Why Is My Shark Vacuum Not Charging?

There isn’t anything more annoying than finding out that your vacuum didn’t charge. A 30-minute chore can quickly become a one or two-hour chore thanks to troubleshooting, but what causes a vacuum not to charge?

Your Shark vacuum is not charging because the battery or the charger might need to be replaced. It’s also possible that the charger is too dirty and is blocking the connection between the contacts or that the outlet the charger is plugged into is faulty.

Troubleshooting your vacuum for this problem is easy and shouldn’t take more than ten minutes. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to get your vacuum charging again.

Reasons the Shark Vacuum Won’t Charge

It’s frustrating when your vacuum won’t charge, but it’s an easy problem to solve, and it won’t take up too much of your day. There are only a few reasons why your vacuum won’t charge:

Faulty outlet: It’s possible that the outlet you’re using isn’t working.
Dead battery: Rechargeable batteries eventually lose their ability to hold a charge.
Dead or dirty charger: Your charger may have stopped working and needs to be replaced. Or, it may have collected too much dust on the contacts and needs to be cleaned.

If one of these reasons isn’t the cause of your vacuum not charging, it could be a malfunction that might be covered by a warranty. After you finish troubleshooting, contact the Shark company to see if your problem is covered by their warranty.

Troubleshooting Your Shark Vacuum

Test the Outlet

Begin troubleshooting by starting at the power source. If your vacuum won’t charge and you keep the charger plugged into the same outlet, the outlet might be the problem.

To test the outlet:

Plug in a lamp or mobile phone into the same outlet as the vacuum. If the lamp doesn’t turn on or the phone doesn’t charge, then you can know the outlet isn’t working.
Plug the vacuum charger into a different outlet. Charge the vacuum in a different outlet. If it charges without issues, then the outlet you were using was the problem. If the vacuum still won’t charge, then the outlet isn’t the issue.

Test the Vacuum

The vacuum itself might have an issue that’s preventing it from charging. Plug the vacuum directly into the wall and turn it on. Make sure the suction is strong and that it’s functioning normally as you vacuum.

If the vacuum doesn’t have any problems while it’s plugged into the wall, then it’s the batteries or the charger that is causing the issue.

Change the Batteries

Just like a mobile phone battery, rechargeable vacuum batteries can lose the ability to hold power. This is typically a problem for older vacuums, so if you bought your vacuum recently, this probably isn’t the issue you’re having.

A Shark vacuum typically takes sixteen hours to charge. If you allow your vacuum to charge for the full amount of time and it doesn’t last, but for a few minutes, then it’s time to replace the battery.

Shark batteries are available on Amazon, like this HQRP Battery that’s compatible with the Shark Freestyle Navigator Cordless Stick Vacuum. Batteries are also available to purchase on the Shark website.

Clean the Charger and Battery

Sometimes a poor connection between the battery contacts is the reason the vacuum won’t charge. The contacts on both the battery and the charger both need to be clear. Excessive dirt can cover up too much of the contacts and prevent them from connecting enough to carry the power through.

Unplug the charger before you begin wiping it. Use a dry microfiber cloth like the AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth to clean the areas. A regular cotton towel might leave behind too much lint. Microfiber cloths are less messy and pick up more dust than regular towels can.

Don’t use a damp cloth for any reason, as it can damage the electronic parts. If water droplets are left behind, they can contribute to the bad connection, so it’s best just to use a dry cloth.

Wipe off the contact areas on both the vacuum and the vacuum charger. Be sure you wipe down the contacts and the surrounding areas. Check any crevices where dust can build up and make sure those are all clean.

Once you finish wiping off these areas, plug in the charger and place the vacuum on it. If the light comes on to show that it’s charging, then the dirt buildup was the issue.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on August 17, 2020.

If the vacuum still isn’t charging, there might be some other kind of malfunction that will require repairing or replacing.

Be sure to wipe off the contact areas frequently so you can prevent dust from building up and preventing the vacuum from getting charged.

Clean the Vacuum

The last resort of troubleshooting charging issues is to clean the vacuum. When the vacuum isn’t charging, it usually isn’t related to how full or dirty the canister and hoses are. But, you need to be sure to try everything before you try to replace parts or buy a new vacuum altogether.

To clean the vacuum:

Empty the dust canister. Dump out all of the debris and rinse out the canister with water. Allow the canister to air dry completely before putting it back into the vacuum. A full dust canister will usually result in dirt being spit out rather than sucked in.
Check for blockages. Remove all of the attachments and wands and empty out any debris that is clogged. You may need to use a broomstick or your finger to knock out stuck clumps of debris. Check all of the openings between the vacuum head and the dust cup, as these areas are prone to get blocked up.
Clean the brush head. The rolling brush in the head of the vacuum will likely have hair wrapped around it with other debris trapped inside. If necessary, use scissors to cut through the tightly wrapped hair. The brush can be removed from the vacuum head for easy cleaning.

After you have finished cleaning and unclogging the vacuum, let it charge for sixteen hours and then try to use it again. If you have tried all of the advice in this article and it still won’t charge, you likely have an issue that can’t easily be repaired without a new part or taking it to a repair shop to get fixed.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on August 17, 2020.

Consider Getting a Replacement

If troubleshooting your vacuum doesn’t solve your problem, you will likely need a replacement part, a repair, or a brand new vacuum.

Look for a local vacuum repair shop. You can bring your vacuum to them, and they’ll be able to diagnose what the problem is and fix it for you. They’ll also have replacement parts for you to purchase.

You can also visit the Shark website or Amazon for replacement parts, but you’ll need to know what’s wrong with your vacuum so you can buy the correct parts.

The Shark Support Center has several resources you can use, including warranty information, manuals, and speaking with a representative to find a solution to your problem.

If all else fails, you might not have any other option but to buy a new vacuum.

Prevent a Shark Vacuum Charger From Breaking

Preventing a Shark vacuum’s charger from going bad requires proper usage and maintenance. One of the most important things to do is to use the charger that comes with the vacuum, as using a third-party charger can damage the battery and cause the charger to go bad.

Additionally, it is important to avoid overcharging the battery, as this can also cause the charger to go bad. To prevent overcharging, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging the vacuum and to unplug the charger once the battery is fully charged.

It is also important to store the charger properly in a dry, cool place when not in use to prevent damage. Regularly cleaning the vacuum’s filter and checking for blockages can also help prevent damage to the battery and charger. If the charger does go bad, it is important to contact the manufacturer’s customer support for guidance on how to replace it.

By taking these preventative measures and properly using and maintaining the charger, a person can ensure that their Shark vacuum continues to function properly and lasts for years to come.

Final Thoughts

When your Shark vacuum doesn’t charge, it’s usually a problem with the battery or charging station. Make sure the battery contact areas are clean and that the outlet is working. Replace the batteries if they’re old and make sure the vacuum is clean. Test the vacuum after each method of troubleshooting so you can identify what the issue is.

If you can’t find a solution yourself, contact a vacuum repair shop or Shark customer service to find out what you need to do. Depending on how long you’ve had your vacuum, it might be protected by a warranty.