When Should I Change My Vacuum Belt? – Sewing Machines Los Angeles

We’re often asked by customers: How often should I change the belt in my vacuum cleaner?

The answer – there is no ‘right’ answer. But there are some simple guidelines to follow, and things you should know.

First of all, you should understand that the purpose of the brushroll in your vacuum is to simply separate the carpet fibers so the airflow created by the vacuum cleaner can pull to dust particles into the cleaner.

The purpose of the belt is to turn to the brushroll. Despite some of the pitches made by manufacturers, it really is that simple.

What you need to know if that there are basically two kinds of vacuum belts: flat belts and geared belts.

Flat belts are less expensive, but unfortunately, they are designed to stretch and wear out. As they stretch, the brushroll on your machine turns slower, making your cleaning efforts less efficient. It’s possible for them to become so loose your brushroll stops turning entirely. The rule of thumb is to replace a flat belt every 3 months.

Geared vacuum belts (which have teeth that ride on the gears in the machine) can be found on many high end vacuums. While more expensive, they do not stretch out, and generally will only need to be replaced when they break.

By following these guidelines depending on the vacuum belt your machine contains, and you’ll see your cleaning efforts improve.

This article copyright 2006 Kevin Haynes – all rights reserved.

Kevin Haynes has been working in the cleaning industry for almost two decades, and currently works with Vacuum Outlet, which specializes in hard to find vacuum belts.