Why Is My Dyson Cleaner Overheating?

Dyson vacuum cleaners have a variety of components that can malfunction under operation and overheat. When a Dyson cleaner is equipped with a thermal cut-off safety system, it will shut itself down to prevent damage due to overheating. This will allow the operator to examine the cleaner in relative safety and troubleshoot the problem before there is further damage to the motor unit.

Filters in Dyson cleaners need to be maintained on a regular basis to keep them free of dust and dirt. To clean the filter, remove the cyclone unit from the vacuum cleaner, unlock the top of the cyclone and remove the filter. Soak it in cold water for five minutes, then rinse it off and squeeze the water out of it. Leave the filter to dry for 12 hours in a warm place before replacing it in the unit.

When a tube becomes blocked on a vacuum cleaner, the unit will continue trying to suck in air. This will cause the motor to work harder which, in turn, heats it up. If your Dyson cleaner is overheating, try removing the cleaning head from the main body and putting your hand over the suction pipe in the machine itself. If the machine sucks, there is a blockage in the cleaning head tube that must be removed.

In a similar manner to how a tube blockage can overheat a Dyson, blockages in the brush bar will prevent the unit from turning the cleaning brushes, meaning the motor has to work harder. Turn off the unit, unplug it from the power supply and lay it on one side. Try turning the brush bar and remove any dirt or other debris from the unit as this could be causing the blockage.

The seals around the cyclone help produce and maintain the vacuum that allows a Dyson cleaner to function correctly. A damaged, badly fitting or missing seal will prevent the development of a vacuum in the cyclone assembly, causing overheating. Remove the cyclone assembly, check that the seals are fitted correctly then click the assembly firmly back into place.