Vacuum Brush Not Spinning On Carpet- Reasons And Solves!

Sometimes whenever your vacuum touches the carpet, it stops. To be more precise, the brush roller stops spinning. 

So, why is the vacuum brush not spinning on carpet?

One of the main reasons it’s not spinning on carpets is it’s not in Carpet mode. Depending on the carpet, the pile height also needs to be adjusted. If not, the vacuum brush will get overwhelmed and stop. Also, loose carpet endings might get stuck in the roller causing the roller to not spin. 

But, that’s not all of course. Be sure to read the full article to learn more. 

Vacuum Brush Not Spinning On Carpet- Main Reasons And Fixes!

If the brush only stops spinning when cleaning carpets, it’s most likely not a hardware issue. If it was, you would face the same problems with hard floors or any other surfaces. Here are the main reasons for this inconvenience:

Reason 1: Carpet Mode OFF

Modern vacuums usually have two modes: Hard Floor mode and Carpet Mode. When cleaning carpets brush agitation is necessary. Thus if your Vacuum is set on hard floor mode, the brush will stop spinning on carpets. 

Solution: Turn The Carpet Mode On

Here, simply turn the Hard Floor mode off or turn the Carpet mode on. 

Reason 2: Wrong Pile Height

Some carpets are higher than the floor surface. The vacuum comes with different pile height settings to encounter that. On low pile height settings, if the carpet height is higher, you’ll face this problem. 

Solution: Adjust Pile Height

Here just adjusting the pile height should do the job. Toggle between medium and high pile height to see which works for you. 

Reason 3: Loose Carpet

With time some parts or threads start coming out from the carpet. If the vacuum comes in contact with those parts, it’ll be detected as debris. Thus, the vacuum will try to suck in those loose parts and the brush will get stuck.

Solution: Cut Off Extra Part 

Here simply cut off the loose ends of your carpet before cleaning. 

Vacuum Brush Not Spinning On Carpet- Other Reasons And Fixes!

Other than the reasons mentioned above, hardware issues can also cause the brush to stop spinning. So, be sure to check on these problems. 

Not to mention these are also some of the general reasons for Shark DuoClean Soft Roller not spinning. 

Reason 1: Clogged Brush Roll

Excess dirt and Debris coiled up in the roller may cause it to stop spinning. In some vacuums, you can see it by simply turning the base upside down. But for some, you have to remove the panel above the roller to access it.

This is also one of the main reasons for cordless vacuum brushes not spinning. 

Solution: Clean Dirt And Debris

Access the brush roller according to the make and model of your vacuum. If the panel is screwed in, use a flat-head screwdriver to open it. Take off the roller, clean it with a wet rag and place it back in. 

In some vacuums, there is more than one roller. If one of the rollers can’t be removed from the vacuum, clean it the best you can with dry clothes. You can also use scissors to cut off hair like dirt if it’s stuck to the roller.

Reason 2: Broken Belt

The role is connected to a pulley which spins the roller. This pulley is operated with a drive belt. If the drive built is broken or not seated properly, the pulley won’t spin. Thus, the roller will also not spin. 

Solution: Replace Belt

Remove the panels and covers necessary to access the inner system of the vacuum. The drive belt will be located on the sides. 

It’s usually made of rubber-like material. So if the belt isn’t seated properly, you can adjust it with your hands. Push the belt firmly on the pulley and shaft to place it properly.

If it still doesn’t seat, dremel a hole in the pulley and shaft. Then brad the belt to lock it.

Reason 3: Malfunctioning Motor

The drive motor provides the torque necessary for the roller to spin. With continuous use, it can also become faulty which will cause the roller to stop spinning. 

Solution: Replace Motor

After accessing the inner system you will see the drive motor. Disconnect it from the vacuum and with a multimeter, check the resistance. If you get no resistance levels,  to the motor is broken. Replace it with a new one

Reason 4: Malfunctioning Micro Switch

The Microswitch decides whether or not your Vacuum gets power. The roller spins only when the switch is in open condition. But if the switch is faulty, the motor won’t get any power.

Solution: Replace Micro Switch

Access the inner system and locate the switch. Now, replacing a switch is a tedious task. It’s best to let a professional handle it. But, you can be sure whether it’s faulty or not. Here, you can use a continuity tester to see if there are any readings. 

Reason 5: Damaged Roller

Over the years your roller might also get damaged. The tab space that connects the roller to the vacuum body gets damaged with continuous use. Here’s how a damaged tab space looks:

Even if the vacuum pulley spins, the roller doesn’t. It doesn’t stay attached properly due to this damage.

Solution: Replace The Roller

Here, the solution is to replace the roller brush with a new one. Here’s how a new roller’s tab space should look like:

Reason 6: Air Turbine Issues

Air turbine-driven brushes depend more on the airflow from the hose. If the hose gets clogged due to dirt the air flow gets restricted. Thus, the brush loses power and stops spinning.

These vacuums also have very delicate bearings. Comparatively smaller amounts of hair and dirt buildup are enough to make the unit malfunction.

Solution: Clean The Hose and Bearings

If the hose is clogged, you can easily clean it with a rag. But, if the bearings are the issue, the whole unit has to be disassembled. If you’re not comfortable with technical work, contact a professional. 

Reason 7: Overheated Motor

While using it, if the brush roll gets overheated, the motor might get tripped. This will cause the vacuum to overload and the roller will stop spinning. It happens mainly in canister vacuums. 

Solution: Reset Vacuum

Let the motor cool down. Then press the overload reset button on the vacuum. This will reset the thermostat system and the roller will start spinning again. 

Reason 8: Loose Connections

After accessing the inner system check to see any loose wires in the wire harness. Especially check the wand and nozzle. 

Solution: Reconnect Loose Wires And Repair Broken Wires

If you find any loose wires, reconnect them properly with the system. If the wires are damaged you have to repair them. Here, you can watch this video on how to repair wires:

Lastly, your vacuum might be out of charge. Thus, the roller has stopped spinning. But, sometimes you may face charging issues like the Roomba not charging on the dock. 

Vacuum Not Spinning And Burning Smell

Sometimes when the roller stops spinning you might notice a burning smell from your Vacuum. It usually happens due to a dirty or clogged air filter. The dust and grime block the airflow which causes the vacuum to overheat. Thus, you get the burning smell.

For a dirty air filter, it’s best to replace it. The process might be different for different vacuums. But, you can watch this video as a general guideline:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How to lubricate a vacuum brush roll? 

Disassemble the outer covers to access the brush roll bearings. Clean the bearings off any accumulated dirt. Finally, for each bearing, use a light drop of machine oil. 

How to fix a jammed vacuum?

To fix a jammed vacuum, flip it over and look inside the head. You can use your hands or a thin tool like a screwdriver to push out the accumulated dirt. But, be sure that the tool isn’t sharp. For some vacuums, you might need to disassemble the brush head. 

How to make vacuum suction better?

For optimal vacuum suction, make sure that the dust bag or container is empty. It ensures enough space for airflow. Regularly clean the dust container when it’s 70%-80% full. 

Bottom Line!

Hope you enjoyed reading our article about vacuum brush not spinning on carpet. But, we’d like you to know one last thing. If the burning smell is coming from your motor, the motor bearings can’t be replaced. Replace the motor with a new one.

Thank you!