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If your central vacuum has lost suction, you probably have a clog in the system. You can remove a clog yourself using a portable vacuum cleaner or central vacuum maintenance sheets. Stubborn clogs or damage to the system require a specialized technician to repair.

Maintaining your central vacuum cleaner is crucial to extending its lifespan. Ensuring the filter is cleaned or changed often is vital to ensuring clogs don’t impact your motor. In addition, inspecting motor brushes regularly and lubricating the engine when needed helps keep it in tip-top shape. Finally, cleaning the central vacuum hose of dirt and debris helps keep clogs at bay, especially if you’ve vacuumed something wet or sticky.

It can be difficult to know right away if your central vacuum is clogged since it operates quietly compared to regular vacuums. However, there are a couple of signs you can look for. If you feel like it’s losing suction or isn’t cleaning effectively, then there’s likely a clog somewhere. 

Make sure you turn the vacuum on and feel the end of the hose handle. If you don’t feel any suction, then you’re dealing with a clog in the hose. You can see if the clog is further down in the system by attaching the hose to each outlet until you find the one with the least amount of suction.

Whether talking about a whole-house central vacuum or a portable vacuum cleaner, the expected cost of major repair work should always be balanced against its replacement cost. However, excluding high-cost motor replacements or major electrical trouble, repairs on a central vacuum system are typically far less than the cost of purchasing and installing a new one.