
Do you need to clean your vacuum cleaner?
Jayne Cherrington-Cook
Why repairing your Dyson is better for the planet and your pocket
Is your Dyson vacuum cleaner not working properly? Buying a new vacuum might seem like the easiest solution, but with a premium product such as a Dyson, having it repaired is often a better option than buying a new one.
But before you make that decision, it’s important to understand the common issues that can arise with Dyson vacuums and the cost of repairs.
Is your Dyson vacuum cleaner not working properly? Buying a new vacuum might seem like the easiest solution, but with a premium product such as a Dyson, having it repaired is often a better option than buying a new one.
But before you make that decision, it’s important to understand the common issues that can arise with Dyson vacuums and the cost of repairs.
First up there’s the cost. The latest model Dyson Gen5 Detect retails for a whopping £849.99. Depending on the cost of new parts and labour, you could be making hundreds of pounds worth of savings by going for a repair.
There are also environmental reasons to take into account. When you consider it can take an estimated 450 years for a single plastic bottle to decompose, and the fact that vacuum cleaners are generally made up of a whole heap of plastic, it makes sense to extend the life of your machine as long as possible.
Obviously, you can recycle all electrical items, but repairing will almost always be kinder to the planet.
“Most Dysons can be repaired,” says James Gunter, founder of The Vacuum Wizard , independent specialists in Dyson handheld vacuum cleaners and spare parts, in Keynsham, Somerset. “It’s just down to whether it’s economically viable to do so or not.”
Dyson make some of the best cordless vacuums around and this is why Gunter only repairs cordless battery-run Dyson vacuum cleaners – he says these models are generally worth repairing.
A common problem he sees is to do with faulty triggers on Dyson V10 and V11 models, but he says this can be easily fixed.
“We will only suggest buying a new machine if your vacuum has multiple faults, which means it may not be viable to fix,” he adds.
“And as there are so many Dyson devotees, we offer a remote option where customers not local to us can post us their Dysons for repair.”
In many cases, you probably can repair a Dyson yourself, especially when it comes to common issues (see below).
However, even if your machine needs some extra TLC by a Dyson expert, it can be worth getting it repaired. Obviously, it all depends on what needs fixing, but most parts can be bought at a reasonable price – motors, for example, cost around £40 – and then there’s labour on top. All in all, this is unlikely to be more expensive than the cost of a new Dyson (the cheapest model costs £279.99).
Loss of suction can be caused by several things. If you haven’t cleaned your Dyson filter for a while, this can affect its suction.The same goes for a full cylinder of dirt and debris. Not sure how to clean a Dyson? It’s a simple process, especially the filter, which requires running through with warm water.
Blockages can also cause a problem. It’s best to refer to your individual model’s manual to check where these might occur. If your vacuum is still lacking suction power after these DIY tests, it’s probably time to turn to an engineer.
There can be a variety of reasons why your vacuum cleaner is suddenly turning off or pulsating. For cordless versions, check the battery. If it’s low on charge or old, it won’t be able to keep the machine running. Other issues that can interfere with the power include a dirty filter or a blockage. Alternatively, the filter might not be connected properly or there might be hair or other debris trapped around the brush head.
Chances are your battery is damaged or old and it needs to be replaced. If the run time of your cleaner has declined and you’re not using max or boost mood, it might be time to buy a new battery. Bear in mind, it might also be the power cord that’s faulty.
Obviously, this won’t pick up much if it’s not moving. Its lack of movement is probably down to pet or human hair and other fibres becoming entangled around the brush and clogging it up. Most Dyson brush heads can be removed easily to dislodge the debris. If yours can’t, you can always use scissors to cut away the tangled hair and fibres.
If your Dyson has a funny, musty smell, it’s time to clean your vacuum cleaner. Your filter could be the source of the stink, especially if it’s not been cleaned for a while. Equally, if you didn’t allow it to dry out before replacing, it can give off an unpleasant damp smell. If the smell is more like burnt rubber, it could be the motor overheating. Turn off and unplug your machine immediately and consult Dyson or a vacuum repair establishment.
“Dyson cordless vacuums should last a good ten years with regular servicing and maybe a replacement battery every four years or so,” says Gunter.
A Dyson vacuum cleaner is an investment and so should be treated like any other investment you’ve made. Gunter says that regular servicing is important to help keep your Dyson running efficiently and can also help with common problems such as loss of suction.
For cordless versions, battery life needs to be considered. While Dyson don’t state how long they last, the average life span of a cordless vacuum cleaner battery is around four years, after which you’ll need to buy a new one. Prices for new ones start from £65.
All cordless Dyson vacuums come with a two-year warranty, while the upright comes with a five-year warranty. This not only covers any repairs and replacements, but also the battery, so if it fails during this time period, you can get a new one free of charge.
Dyson offer a repairs service, which can be taken up even after your warranty period has run out. Repairs can be booked via their website and have a standard price, starting from £79. All the parts used then come with an additional 12-month-guarantee.
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Written by Jayne Cherrington-Cook she/her
Published: Updated:
Jayne is the Senior Editor for Home Tech. She cut her online journalism teeth 23 years ago in an era when a dialling tone and slow page load were standard. During this time, she’s written about a variety of subjects and is just at home road-testing TVs as she is interviewing TV stars.
A diverse career has seen Jayne launch websites for popular magazines, collaborate with top brands, write regularly for major publications including Yahoo! and The Daily Telegraph, create a podcast, and also write a tech column for Women’s Own.
Her passion for technology began at age 11 when she received a BBC Micro computer one Christmas and became obsessed with beating Chuckie Egg (if you know, you know) and writing simple computer programmes. As her family’s IT department, when she isn’t writing or geeking out about some new tech, she can be found on the floor of her son’s bedroom putting together his latest gaming set-up or helping her dad understand how cloud computing works. Jayne is determined to make technology accessible for everyone because she believes technology should enhance life, not hinder it.
Jayne lives in Kent with a shepsky, her husband and her son, who is attempting to teach her the ways of TikTok, Aston Villa and anime. A keen neurodivergent ally after her son was diagnosed as autistic five years ago, when Jayne does have some rare downtime she enjoys yoga, reading, going to musicals and attempting to emulate Beyonce (poorly) in street dance classes.
Jayne Cherrington-Cook
Jayne Cherrington-Cook
Luke Edwards
Jayne Cherrington-Cook