Upright vacuum cleaner belts are something you’ll soon know more about then you would have liked. This is because they tend to break, every so often, and replacing them can be a complicated process.
Just like with the filters, several steps must be followed to ensure the correct replacement of the belt. As you might imagine, the first step is identifying the correct size belt for your vacuum cleaner. Since belts do not exist in universal size, make sure you purchase the correct size for your vacuum cleaner.
The second step involves opening your vacuum cleaner, so be sure to do it somewhere outside, or at least place some old newspapers under the vacuum, to pick up the dirt. After it’s unplugged, look for screws at the bottom that attach the bottom plate to the main body of the vacuum.
Identify the correct screw type and use the appropriate screwdriver to turn them to the left, and finally remove them. Take out the bottom plate as well, and clean the area with a piece of cloth to remove all dust and dirt that tends to accumulate there.
Now locate the belt, which is usually attached to the beater brush on one side or in the middle. After sliding it out and removing the belt, make sure you remove all the debris and strings from the brush.
Replace the belt by sliding it onto the beater brush and the motor, and relieve tension on the belt by placing a screwdriver inside the belt, near the motor. Stretch the belt carefully, while still holding the screwdriver with the other hand, and slide the beater brush back into place. After this step is complete, you can remove the screwdriver.
Clean it once again, and tighten the screws back in. Afterwards, be sure to test your vacuum thoroughly, to make sure it functions as it should.
The process is easier than it sounds, so you don’t have to worry too much about it. However, you will want to try this for yourself and see exactly how difficult you find it, or consider taking your vacuum to service whenever the belt needs changing.
Taking care of you vacuum is as important as buying a vacuum that suits your needs perfectly, but we’ll cover that in another article. Changing the belt and filters of your vacuums should be done with care, as not to damage the vacuum.
If your vacuum is still covered by warranty, go ask if you can change the belt yourself, without losing the warranty, or if you need to take it to a specialized service. Always make sure you ask first, because you don’t want to lose the rest of your warranty just because you did this yourself.