Is your shark vacuum suddenly making high pitch noises? Not sure what to do about it? Then it’s time for you to get your hands dirty.
Even when they’re working properly, vacuums aren’t exactly quiet machines. Throw into the mix something going wrong with their operation, and the resulting high pitch voice might become so loud as to become unbearable, especially for the children and elderly in your household.
Fortunately for you, fixing this issue isn’t that difficult provided you can identify its root cause. And to help you do just that, this article comes into play.
Reduce high Pitch Noise of your Shark vacuum
There could be any number of reasons why your vacuum suddenly decided to turn its volume dial-up, which is why each of the following steps deals with a different cause.
Step 1: For the first-time problem
If it’s only the first time that your vacuum’s noise level has gone up, something might have got stuck in it.
To rectify this problem, unplug your Shark and check the beater brush. What you’re looking for is anything which might chock the vacuum. If you want to be sure that the beater brush area isn’t the reason behind the loud voice, disconnect the hose attachment and turn on the vacuum.
Provided your vacuum sounds fine, then there’s something stuck in the beater brush, in which case you might have to clean it using a worn-out hairbrush. However, if the cleaner continues to emit a loud noise, turn it off and disconnect the hose before checking it.
If your vacuum is still making odd noises, it’s time to move on to the next option.
Step 2: If you can’t remember the last time you changed its filter
When was the last time you changed the filter of your Shark? If you don’t have a definite answer to this question, it’s time to replace the filter. A clogged filter blocks the airflow of your vacuum, causing its noise level to go up.
Remember, you do NOT have to clean it as most Shark vacuums nowadays come with filters that require replacement and not cleaning. So you can’t just wash the filter and put it back on if you want to get rid of that high pitch noise for good.
Step 3: If the vacuum is producing a rattling noise
There are three reasons why vacuum cleaners make a rattling sound:
1. Canister has trapped something noisy
To check the canister, unplug the vacuum and detach the canister from the body as you’d do it normally.
Then, once you’re emptying the canister, carry out a close inspection to be fully sure that nothing has got trapped in one of its many crevices.
2. Something has stuck in the beater brush
In case you’re not sure, a beater brush is that cylinder-like brush which scrubs your carpet. To check it, unplug the vacuum and flip it over so that you can easily see its underside which is where the beater brush lies.
Most upright vacuums and vacuums for pet hair give you this option of turning off the beater brush. Provided your model has this option, turn off the beater brush and restart your cleaner.
If the noise still persists, then something is definitely stuck in the beater brush.
3. Belt has popped off
In traditional handheld vacuums as well as bagged cleaners, you might encounter the problem of the belt popping off and making rustling noises.
However, if you have bought your Shark only recently, it is likely that the source of its loud noise isn’t a popped-off belt.
Step 4: If the vacuum is making a whistling noise
Something inside your vacuum has a hole in it if the cleaner is making whistling noises. Two components inside your vacuum have a design that makes them susceptible to producing whistling noises. They include its hose and the canister.
1. Check the hose
To check the hose, remove it and turn on the vacuum to check whether the whistling noise is still there with the hose absent. If the noise has stopped, it’s time for you to purchase a new hose for your Shark cleaner.
2. Check the canister
If the problem persists, inspect the canister and check its creeks for any holes which might be letting the air out to produce a high-pitch noise. If you end up finding holes, then there’s no solution but to buy a new vacuum as the presence of plastic means that you cannot fix holes with glue or any other adhesive.
Step 5: If the vacuum is making a grinding noise
If that’s the case, then the motor of your vacuum – whose grease might have worn out to allow metal-on-metal contact – is the main culprit. That is, because, when metal rubs against metal, grinding or high-pitch noises are emitted.
Fixing a faulty motor depends on your model’s date of purchase. With cleaners having an average shelf-life of 7 years, those whose motor gets damaged after this time are usually beyond repair. That means that you might have no choice but to purchase a new vacuum.
However, if you think you don’t have enough budget to buy a new model – or just want to give the existing vacuum one last shot before throwing it out – you can always hire a technician to try and repair the faulty motor.
In Conclusion
Having listed all the common causes behind the sudden high-pitch noise which some vacuums might emit, we can say with certainty that if none of these tips work for you, then it’s time that you get a new Shark vacuum for pet hair (or any other purpose depending on your usage).
