Why is My Vacuum Making That High Pitched Noise?

A vacuum is a device used to remove debris from the floor by sucking in the air using an electric motor to spin and suck in any debris from the surface you are vacuuming. The device works by creating low pressure on the inside, making the air outside be sucked together with dust and other small particles on the surface being cleaned. This makes cleaning easy, effective, and fast. A vacuum is generally noisy, but it is important to check the cause of such unusual noise when you hear a high-pitched noise. According to Philips company, several reasons could be causing the high pitched noise.

Air obstruction – Air obstruction is one of the causes of such noise. If large debris is sacked in your vacuum, it can block the pipe, hose, or nozzle, hindering airflow, leading to a high-pitched noise. It is recommendable to inspect your vacuum for blockage since there might be hairballs or dust restricting airflow. It is also important to check for loose or bent hoses as it too restricts airflow.
Age – The aging factor of the vacuum is another possible cause of your vacuum causing the noise. According to Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/ ), when the device has been used for a long period, usually more than two years, belts might have broken or popped out due to wear, reducing the suction power causing the device to strain and thus producing high pitched noise.
Dried grease on the motor – The grease on the motor of your vacuum grease may have dried up, which causes the metal parts of the motor to lack proper lubrication. When the metal parts rub each other as the motor rotates, they will cause your vacuum to produce the squealing noise. The motor pulley bearing can also be the culprit, which requires regular use of lubricant and greasing the ports of the motor.
A full dust correction bag that is full – A full dust correction bag vacuum of your container cannot be ruled out in the production of the high-pitched noise. When you have a full, full bag, pressure is created within the device as there is no room for the incoming dust. The brush roller may also have long strings or hair caught in, which has the same effect as the full dust correction container. In both cases, therefore, emptying the container or cleaning the brush roller would eliminate the noise.
Uneven operating height – The uneven heights being cleaned can also contribute to the noise from your vacuum. It is important to adjust the operating height of the device according to the surfaces you are cleaning as different surfaces, for example, a carpet or floor, requires a different operating height. If the height of your vacuum is not correctly matched to the operating height then, the vacuum may produce high pitched noise.
A clogged filter – A clogged filter could also cause high-pitched noise in your vacuum. The filter is important in the vacuum since it sifts dirt and particles that are corrected or picked and not visible to the eyes. This is important as such dirt can harm you or other occupants if released into the environment. However, with time the filter may get clogged with this dirt or get broken. If your filter is therefore clogged or broken, this might be what is causing the noise, and you might need to remove, wash and dry it before use or replace it altogether if it is broken. It is worth mentioning that different vacuum models use different filters, and thus you should ensure you are using the correct filter as a wrong one can also lead to this noise. There are recent vacuums that don’t have bags, and they make a lot of noise.
Small caster wheels – The caster wheels for your device could be ignored as a factor contributing to this noise in your device. However, the vacuum wheels should be large enough to help you easily clean different surfaces and carpets as small wheels could lead to the device getting stuck to obstacles or hoses, hence becoming twisted or spoilt, producing this noise.
Inappropriate port intake size – The power of your device is not just determined by a motor alone but also by the size of port intake. When the size of the port is not correct, or the power supply is not enough, your machine will lose its suction power causing your device to produce this noise. This problem is usually straightforward as your device has a clear indication of power ratings.
Replacing extensions with the wrong ones – There different extensions for your device, such as the nozzles and hose, that are regularly changed due to tear and wear. Different companies have different designs for these extensions. In case you have recently changed these extensions, you should confirm whether they are the correct ones recommended by the manufacturer of your device, as these might be the ones causing this noise.
A loosely closed suction cylinder – The status of the suction cylinder of your device is important in its functioning. When the cylinder is not properly closed, it can cause this unusual noise. You should therefore check to ensure that this cylinder is tightly closed. This is also the same principle for the brush roll, which, if not spinning, will cause this noise and should be set securely.
A broken fan – The role of the fan in your device is critical as it generates the negative pressure that causes the suction effect of the vacuum. If a fan is broken, the suction power is not at an optimal level causing the sucked dirt not to be moved through the hose properly, and this also may be contributing to this noise. Household devices such as vacuum cleaners usually produce more noise as they grow old. Therefore, it is important to check on your device’s lifespan from the manufacturer manual as this noise may indicate that it is time to replace it with a new one.