It’s finally happened. Your vacuum cleaner has decided to no longer function properly. You’ve got company coming over, a huge mess on the floor and no way of cleaning it up. Now what? Do you fix it or do you go and buy a new one? The decision is never an easy one, but is one that this article will hopefully help you make.
Love Your Vacuum?
If your relationship with your vacuum cleaner has been somewhat of a tenuous one, you might not want to take the time or the money to fix it. However, if buying your vacuum was the best decision you’ve ever made, then it might be a little easier to see yourself investing the time, money and effort into getting it fixed.
How Much?
So, now that you have met the first hurdle, it’s time to decide how far you are willing to go. Experts tend to agree on at least one thing when it comes to vacuum cleaners; you shouldn’t spend more than half of the initial purchase cost to repair it.
Vacuum cleaner costs vary widely and generally coincide with the average lifespan of the appliance itself. Generally speaking, the more you spend on a vacuum, the longer it should last. If you plan on repairing your vacuum, make sure that the repair costs don’t exceed the half price threshold to keep you from getting in deeper than necessary.
It’s Probably Fixable
In almost every case, vacuums are fixable. These are fairly simple machines and the most common problem is that they lose suction. Most do-it-yourselfers can find the cause of the loss of suction fairly quickly and can clean out the clog with minimal effort. However, in some cases, a trained professional should be called in, especially if you are dealing with an expensive machine. This includes any electrical issues or when moving parts aren’t moving.
When It’s Not Fixable
In most cases – unless you have a wet vac, vacuuming up anything liquid will destroy any vacuum. If the suction motor is loud, there is a good chance that it is at the end of its useful life and thus the vacuum will need to be replaced. This is because the suction motor is the most expensive element of any vacuum. And, unless you own one of the most expensive vacuums on the market, replacing the suction motor will exceed the half cost threshold.
And then, of course, there’s the issue of vacuuming up something so nasty you simply can’t clean it out of the vacuum. Not only will this cause performance issues, but could also cause some aesthetic issues as well. Replacement is usually recommended here as well.
At the end of the day, only you can decide whether or not your vacuum is worthy of being repaired. If you still have questions, contact your local vacuum repair man.
If you are looking for a better vacuum repair man, check out Valley Vacuum and Sewing. They offer quality vacuum repair services on a wide variety of makes and models.