck where the hose curves into the vaccum and then hair backing up causing a full blockage. No wonder we weren't getting any suction! Thanks though for your kind assistance!:clap3:

[Flip217]

Yeah, I see it and will wash it but I already solved the problem. There were two dog chew sticks stuck where the hose curves into the vaccum and then hair backing up causing a full blockage. No wonder we weren't getting any suction! Thanks though for your kind assistance!:clap3:

Yeah, you gotta watch that stuff with the Dyson.

As much as I appreciate what it does in terms of keeping our house clean and helping my family with our allergies, it's not like other vacuums -- you can't just suck up pennies and pebbles and marbles and dog chew sticks.

What it does, it does really well. And what it doesn't do, it doesn't do. (How's that for a tautology?)

[ScottieBaseball]

Just have to chime in re: Dyson. We have one and I'm still amazed/horrified at what comes out of our carpets 3 times a week. If you have one, vacuum your bed once. It's frightening.

[ChrisP]

We use a Rainbow. Scary/sick what comes up after a week. One demonstration and we were sold.

[Flip217]

I agree. (In fact I started a thread about how impressed I was with our Dyson when I brought it home, perhaps the nerdiest thread I ever started).

We had vacuumed the house earlier in the day with our old Princess canister vacuum, and everything looked clean. Then we used the Dyson and I got a rude awakening about the difference of "looking" clean vs. "actually" clean.

Vacuum the bed, eh? I'll do it, but I'm scared.

[ScottieBaseball]

I agree. (In fact I started a thread about how impressed I was with our Dyson when I brought it home, perhaps the nerdiest thread I ever started).

We had vacuumed the house earlier in the day with our old Princess canister vacuum, and everything looked clean. Then we used the Dyson and I got a rude awakening about the difference of "looking" clean vs. "actually" clean.

Vacuum the bed, eh? I'll do it, but I'm scared.

Oh, be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

[The Wedge]

Well, considering what most dust consists of, and how we spend about 8 hours a day in the bed, relatively prone...you can only imagine what gets in to 'em.

[Old#5fan]

Just have to chime in re: Dyson. We have one and I'm still amazed/horrified at what comes out of our carpets 3 times a week. If you have one, vacuum your bed once. It's frightening.

I disgustingly agree.:)

[Old#5fan]

We use a Rainbow. Scary/sick what comes up after a week. One demonstration and we were sold.

We had a Rainbow years ago. I wasn't sure they still made them. They work good but that water bowl can get pretty disgusting.