Vacuum belt replacement is a simple task you can do at home to save time and money. You need to follow the right steps, though. Incorrectly replacing the drive belt can cause it to break prematurely and damage your vacuum cleaner.
Getting Your Materials Together
Depending on the brand and how old it is, you may be able to find the vacuums replacement belt in a few different places. The manufacturer should be the first place you look. You’ll get the exact vacuum replacement belt from their website if available. Should it be out of stock, you can check out sites like Amazon using the model number.
If your vacuum is an older model, or if you can’t find the original belt, the next option is to purchase an aftermarket brand. You can usually get the part from a vacuum cleaner service center or hardware store.Another tool that may be of assistance is a Phillips or slotted screwdriver [1]. You may also want some cleaning products or things to wipe down the inside.
Replacing the Vacuum Belt (4 Simple Steps)
Once you’ve got your belt and tools, follow each step below. The job will likely take 30 minutes or less.
1. Opening the Vacuum
Your vacuum cleaner belt is what connects the motor to the brush roller. Usually, the belt connects to the motor shaft via a metal spindle. In most vacuums, both the brush roller and the drive belt are under a metal plate on the underside of the vacuum [2].
Use your screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the plate to the bottom. You should be able to pull the plate off with your hands but may need to use the screwdriver to pry the edges if stuck.
2. Removing the Used Belt
Once the plate is off the carpet cleaning head, you will see the exposed brush roller and the belt. You need to remove the brush first to pull the belt off. The brush will pull up from one side; usually, the side the belt is on.
Take this opportunity to service the inside of the brush roll housing. This area has likely accumulated a lot of dirt and other matter. If you have pets, you may see pet hair and bits of string and carpet fibers wrapped around the brush. Remove the debris and anything else stuck in there.
3. Replacing the Vacuum Belt
After you’ve cleaned the roller and wiped inside, you can install the new vacuum belt. Start by sliding it onto the motor shaft spindle. If the belt you are replacing is a flat or round type, it may be stiff. You need to apply some tension to stretch the new belt into place.
Thread the end of the brush roll through the new vacuum cleaner belt. You then insert the opposite end into position and apply tension by hand to move everything where it’s supposed to be.
4. Closing and Testing
Set the vacuum cleaner belt then put the cover back over the brush roller. Put the screws back and make sure the machine is back to normal. Now that the new belt is in, you need to test your vacuum.
Find a patch of pet hair or dirt on the floor and test the performance. If the belts correctly attached, the vacuum will clean carpets the same as it did when it was a new model. Watch for signs that the brush isn’t moving. In which case, the belt has likely slipped off the motor. If this happens, you will need to open the cleaning head up again and replace the belt end onto the motor.
Vacuum Belt Replacement - Final Thoughts
Vacuum belts are not immune to regular wear and tear. Thankfully, the process on how to replace a vacuum belt isn’t complicated or time-consuming.
We recommend keeping new spares around as you’ll likely be doing this again in two years or less.
To keep your vacuum in action, you should perform regular inspection. Regularly check the motor and roller in addition to the belts. All these projects are something you can do at home. Different models require different maintenance, so consult with the manufacturer for a list of everything to do.
