When you are vacuuming carpeting with very low pile, there are times when strings can come up from the carpeting and get wrapped around the roller bar of the vacuum. When this happens, the strings can restrict the motion of the roller bar and cause the motor of the vacuum to overheat. Fortunately, clearing the roller bar of the strings is not overly difficult to do on your own. Use the following guide to learn how to clear your roller bar quickly and easily.

Remove the Door

Lay the vacuum flat on the floor so that the bottom of the vacuum is perpendicular to the floor. Use a screwdriver to remove the small screws that keep the door that is located over the roller in place. There will usually be roughly five to eight of the small screws holding the door in place. Once the screws are removed, you should be able to easily pop the door free from the vacuum.

Remove the Bar

Next, you should see the bar that goes from one side of the vacuum to the other. There will be a small belt that is wrapped around a knob in the vacuum and the bar. Pull the edge of the belt free from the knob and it will release the tension on the bar. The bar is positioned into two notches that are located on either end of the vacuum. Pull the bar out, away from the vacuum and both the belt and the bar will be released.

Clean the Bar

Next, use a pair of scissors to carefully snip any strings from the bar. They will be wrapped tightly around the bar so you need to take your time to ensure that you do not cut any of the bristles on the roller brush. Throw away the strings and wipe the bar down with a clean, wet rag.

Replace the Bar

Wrap the belt around the bar so that it is looped over the small notch that is built into the bar. Place the ends of the bar back into the edge notches on the vacuum and push them into place. Wrap the belt back around the small knob located in bottom of the vacuum.

Replace the door

Push the door against the opening of the vacuum and use the screwdriver to place the screws back into place. Be sure that you do not tighten the screws too much, as it could crack the thin plastic door.

Once the roller bar is clear of the strings and back in place, you can use the vacuum as you normally would. It is best to remove the roller bar and clean it off every few months, depending on how frequently you use the vacuum. This will decrease the chances of the bar becoming stuck and burning up your vacuums motor. (for more information, contact Sutton & Son Appliances)