Vacuum smells like burning dust. How do I fix this?

Question

This is really rediculous. After I finish vacuuming, it smells like I lit a bunch of dust on fire, or at least warmed it up real good. I have a 4 or 5 year old Dirt Devil upright Vision. I have changed the belt (the belt looked tight and not worn but just in case) and I also changed the stupid filter. The rollers are clean. What else could it be?

Answer 1

I've had to do this too. Get ready to get messy- you may want to head to the garage for this. You are smelling burning dirt because... well, dirt is burning! After enough use, eventually enough particles will come in contact with the hot spot (near the motor) that you can smell them as they burn off. Eventually your vacuum will overheat and die if not cleaned. You need to crack that sucker open and wipe the exterior motor clean. A damp rag works well- its even better if you have a little hand vac around to make sure that no dust is accidentally falling back into the intake vents of your vacuum.

Answer 2

Cleaning as suggested above will help prolong the life of the machine. However, when this same thing happened to me, the motor burned out later anyway. If it is 4/5 years old, truth is, it's dying of old age. Time to get a new one.  

Answer 3

stop vacuuming. or clean the machine.

Answer 4

This may sound silly but take it to an auto repair garage or someone/somewhere that has an air compressor with a blowing attachment. Use the compressed air to blow the whole thing out paying particular attention to the motor... That's most likely where the burning smell is originating from. Dust collects there and the motor gets hot while you use it (as do all of them).

It might be helpful prior to going to remove the cover to allow  you access to the motor. Then your not wasting someones time removing the cover while your there. Reassemble when you get back home.

On a side note:

looking at your screen name and your cowgirl hat I'm going to guess you like horses or related farm activities? If you have friends that have a farm they most likely will have a compressor on site that they use to fill related equipment tires ;)  

Answer 5

sprinkle that deodorizer powder on that carpet and vacuum it up

Answer 6

actually hun  i think your vaccum belt is slipping ok just put on a new belt and it should be ok

Answer 7

Take it outside and give it a good shaking.  Sounds like there is still loose dirt up in there.

Answer 8

That odor that you smell is actually the scent of the dust combined with the heat being produced when your vacuum is running.  That means the motor itself is dirty. If you've done everything and the smell is still there then I guess you have to buy a new unit. Try getting a canister type.  By experience it's better than the upright.

Answer 9

You know I have a vacuum that makes things smell burnt too.  I figured out that the vacuum was actually burning the carpet underneath.  I had left it running in one spot once and it left a burnt spot.

Answer 10

vaccuum more often. SERIOUSLY, CLEAN YOUR HOUSE MORE OFTEN AND IT WON'T BE SO DUSTY.  GEEZ.

Answer 11

I had the same problem.  It drove me nuts, cause then my whole house smelled like "burnt dirt".  You have to take it apart a little more and clean everything, you can have a professional do it but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.  I did that a few times and the smell went away, but then it died on me.

RIP Dirt Devil - 9 years old :(

So I bought a Eukera Wind Tunnel....love it.