Poor Suction My Dyson DC17 is having very weak suction. I have checked the areas that I can easily access and can't find a clog. What could be causing this?

Hey, this is Leland with Crucial Vacuum,

If the brush bar is not working properly there may be several reasons.

Firstly, the motor may be the problem. If you hear any noises while the machine is running, you should contact the original manufacturer for trouble shootingsolutions.

Secondly, your vacuum may be in need of new parts. By changing either the brushroll or belts, you should be able to increase the quality of the suction.
---
You can purchase replacement parts for the DC17 direct from Crucial Vacuum with freeshipping and an exclusive 10%coupon for Fixya.com readers, use code: FIXYA10
http://www.crucialvacuum.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=dc17

You have power so it can't be the switch or power cord. It is most likely the motor or the cord from the switch to the motor that is the problem. Start by checking these areas first.

http://www.dyson.com/medialibrary/Files/Dyson/Support/downloads/US/Floorcare/manuals/dc17_opmanual_usa%20pdf.pdf

http://www.dyson.com/support/dc17/dc17-animal/using-my-dyson-list/redirect-to-flo-dc07-gen-how-to-remove-a-blockage/flo-dc07-gen-how-to-remove-a-blockage/redirect-to-flo-dc17-wand-suction/flo-dc17-wand-suction/flo-dc17-remove-the-wand-from-hose/redirect-to-flo-dc17-check-the-hose/flo-dc17-check-the-hose/flo-dc17-check-u-bend-for-blockages

your cyclone assembly may need to be striped down and cleaned also remove the exhurst filter located under the bin.

Hi there,

I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulties with your DC17. If your machine continues to have suction through the wand after you've reclined it into the vacuuming position, a blockage may be jamming the changeover valve. To check for this, please follow the steps shown in our online support guide:

http://www.dyson.com/support/help.asp?article=954&product=DC17-ANIMAL

This should resolve the issue, but if you'd like any further assistance or advice, please call us free on 1-866-693-9766, or email us at [email protected]

Best wishes,

Jack
Dyson Online Customer Support

Hi there,

From what you've described, it sounds as though you may need to wash the filter. This video guide from the Support section of our website shows the correct way to do this:

http://www.dyson.com/support/help.asp?article=1463&product=DC17-ANIMAL

Although you've found no blockages, it's definitely worth checking again to ensure nothing has been missed. This simple step-by-step walkthrough shows all the areas you should inspect:

http://www.dyson.com/support/help.asp?article=954&product=DC17-ANIMAL

If you've followed these steps and are still experiencing difficulties, please get in touch with us free on 1866MYDYSON, or email [email protected]. One of our experts will run through some troubleshooting over the phone, and provide the assistance you need.

Kind regards,

Jack
Dyson Customer Service

Disassemble Your Dyson Animal so you can access the area around the wand. If the block is in the wand itself, you can clear it by passing something through it (such as a broom or mop handle).

Blocks in other piping and outlets can be removed by hand.

Beauty of the Dyson Animal line is that a homeowner can find and fix problems easily.

You can download the manual from here: http://www.manualowl.com/m/Dyson/DC17/Manual/205779

Hello,

The way your Dyson DC17 is designed, there is a suction divert mechanism that diverts the suction to floor when the vacuum cleaner head is pushed down, and then back to the hose when the vacuum is in the upright position. If you are getting suction from the hose when the vacuum is upright, but no suction after the handle is reclined, this is actually the normal function for the Dyson DC17.

You can check to see if the filter is dirty. The washable filter on your Dyson DC17 is located directly underneath of the dust bin of the vacuum cleaner. After removing the dust bin, lift straight up on the part the bottom of the dust bin rests on. This is where the pre-motor filter is located for the DC17 models. If this filter is not cleaned on a regular basis, then it can start getting clogged, and you'll notice a loss of suction on the vacuum cleaner.

If you have further questions, please visit the link below where you may download the instruction manual. There are some trouble shooting guides at the back of the manual that you may do to try and diagnosis this further.

Dyson DC17 All Floors Instruction Manual:
http://media.dyson.com/downloads/us/floorcare/manuals/dc17_opmanual_usa.pdf

If this was helpful, please be sure to rate the repair as helpful by clicking on the thumbs up icons on the top of the repair.

Thank you very much,

Chris Jones
GoVacuum

Hi its Darran at Dyson.

From your description of the problem, it sounds as though the wand/hose is blocked. To check this, remove the wand/hose assembly from the machine, switch it on and test the suction from the top of the wand with your hand. If the suction is poor, remove the wand from the hose and test the suction from the top of the hose. If its good here, then you know that the wand handle is blocked.

For the full diagnostics, check out the Support section on our website at www.dyson.com or call our Helpline on 1866MYDYSON.

Kind regards
Darran
Dyson Customer Service

The first step towards improving the suction is to clean the circular HEPA filter. The filter also houses a circular sponge which should be rinsed and dried before putting it back. Check the HEPA filter to see if it needs replacement -- will look muddy! Another quick check is to remove the HEPA filter, run the vacuum cleaner momentarily in upright position to check if suction is restored at the hose end.

After doing this if suction is still poor or non existent, you should detach the transparent canister - a bit tricky since the release rod for the flap has to be aligned when you want to reassemble the unit.
Once the canister is removed, you should check and clean the center tube/shaft for any clogged dust (use a wire coat hanger if needed to pry out the dust). This tube gets clogged if the vacuum cleaner was used to pick up damp/wet spills etc.