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Shark Vacuum Won’t Turn On/Turn Off/Stay On

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Shark vacuum cleaners are pretty popular because of how sturdy and reliable they are. However, they’re not indestructible, and minor problems such as refusal to start or turn off and persistently going off might occur along the way.

Your Shark vacuum cleaner won’t turn on/ turn off/ stay on probably due to not being plugged in correctly, failing to flip the power switch on, a blown fuse, tripped circuit breaker, clogged filters, faulty motor, overheating, and parts needing replacement.

The rest of the article will share with you the possible causes and possible solutions to common Shark vacuum cleaner malfunctions.

Shark Vacuum Won’t Turn On: Causes / How To Fix

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Shark vacuum cleaners might be cleaning Hero’s, but even heroes have bad days. If your Shark vacuum cleaner won’t start, you’re not alone; this is a pretty common problem. Sometimes the faults require technical solutions, but there are some simple solutions you can try to get it to start running again.

Like with most problems, identifying the root cause of your Shark vacuum cleaner’s malfunction is the first step to fixing it. Sometimes it might be due to faulty parts or problems with set up.

Power Switch

It’s not groundbreaking, but sometimes merely forgetting to turn on your Shark vacuum cleaner might be the reason it’s not working. Start by checking to see that you’ve flipped the on switch the right way.

The power switch lies on the handle closest to your thumb. It might be a circle with “I” inscribed on it. The power switch might also be faulty, making it challenging to switch your vacuum cleaner on.

After confirming your vacuum is indeed turned on, let’s head on to other possible causes.

Power Plug

Your Shark vacuum is an electrical device and would need to maintain contact with electricity to function. Check to see that you’ve plugged in the power plug correctly to the outlet. You could try tugging the cord lightly to ensure that the connection is secure.

Faulty Cord

A rip here or a tear there on your Shark vacuum cleaner’s cord could be the reason it won’t turn on. These damages could happen to your vacuum cleaner’s cord over time from consistent usage.

Besides stopping your Shark vacuum from working, tears on the cord could be dangerous. Unplug the vacuum from the outlet to reduce electric shock chances and carefully examine it to identify possible tears. If you find that the cord has Tera’s that might be responsible for its failure to turn on, consider taking it to an electrician to fix it.

Blown Fuse

Due to its high electricity consumption, your vacuum could blow a fuse. Check around to find one in your vacuum cleaner or outlet. Replace any blown fuses and try starting your vacuum again. If that doesn’t work, you could test it for other possible problems.

Circuit Breaker

Your Shark vacuum cleaner, like most vacuum cleaners, draws up lots of currents and could trip your circuit breaker. If you trip your circuit breaker, there might be no power in the socket to power your Shark vacuum.

If you own an AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupter) circuit breaker, it responds to any slight electrical arcing from your vacuum cleaner and is more likely to get tripped. You might want to check your circuit breaker to confirm the fault doesn’t originate from there, even if you don’t have the AFCI type.

Try pressing the reset button on your outlet to restore power. If your outlet doesn’t have a reset button, you might need to go to your circuit breaker. You might find it in your basement. There are so many switches, and it’s easy to get confused; however, you won’t be doing anything technical. Look at the controls and find anyone facing the opposite direction from the others. Flip the odd switch in the right direction. That should restore power to the outlet.

Clogged Filters

Over time, dirt and debris can clog your Shark vacuum cleaner’s filters. Usually, these would reduce its suction power, but if you don’t fix it soon, it could eventually cause your vacuum cleaner to shut down.

Consider cleaning out your filters every two to three months to remove dirt. Put it under running water till you’ve removed all debris.

Overheating

Your vacuum cleaner can get pretty hot from normal functioning, especially if it’s an older model. The thermostat shuts off the motor when it recognizes your overheating vacuum cleaner.

If your vacuum cleaner overheats frequently, it could be a sign of clogged filters, faulty motor, or other electrical faults. Your vacuum might also have problems with a defective thermostat, which can shut it off even at average temperatures.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on February 17, 2021.

Consider letting your vacuum cool for some minutes before trying to turn it on again. If the problem comes from the thermostat, you might want to seek professional help.

Motor

Your vacuum’s motor has lots of moving components that could stop working or break. If you have a broken motor, it could cause your vacuum not to turn on. You would need to take it to a professional for repairs; however, a new motor might cost more than replacing the vacuum. You would need to consult your electrician on the best course of action.

Shark Vacuum Won’t Turn Off: Causes / How To Fix

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Sometimes an otherwise correctly working Shark vacuum cleaner won’t turn off. Try pressing the power switch a few times to switch it off. If it doesn’t work, it could be due to power switch failure. Unfortunately, this isn’t something we’d advise you to fix yourself, and you would be better off seeking professional help.

Before the professionals arrive, unplug the power plug from the power outlet to shut it off.

Shark Vacuum Won’t Stay on/Keeps Going Off: Causes / How To Fix

Frustrated man sitting in front of laptop

A vacuum cleaner that keeps going off in between cleaning is no fun, especially if you have a large area to clean. What if I told you there are ways you can fix it up and get back to work. Let’s dive into the possible causes of a Shark vacuum that won’t stay on and ways to fix it.

Blocked Filters

Blocked filters are pretty easy to fix the problem that’s pretty common with vacuums. Ideally, you should clean out your vacuum’s filters every other month, but if you don’t clean it routinely, it could cause your vacuum to malfunction, including abrupt stops in between cleaning.

Start by cleaning your vacuum thoroughly. Empty the bin making sure to remove any possible blockages of the bin inlet. Also, clean the dust bucket with a microfiber cloth.

Take out the filter and try the vacuum cleaner. If it works without the filter, the problem probably comes from a dirty filter. Wash the filter with water till you’ve removed all debris.

Low Battery

If you have a cordless Shark vacuum, then you might already know that it runs on a battery and doesn’t need to be plugged into a power source to function.

If your Shark cordless vacuum keeps going off, it might be due to a low battery. You might observe a flashing indicator telling you when the battery is low. Try charging the batteries and turning it on again.

Faulty Parts

Like most things, your Shark vacuum cleaner’s parts don’t last forever and might need replacement sooner or later. Some components like the motor, battery, or bin might be due for a change. If you’ve tried fixing your Shark vacuum problems with some remedies, it could be time to take it to the experts. They’ll diagnose the problem and tell you if the faulty part is worth replacing or not.

Electrical Problems

You would want to confirm that this problem with your vacuum isn’t due to an electrical fault. Check to see that the wall socket functions correctly and fits in the plug securely. The problem could also be from a faulty motor or other electrical faults.

Shark Vacuum Power Button Stuck

A Shark vacuum power button getting stuck is often due to accumulated dirt, dust, or debris around the button, which hinders its movement. A straightforward remedy is to turn off and unplug the vacuum, then gently clean around the power button using a damp cloth or a soft brush, ensuring the removal of any obstructions.

Wear and tear over time can lead to internal misalignments or damaged components, causing the Shark vacuum’s power button to jam. In such cases, carefully disassembling the vacuum’s control panel area to inspect and realign any misplaced components can often fix the button’s stuck issue. Ensure the vacuum is unplugged during this process.

Final Thoughts

Your Shark vacuum cleaner might have operational problems such as failing to turn on or off and won’t stay on. Sometimes the cause might be easy to fix, such as failing to plug on the power cord or not flipping the power switch.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on February 17, 2021.

Other times, the issue might arise due to overheating or faulty parts such as:

  • Motor
  • Clogged filters
  • Failing batteries

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on February 17, 2021.

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