Why Is Dyson Vacuum Not Holding A Charge?

Dyson vacuums offer not only excellent performance when it comes to cleaning your home but also loads of convenience. These vacuums are designed to be left continuously charging so that you can ‘grab and go’ with a fully charged battery anytime you need to start cleaning the floor. But what happens if you discover that your Dyson vacuum isn’t holding a charge as it should?

If your Dyson vacuum is not holding a charge, the problem is with the battery pack or the charger. Wear and tear over many years could result in a battery that can’t hold a charge as it once did. However, damage to the battery can also cause the same problem. Another possibility is that the charger or its wiring is damaged, so it fails to charge the battery.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the reasons why your Dyson vacuum isn’t holding a charge. Then, we’ll look at some frequently asked questions about Dyson vacuum batteries.

What Are The Possible Reasons That A Dyson Vacuum Isn’t Holding A Charge?

If your Dyson vacuum isn’t holding a charge, it could be because:

The Battery Is Old

Dyson vacuum batteries are typically covered by a two-year warranty, though they can remain useful for up to 15 years. With every year that passes, the battery will lose part of its ability to hold a charge. 

In other words, its battery capacity drops over time after repeatedly charging and discharging over several years.

If you’ve had your Dyson vacuum for many years and you start to notice that it can’t hold a charge like it once did, then that’s a clear sign that you should replace it with a new battery.

The Battery Is Damaged

The second possibility is that your Dyson vacuum battery is damaged. You can confirm this by inspecting it up close and looking for any cracks or other visible signs of damage.

If, for example, your battery has fallen onto the ground too many times, the impact could damage the internal parts of the battery, causing it not to function correctly (i.e. charge and discharge).

Damaged batteries can’t be repaired, so this would also require you to buy a replacement battery while disposing of the damaged one in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

The Charger Is Damaged

You may discover that your Dyson battery vacuum is in perfect working order. If that’s the case, then the culprit could be the charger instead.

The Dyson vacuum battery charger is an electrical component like any other. That means it’s susceptible to damage from electrical surges, short circuits, and even water damage.

The charger could also be damaged from impact if it falls on the ground or has something fall onto it several times.

Besides that, the charger’s wiring could also be damaged. Pets may have chewed the wiring and effectively cut it off. Or, you may have tugged on the wiring too hard, causing it to break on the inside.

A damaged charger or one with a broken wire will not charge your Dyson vacuum battery correctly, which might lead you to mistakenly believe that the battery isn’t holding a charge.

How Long Should A Dyson Battery Last?

You can expect a Dyson battery to last at least two years, which is how long it’s covered under the product warranty. However, the battery can last up to 15 years, and its capacity will reduce with each passing year.

The lifespan of the battery generally depends on how often it has been charged and discharged. So, if you were to use the Dyson vacuum more often than the average user, you can expect the battery to wear out sooner than usual.

That’s especially true if you tend to use High Power Modes very often, which involves an exceptionally high level of discharging from the battery.

On the other hand, if you were to use it rarely, your Dyson battery will last much longer.

Can You Reset A Dyson Battery?

Yes, it is possible to reset your Dyson battery. That is usually done as a troubleshooting step when the vacuum doesn’t run, even when the battery is charged, and you’re pulling the trigger.

To reset your Dyson battery, you’ll have to:

1. Unplug the charger from the wall.
2. Plug the charger back in again.
3. Connect the charger to the Dyson vacuum.
4. Pull the trigger and hold for 20 seconds, even though the vacuum doesn’t turn on.
5. Let go of the trigger. Remove the charger from the vacuum and continue using it like normal.

This combination of steps will reset the battery and get your Dyson vacuum running normally again.

Can I Leave My Dyson On Charge All The Time?

Yes, you can leave your Dyson vacuum on charge all the time.

That’s because the batteries are designed to be left continuously charging, keeping the vacuum ready to use at a moment’s notice.

Besides that, you should also leave it on charge after every use so the vacuum can improve the accuracy of its battery and monitoring system’s algorithm.

That algorithm continuously learns how the vacuum works over time (even during charging) and ensures that the battery gets fully charged after every use.

Don’t worry about wasting electricity, though. As soon as the Dyson battery is fully charged, the algorithm ensures that it will stop consuming power through the charger.

How Can I Extend The Life Of My Dyson Battery?

Here are a few handy ways to extend the battery life on your Dyson vacuum:

Use High Power Modes Less Often

Dyson vacuums offer high power modes as one of their features. While that might help vacuum a very challenging mess, it also involves discharging your battery at a much higher rate than usual.

In most cases, that’s alright. However, using high power modes very often will also cause your battery to wear out faster than usual.

So, to extend your battery life, save the high power modes for only when you genuinely need them.

Let It Cool Down Before Recharging

Your Dyson vacuum will run a little hot after every use, especially if you’re using it for extended periods. That heat doesn’t just come from the motor, but it also comes from the battery, which runs hot when discharging the energy stored within.

To extend that battery’s life, give it some time to cool down after every use and don’t recharge it right away. By giving it a chance to cool down, you’ll protect the battery from any excessive heat that will wear out or damage the battery even faster.

Storage Room Temperature

Batteries need to be stored at room temperature to maximize their lifespans, and that’s certainly true for your Dyson battery as well. Keep the battery away from extremely high or low temperatures. High temperatures will cause damage to the battery, while low temperatures below 37°F will prevent the battery from charging or discharging at all.

Discharge The Battery Entirely

Lastly, you can extend a Dyson battery’s lifespan by discharging it thoroughly once a month. That means running the vacuum until it stops completely, thereby draining all power inside the battery.

If you own more than one battery, you can also use them interchangeably so that they wear out much slower than if you only used the same one repeatedly.