How to clear out a clogged vacuum cleaner hose?
Question:I have a canister vacuum, where a flexible hose goes from the sucking end to the rest of the vacuum. I was vacuuming up some bits of shredded insulation and now the hose is clogged in the middle. How can I unclog it?
The hose has angled attachments at both ends that prevent me from pushing a stick or rod into the hose.
A plumber's snake didn't work. It seemed to run into the blockage and stop, and I couldn't push it any farther.
Any other suggestions?
Answers:
If it is like most Vacuum hoses I have seen,
the hose ends are identical on both ends.
Since the insulation was stuck while sucking from one end reversing the hose and sucking from the other might get it out.
BE AWARE that it might then get caught in the Vacuum itself.
If you have acess to an air compressor, you might be able to blow it out, remember you will likely get the best results if the air is flowing into the hose from the end that was connected to the vaccuum so that you are pushing it in the opposite direction from that which got it lodged in the first place.
BE CAREFULL make sure the downstream end / discharge end / outlet end is restricted from movemment before you start and the air pressure is kept low, below 30 PSI is the setting on most standard blow guns. The dischage end should be pointed away from EVERYONE and anything that might be damaged. Remember if this works the stuff stuck is going to blow out of the hose! drapping an old towel or two over the end or pointing it into an old bucket or cardboard box might keep things neater/ safer.
Or
You might want to try to wash it out with water from your garden hose water , remember you will likely get the best results if the air is flowing into the hose from the end that was connected to the vaccuum so that you are pushing it in the opposite direction from that which got it lodged in the first place. Remember if this works the stuff stuck is going to blow out of the hose! drapping an old towel or two over the end or pointing it into an old bucket or cardboard box might keep things neater/ safer.
You will need to let the hose Dry Out Completely before using it again with the vacuum.
Bill
TRY A BROOM HANDLE OR A COAT HANGER
try a hanger and disasemble the vaumm as closest to the clog as you can
wire coat hanger might do the trick, and you can fashion a small loop at the top to try to snag the clog and pull it out of the hose. Good Luck!
attach a garden hose to flush it out. good luck!
When you used the snake, did you rotate it? If you did and it didn't catch the insulation, perhaps you could modify the end so a piece of the spring sticks out a bit.
Also, depending on what the end of the snake looks like, it works best when rotated in one direction or the other.
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