How to replace Bissell’s vacuum belt? Here’s how.
Recognizing that your vacuum cleaner belts were intended to wear out and break may help improve your mood about changing them regularly. It's intended to be a quick fix that you can do at home. With these tips and a few spare belts in your toolbox, you'll be back on the cleaning journey in no time!
What is a vacuum belt?
A vacuum belt is an essential component of most upright vacuums. The belt spins the brusher bars, which knock and agitate dirt from rugs so the vacuum can splash it up. Parts of the vacuum should be changed on a regular basis to ensure a vacuum running efficiently and successfully is the belt, and it is a great way to keep a spare belt on hand if one owns a vacuum cleaner. Belts are available at many hardware stores and directly from a manufacturer like Bissell.
The bottom of a traditional upright vacuum has a brusher bar that rolls over carpeting as the vacuum is pushed across the room. The vacuum's rigid bristles and motion extract dirt from the carpet, and the vacuum's suction extracts debris into the canister or bag. Once the vacuum is switched on, the motor moves a small bar attached to the brusher bar by the belt. Some uprights have a separate engine that enables the brusher bar, so no belts are required.
What does a vacuum belt look like?
Vacuum belts resemble oversized rubber bands, which is what they are. As a side effect, they stretch out over time. When a vacuum belt becomes too extended, it loses contact with the functional components of the vacuum, causing it to slow down. Straps that are too old can become tangled and snap.
In addition, it is critical to choose the correct size belt. Many belts have replacement parts written on them that can be used to order replacements, and the parts and components are also printed in the vacuum handbook. Customers who do not have a guide can take note of the vacuum's make and model and take the details to a home improvement store to obtain the part number. The new belt should appear undersized, and pulling the belt over both connecting bars on the vacuum cleaner's underside may take some time.
Types of Vacuum Belts
A vacuum belt does not come in one size fits all. Review to see what kind of vacuum belt your vacuum has. Placing the incorrect type of vacuum belt may damage your vacuum.
Vacuum belts of various types:
- Round belts are tube-shaped belts stretched between the motor and brush roll of a vacuum cleaner. This belt uses tension to keep itself in place.
- Flat belts - are the most common type of belt found in most vacuum cleaners. Flat belts are more slip-resistant and durable than round belts and also fit more tightly into place. They do, however, stretch when vacuumed.
Why Does My Vacuum Belt Keep Breaking?
A vacuum belt usually breaks when a foreign object enters the vacuum and obstructs the vacuum's typical effectiveness. Furthermore, general wear and tear is a primary factor of breakage.
Potential causes of a broken vacuum belt include:
- Regular use wear and tear.
- Too much hair, lint, or string has become entangled in the brush roll.
- Snagging the belt on a rug or blanket could cause it to overheat and break.
It’s possible that your vacuum belt is tearing because hair or lint has become entangled in the brush roller. Having to check your brush roller for these regularly can save your belt from further damage in the future. Using your vacuum frequently can cause the belt to destroy with age, a prevalent trigger of a vacuum belt breaking. Another possibility is that hair or lint is entangled on the brush roll, causing the belt to overheat and break.
How can I know if it's time to replace my vacuum cleaner belt?
- The vacuum you have has suddenly gotten extra loud.
- The suction power of the vacuum has slipped.
- The vacuum cleaner is leaving a trail.
Regularly inspect your vacuum cleaner's rotating floor brush and drive belt for wear and tear. If the belt is destroyed or worn, it should be replaced. The drive belt is an integral part of your vacuum because it lets the brush roll spin and helps eliminate dust and dirt from your carpets. If your vacuum isn't cleaning as well as it used to or the brush roll has stopped turning, the belt may need to be replaced. If you notice a rubber odor from your vacuum, inspect the belt for signs of wear. Please refer to your user guide for installation instructions when changing the belt. Depending on how fast the vacuum is being used and how well the belt was created, a vacuum belt should be replaced every four to six months.
How can I replace Bissell’s vacuum belt?
If you've never changed the belt on a vacuum cleaner, you might not have an idea how to change it. But vacuum belts quickly wear out and break. Since the belt is just made of rubber, and advanced vacuums are faster than ever, with some spinning at 120,000 revolutions per minute, they're prone to extending and tearing after constant turning, wobbling around on your floors, and the occasional clogged brush roller. That's why we've prepared a step-by-step process to help you change your vacuum belt Bissell.
Step 1: Prepare your spare vacuum belt
Manufacturers seemed more generous about including a spare vacuum cleaner belt with new vacuums, but this is no longer the case. So you'll have to contact the manufacturer or look for a replacement belt on the company's website; prices are usually around $5 (they're so affordable, you might as well buy a couple). Keep your vacuum's model number handy because belts vary in size and thickness and are not interchangeable.
Step 2: Remove the bottom plate
After disconnecting the vacuum, place it on the ground with the underside up. Detach the bottom plate to reveal the brush and vacuum cleaner belt. Several plates are secured with screws, while others employ a quick-release latching method.
Step 3: Detach the old belt
Remove one edge of the vacuum cleaner belt and place the other end on the motor shaft. Replace the belt and brush and sanitize around the motor bearings, which can become tangled with fur and fabrics over time.
Step 4: Put the new belt
Hook one end of the new belt to the motor shaft and the other to the brush roller, with the letters facing out. Then, reinstall the brush in its housing and refasten the bottom plate.
In the near term, inspect the vacuum cleaner belt for signs of damage, tear, or stretching. It's an excellent reason to take a spare belt in case of one break.
Take note! If your vacuum model uses a round or flat vacuum belt, the belt is tensioned between the motor shaft and the brush roller. The new belt might appear to be too small for the vacuum.
It is probably normal and acceptable. Review that you have the correct part for your vacuum in a particular instance, but keep in mind that round and flat vacuum belt types stretch a lot over time. You have geared and v-belts stretch, but not nearly as much. Because of all the stretching caused by vacuum use, the old belt you're replacing will most likely appear much larger when held up to the new belt.
Step 5: Install the Brush Roller with the Belt Correctly Positioned on It
Whatever vacuum design you use, before closing the vacuum housing, bring back the brush roll and belt to their respective places. A little muscle is required to pull the brush roll into location with that unstretched new belt for vacuums that use round and flat belts.
The side of the brush roll exactly reverse to the belt on the vacuum has a small hole suited into the vacuum. After attaching that side of the brush, a firm pull on the roller's belt will snap it into the spot (be careful). It is much more convenient if you stand over the vacuum while sitting on the floor. A well-placed foot can provide the necessary counterweight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often do vacuum belts need to be replaced?
3 to 6 months. If you use your vacuum frequently, you should change the belts at least every three to six months. It is vital to effective cleaning.
Can you run a vacuum without a belt?
A vacuum cleaner cannot be used without a belt because it is a necessary piece. Attempting to utilize your vacuum without a belt can severely damage your vacuum. Because the brush roll is not twisting effectively, the vacuum will not be able to pick up on carpeting.
Are There Any Vacuum Belt Hacks?
If you like your vacuum cleaner to perform in the next ten minutes and don't have time to buy a new vacuum belt, you can use duct tape as a temporary replacement. Remember that this is only a short-term solution that will not last. The duct tape will only last for one or two cleaning sessions.
