Don’t you just love when technology fails you at the most inappropriate times?
Right when you thought you had almost finished cleaning your home to perfection, boom! The vacuum decides to take a break.
But don’t worry, I have got your back!
If your Riccar vacuum brush roller is not spinning, it may be due to lodged debris in the brush, a broken brush roll or belt, or you might simply be using the wrong floor type settings.
Let’s take a look at how we can get your Riccar brush to spin again 🙂
Reasons Why Your Riccar Vaccum Brush Is Not Spinning
As mentioned in the intro, your Riccar vacuum brush roller can stop spinning for the following reasons:
- Your Riccar vacuum is locked in the upright position
- You are using the incorrect floor type settings
- Debris stuck in the roller
- The brush roller is worn out
- Your Riccar vacuum belt is broken
Below I listed a few troubleshooting steps you can go through in sequence and that can be applied to most Riccar vacuums models.
However, make sure you contact Riccar should you need any further assistance.
How Do You Fix A Riccar Vacuum Brush That Doesn’t Spin?
You can fix a Riccar vacuum brush roller that does not spin by trying the 5 solutions below.
Go through them in order and feel free to stop if a particular step has helped you fix the issue:
1. Ensure Your Riccar Vacuum Is Not Locked In Upright Position
Riccar upright vacuums can be locked in the upright position for storage.
When in this position, the brush will not rotate.
All you have to do to fix this is press the Handle Release Pedal with your foot to recline the handle.
Once reclined, ensure the correct floor type settings are on.
2. Use The Correct Floor Type Settings
Most Riccar vacuums feature settings you can change based on the type of floor you need to clean.
In addition, they have a Brushroll Auto Shut-Off Feature that will stop the brushroll from spinning whenever the vacuum is first turned on.
The feature was added to prevent damaging hard flooring.
Therefore, if you wish to get the brush roll to spin to clean your carpet, make sure you select the carpet cleaning settings.
See below images to get an idea of what your Riccar vacuum settings may look like (They may vary depending on the model you own):
3. Remove Any Lodged Debris
If steps 1-2 did not help, you should check for any lodged debris that could prevent your Riccar vacuum roller from spinning.
When a foreign object like a rug, clothing item, hair, and debris becomes tangled in the vacuum brush, it causes the brush roller to jam.
This will trigger your Riccar vacuum’s safety mechanism, turn off the brush roller, and, in some models, display a red light.
I recommend you consult the user manual of your specific Riccar vacuum model, as it will tell you exactly how to remove the brush roll, clean it, and put it back.
However, the steps below will give you an idea of how you can proceed:
Step 1: Grab a screwdriver and take off the plastic lid located at the bottom of your Riccar vacuum.
Step 2: Remove the roller.
Step 3: Check for lodged hair and lint. Clean the brush to remove debris.
Step 4: Put the roller down on the floor in a vertical position.
Step 5: Use one hand to push the brush roll to the floor while rotating it with the other hand. This will allow you to evaluate whether the roller spins smoothly. If it doesn’t, you may need to replace it.
Step 6: Install the roller back in your Riccar vacuum and test the machine.
4. Replace The Brush Roller
If the issue persists and your Riccar vacuum roller fails to spin despite following all the steps above, you may need to replace roller.
Check your Riccar vacuum manual to ensure you order the correct part based on your vacuum model.
Once you receive the new brush roller, follow these steps:
Step 1: Grab a screwdriver and take off the plastic lid located at the bottom of your Riccar vacuum.
Step 2: Remove the old brush roll.
Step 3: Install the new roller brush, ensuring the belt is positioned correctly on the motor shaft and the roller.
Below is a video showing how to replace both the brush roll and belt on your Riccar vacuum (The belt is next thing we are going to try to sort out):
5. Replace The Belt
When excessive debris gets lodged in the brush roller, the vacuum has to work harder.
This puts extra tension on the belt and can cause it to break.
A broken belt is easy to spot, as it will either look frayed, snapped or too stretched.
Order a new belt and follow the steps below to replace it (or watch the video above):
Step 1: Grab a screwdriver and take off the plastic lid located at the bottom of your Riccar vacuum.
Step 2: Remove the brush roll.
Step 3: Remove the belt.
Step 4: Grab the new belt and attach one side to the motor shaft of your Riccar vacuum.
Step 5: Stretch the belt over the correct side of the brush.
Step 6: Put the roller back in your vacuum.
Step 7: Close the lid and secure it with screws.
Do Riccar Vacuum Cleaner Brushes Wear Out?
Yes, vacuum cleaner brushes wear out because they continuously rub against the carpet. Like a toothbrush, the vacuum cleaner roller bristles can flatten and get too soft, so you should replace vacuum cleaner brushes regularly.
When Should I Replace My Riccar Vacuum Brush Roller?
On average, Riccar vacuum brush rollers need replacing every 1-2 years. However, you may need to replace it more often if you use your Riccar vacuum daily. Inspect the brush roll to see if the bristles are worn out and loose. That is a good indication that the Riccar vacuum brush roller needs changing.
Conclusion
There are so many reasons why your Riccar vacuum brush roller may not be spinning. Troubleshooting is crucial to get your vacuum roller to spin again:
- Ensure your Riccar vacuum is not locked in the upright position
- Use the right floor type settings
- Remove any lodged debris
- Replace the brush roller
- Replace the belt
Contact Riccar consumer care for further assistance.
