This sucks. Or, more precisely, it doesn't.

January 20, 2014 8:09 AM

I have this vacuum which doesn't currently work. The vacuum has a full block in its hose, too deep to be accessed by popping the hose as described in the owner's manual. Can I partially disassemble this vacuum to clear the hose myself? If so, how?
posted by .kobayashi. to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

I dont know anything specific about your device (IMNYMF - I am not your Mister Fix-it) but I have had success getting stuff out of vacuums with an untwisted coat hanger. If you can get a substantial amount out of the internal workings, it could help with the rest.

Also look at the roller part that touches the carpet. There could be stuff twisted up in there that isnt helping.

Third, at least MY area (Louisville KY) has some vacuum repair places still, so you might look into that.

And lastly, if it isnt working, a partial disassembly sure wont make it any worse.
posted by Billiken at 8:15 AM on January 20, 2014

Best answer: Will the hose come off like this?

Once off, the best way I've found to clear a stuck hose is to put a garden hose in it and blast the clog out with water.
posted by ghharr at 8:16 AM on January 20, 2014

Response by poster: That looks like it might do it, ghharr. I've just located the described peg & slot, and will give it a try when the puppy is out for his run. Thanks for finding that video.
posted by .kobayashi. at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2014

Most vacuum cleaners have fully removable hoses, to make this sort of thing easier. Take the hose off, if you can, and ram something down there like for instance a broomstick. (I like ghharr's garden hose idea, too.)

If the hose doesn't come off then cut up a coat hanger, tape it to the end of the broomstick, bend a hook into one end, and use that to fish out the clog. Once you've got most of it out the rest of it will probably break up enough that you can suck it up into the vacuum like normal.

If the clog is not in the hose itself but rather in some part of the vacuum body, a variation on the coathanger trick (minus the broomstick) will probably work.
posted by Scientist at 1:15 PM on January 20, 2014

Best answer: It looks like you've found a solution, but for future reference (for anyone who might run across this), I came across this tool when at the hardware store once and it's like a little miracle tool for cleaning my twisty vacuum tubes. It bends through inner tubes that can't be removed and it has a little retractable claw at the end to grab on to the blockage and pull it out. It has saved me from having to buy a new vacuum many times over.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:21 PM on January 21, 2014