Just when you were about to clean up the mess in your place, you realized that your Dyson vacuum was making loud noises when you turned it on. What could possibly be wrong with your vacuum?
If your Dyson vacuum is making a loud whistling noise, it’s likely an air leak from the vacuum caused by a break. If you hear a popping noise, it may indicate that you’ve burned out your motor. Possible fixes include ensuring all tubes are fitted correctly and that there are no rips or blockages.
Fortunately, most of the noises you’ll hear coming from your Dyson vacuum are relatively routine and fixable. Read on to learn more about these loud noises, including the possible reasons why you hear these sounds and the best ways to fix them.
1. A Loud Whistling Noise May Indicate an Air Leak
Vacuum cleaners, Dyson vacuums included, work by, quite literally, creating a contained vacuum that has enough force to suck up any dirt or debris that might be covering your surface. This means that the ability to control the air running through your vacuum tubes is essential.
When you hear a loud whistling noise coming from your vacuum, it likely reflects some sort of air leak, which compromises your machine’s ability to function properly.
How To Fix
Fixing an air leak issue in your Dyson vacuum is normally pretty simple. All you need to do is check to ensure all tubes are fitted correctly and don’t have any tears, blockages, or rips.
If the tubes have blockages, clear them out, or if there are tears or rips, replace the part by ordering it online. If these aren’t the causes of the loud whistling noise, there’s likely a blockage in the HEPA filter (the part that ensures the dirt doesn’t fly back in your face).
If so, simply unscrew the cone-shaped filter above the debris bin, and knock out any dirt. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you’ll likely need to purchase a new filter compatible with your Dyson vacuum to resolve the issue.
2. A Loud Popping Noise May Mean a Burned Out Motor
In order for the Dyson vacuum cleaner to actually function, a device needs to create an area of low pressure for the vacuum to work. This is the job of the motor. The motor powers a fan that spins in one direction, creating an area of low pressure that provides for the suction needed to pull in the debris.
When you hear the loud popping noise, it’s likely accompanied by some sort of burning smell. This could mean that your motor is working too hard to cause the suction, making it pop open a valve to cool the motor and try to prevent it from smoking. It could also mean that your motor has already worked too hard and has burned out.
How To Fix
Assuming the motor hasn’t burned out, all you need to do is empty the container holding the dirt and debris so that there’s no obstruction between the fan and the suction tube. You may also need to empty your HEPA filter or the bleed valve, which is the part that would open to cool the motor.
If both solutions don’t resolve the issue, your motor may have completely burned out, and you need to replace it with a new one compatible with your Dyson vacuum.
3. Loud Ratcheting Means Something Is Obstructing the Brushbar
Many newer Dyson vacuums have more settings with the brushbar, the device at the bottom of your vacuum, which has tiny hairs that stir up any dirt wedged in your surface to help remove all debris.
Sometimes, when you vacuum, either a buildup occurs from the amount of debris or from a large item you’ve unknowingly picked up. It prevents the brush bar from being able to spin correctly, and you’ll hear a loud, ratcheting noise.
When this blockage occurs, the clutch immediately turns off the brushbar so that you don’t burn out the belt in your vacuum. It then makes the ratcheting noise to make you aware of the blockage.
How To Fix
Turn off your Dyson vacuum, and remove whatever the blockage is. If this doesn’t work, check the brushbar again. There may be hair or a string that’s wrapped around it. If that’s the case, try cutting it out, and turn the vacuum on again.
If these two fixes don’t resolve the issue, try applying some WD40 to the brushbar, as the dust may have restricted its movement. If none of these options work, you may need to replace the brushbar or the belt itself. You may need to hire a professional to do this.
4. A Screeching or Revving Noise Is a Result of a Blockage
If there’s a vibration or you hear a screeching or revving noise, it could mean that your Dyson vacuum is working in “overdrive” to do its job. It’s the most common reason why your vacuum is making loud noises.
The vibration or noise occurs because of the possible reasons:
- There’s too much debris circling its chamber.
- There’s a blockage somewhere in the tubes, fan, or brushbar.
- There isn’t enough power going to the vacuum itself to function.
How To Fix
To fix this issue, you can do the following:
- Search through the parts of the vacuum that are accessible to you one by one to identify a blockage.
- Empty the debris chamber.
- Remove and clean the HEPA filter.
- Ensure that your vacuum is sufficiently plugged in.
These will likely resolve any issues you may continue to have with your vacuum.
Final Thoughts
Though many issues could cause your Dyson vacuum to make a loud noise, smell as if it’s burning, or vibrate, most of the time, simple fixes such as removing a blockage or emptying the debris chamber fixes the issues. Using a screwdriver or a wire normally does the trick.
Once you do fix the issue, the most important step is ensuring you don’t simply vacuum up the blockage or dirt again. Dispose of it in your garbage. Otherwise, you’ll need to go through all of these steps again.
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