Miele Vacuum Troubleshooting Guide

Miele, the German manufacturer of household appliances, is known worldwide for its high-quality vacuums. However, despite having a long lifespan, these vacuums face their fair share of problems that will require troubleshooting.

Common problems faced by Miele vacuums include having no power, shutting off unexpectedly, and a lack of suction. Models with powerheads sometimes also spit out debris when saturated with debris. Long fibres trapped in the powerhead could also prevent the brush roll from rotating. Many of these issues involve clogs that can be cleaned by yourself at home. Electrical issues, however, will require a technician’s help.

Related: Shark Vacuum Troubleshooting

Caution!

Before performing any repairs on your Miele vacuum, be sure to disconnect it from the wall socket or remove its battery. Firstly, doing so will remove any risk of electrocution. The same will also reduce your overall injury risk, especially when working with moving parts such as those in the vacuum powerhead and elsewhere.

Troubleshooting Common Miele Vacuum Problems

Here are a few of the most common problems that your Miele vacuum might experience.

No Power or Won’t Turn On

Suppose you plug your Miele vacuum into the wall socket to use it, but it doesn’t turn on. If that’s the case, then it’s likely that the problem is electrical in nature. When your vacuum doesn’t receive the electrical power needed to function, it will not turn on at all.

When it comes to electrical problems related to your Miele vacuum, the issue could be in three possible locations:

• The Incoming Power, i.e. your household power supply and the socket that you plug the vacuum into. To troubleshoot this, make sure that your household has electricity and that your socket is working with other appliances.
• The Power Cable, i.e. the vacuum’s power cable that connects to the wall socket. Check to see that the cable is free from damage.
• The Vacuum’s Electrical System, i.e. the wiring and other electrical components inside. This aspect is not one that you should troubleshoot yourself. Instead, it’s best to refer to a qualified technician to do so.

How to fix it:

The solution to this issue will depend on the root cause.

• If there is a problem with the vacuum’s incoming power, check that the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped. Then, test the vacuum with another wall socket to see if it works.

• A damaged power cable will need to be repaired or replaced.
• If you are unable to do it yourself, it’s best to take your Miele unit to a qualified vacuum repair technician to replace it for you.

Unfortunately, the same is also true if the problem is related to the vacuum’s internal electrical system.

• Electrical repairs like these are quite challenging and dangerous as DIY tasks, so it’s best to hire a professional unless you have the necessary know-how to do it at home safely.

Shuts Off By Itself

In some cases, you might find that you can turn your Miele vacuum on, though it shuts off by itself after a few moments. What’s happening is that the vacuum automatically shuts itself off to protect against overheating. The root cause behind this is an airflow blockage somewhere in the appliance.

Related: 6 Reasons Why Miele Vacuum Is Not Turning On

As a general rule of thumb, remember this: there’s a chance of a blockage wherever there is airflow. So, in your Miele vacuum, that means a blockage could have formed in the metal wand, hose, or the vacuum’s powerhead.

If you haven’t cleaned your Miele vacuum in a long time, then another possibility is that the bag or filters have become saturated with dust. At that point, no airflow can pass through any of these parts.

When a blockage occurs, and airflow is reduced, the vacuum motor heats up very quickly. To prevent overheating, a safety fuse shuts off the vacuum entirely. 

You will only be able to turn the vacuum on again after the fuse has cooled down completely, which typically takes around 3 hours.

How to fix it:

To fix this problem, you must locate any clogs in your vacuum and clean them out entirely. Here are the components you will need to inspect and clean:

• The Flexible Hose: Firstly, drop a small coin through the flexible hose to see if there is any blockage. You can flush the hose with water, but make sure that you let it air dry before reconnecting it to the vacuum.
• The Metal Wand: The metal wand is straight and rigid, making it easier to inspect visually. Look through it to see if there are any blockages. Then, you can wash and dry it to clean out any dust stuck inside.
• The Bag: Check the vacuum bag to see how full it is. Be sure to empty it before it fills up completely.
• The Filters: Depending on the Miele vacuum model you have, there might be one or more filters inside. Some filters must be replaced periodically because they get saturated and prevent air from passing through. Reusable filters will need to be cleaned regularly for the same reason.
• The Powerhead: The section of the powerhead that connects to the wand often traps dirt and dust. Use a flashlight or something similar to ensure that the airway isn’t blocked.

Low Suction

A vacuum with low or weak suction makes it very difficult to clean the dust off the floor. If this is happening to your Miele vacuum, there’s likely a suction leak somewhere in the vacuum.

A suction leak happens when there’s a gap somewhere along the vacuum’s airflow. When this happens, the vacuum will pull in outside air through those gaps instead of focusing all its suction on the ground to collect dust.

These gaps typically happen when filters are not seated firmly, or the vacuum’s cover isn’t closed correctly. The same can also happen if there are small tears and holes in the flexible hose or metal wand.

How to fix it:

To fix this problem, you must inspect the vacuum for any air gaps.

• Start with the vacuum unit itself. Check that each filter is installed correctly and that all covers lock into place as they should. 
• A common cause of this problem in Miele vacuums is the vacuum bag, which rises slightly whenever you open the cover. Check that the vacuum bag is seated correctly so that it doesn’t prevent the cover from closing with a tight seal.
• If the flexible hose or metal wand has a hole in it, you will need to replace them with new parts.
• You could improve suction by sealing those holes with duct tape or something similar as a short-term fix.

Spitting Out Debris 

When it comes to Miele vacuum models with powerheads, a common problem occurs when the vacuum ‘spits’ out debris. So, instead of the powerhead collecting dust and debris, you might find that the powerhead sends some of it shooting out all over the floor.

The root cause of this problem is the brush roll. Over time, the brush roll will become saturated with dirt, dust, hair, and so much more. So instead of being sucked through the wand, all of those items stick to the brush roll.

Remember: the brush roll spins continuously. So when saturated, the brush roll will ‘spit’ a lot of that debris back out onto the floor.

How to fix it:

To fix this, you will need to clean the powerhead thoroughly.

• First, remove it from the metal wand. Then, using your hand, pick out as much of the stuck debris as possible.
• Then, use a screwdriver to open the bottom face of the powerhead.
• That will give you complete access to the brush roll and its bearing, which you can remove to clean thoroughly. 

Remember: the powerhead has a motor built into it. So never wash it, but you can use a damp cloth to wipe the inside clean.

Brush Roll Not Rotating

Another common problem with Miele vacuum powerheads is when the brush roll stops rotating. This problem is very closely related to the one mentioned above, as it’s also caused by too many things getting stuck to the brush roll.

Related: 3 Reasons Why Miele Vacuum Brush Is Not Spinning

However, in this case, it’s primarily long fibres like those from human hair and pet fur.

A buildup of long fibres can cause the brush roll to jam. That could lead to the powerhead motor overworking and damaging itself. That’s why, as another protective measure, the powerhead will stop its brush roll from rotating when it senses a clog.

Related: 5 Reasons Why Miele Vacuum Powerhead Is Not Working

How to fix it:

This problem is solved the same way as the previous brush roll issue.

• Start by disconnecting the powerhead from the metal wand.
• Then, use your hand to remove as much hair and debris as possible manually.

If the buildup is too thick, you can use a pair of scissors to cut through it. However, be extra careful not to cut the bristles on the brush roll as you do that. Of course, removing the brush roll will also help you clean that part more thoroughly.