How to Replace a Vacuum Belt the Right Way

How to Replace a Vacuum Belt

You’re zipping along with the vacuum cleaner, making short work of your chores, when suddenly the brush roller comes to a halt. The vacuum motor then revs into high gear. That’s the tell-tale sign of a broken vacuum cleaner belt and once you know about it, it’s quite easy to know how to replace a vacuum belt. It’s the component of the machine that connects the motor shaft to the brush roller.

Every full-sized machine, such as a canister and upright vacuum cleaner, usually comes with a belt. Although the machine will generate suction with a bum belt, without a spinning brush roller, it won’t accumulate much in the way of debris and dirt, particularly on carpets.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to replace a vacuum belt. It’s a straightforward process that only takes a few minutes.

A Step-by-Step Process of How to Replace a Vacuum Belt

To get the job done, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Purchase a Replacement Belt

Most manufacturers used to include a spare vacuum belt. However, with new models cropping up, that has become a rarity. Therefore, you’ll need to reach out to the manufacturer of your model or look for a replacement belt on Amazon.

They’re priced at only a few dollars each, so the affordable price point allows you to purchase two or more at a go. Your vacuum’s model number will come in handy in helping you choose the ideal option for your unit as the belts vary in thickness and size. They’re also not interchangeable.

Step 2: Remove the Bottom Plate

Once you unplug the vacuum cleaner, lay it on the floor with the underside facing upwards. Then, take out the bottom plate to expose the vacuum cleaner belt and brush. While some plates use a fast-release latching technique, others are securely in position with screws.

Step 3: Remove the Old Belt

Before you take out the brush roll and old belt, keenly observe how they are arranged in the vacuum cleaner. Additionally, take note of how they are connected. The belt is flat and is usually held by the brush roller and the motor shaft by its elasticity.

To remove the belt, begin by sliding one end off the brush roller and the opposite edge off the motor shaft. Once you’ve removed the brush and belt, clean the area encompassing the motor bearings that might become tangled with fibers and hair after a while.

Step 4: Install the New Vacuum Belt on the Brush Roller and Motor Shaft

If your vacuum cleaner uses a flat or round belt, that means it’s held between the brush roller and motor shaft with tension. As a result, the new belt might be overly small for the machine as expected. To avoid this predicament, double-check that you have the ideal component for your machine.

Additionally, it’s worth keeping in mind that the flat and round vacuum belt types stretch considerably after a while. While the V and geared belts also stretch, it’s not nearly as much.

You’ll notice that the old vacuum belt you’re replacing is significantly larger when you hold it up against the new one. That’s due to the stretching it has undergone with vacuum use.

Once you slide the new belt around the motor shaft of your machine, thread the brush roll through the opposite end of the belt.

Step 5: Brush Roller Installation with the Belt Correctly Positioned on It

Regardless of the vacuum style, the idea is to put back the belt and brush roll into their initial positions before reassembling the housing. For vacuums that use flat and round belts, a tad bit of elbow grease is required to properly position the new belt that hasn’t been stretched.

Install the edge of the brush with a notch that’s a snug fit into the vacuum. Once you install it, sufficient force on the side of the roller with the belt will snap it right into place.

Step 6: Reassemble the Vacuum

Put back the bottom plate of your machine and other housing pieces you took out to access the brush roll. That sums up the repairs. Based on the type of vacuum belt, your machine agitator belt can last you a few months or several years before another replacement is due.

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