As a Shark vacuum owner and Ideal Home’s resident Vacuum Expert, I know better than most just how fickle these appliances can be. And if you’re scratching your head and wondering why your Shark vacuum keeps stopping, it’s my job to ease those woes.
Yes, although the best Shark vacuums are considered the crème de la crème of the floor cleaning world, there’s no denying that this particular brand isn’t immune to common vacuum problems that can affect their performance and overall value for money. And one of the things I wish I knew before buying a Shark vacuum cleaner is that dealing with these problems head-on (and quickly) is key.
But if your Shark vacuum keeps stopping, the bad news is that it’s probably overheated. The good news? It’s easily fixable, and below I’ve outlined the steps you’ll need to take.
Just as there are common Dyson vacuum problems, there are also common Shark vacuum problems that can interrupt your cleaning flow and potentially cause lasting damage, whether that be a loss of suction or a strange smell coming from your appliance. In most cases, these problems can be traced back to overheating, and this is also the case if your Shark vacuum is cutting out randomly.
This is because most Shark vacuums are kitted out with a motor protective thermostat, which means that the vacuum automatically turns off if it overheats.
Because of this, the Shark website suggests to ‘Unplug the vacuum cleaner from the wall outlet and turn off the switch. Remove the dust cup and empty. Clean dust cup filter. Allow the unit to cool for approximately 1 hour. To restart, re-plug into wall outlet and turn switch back on.’
It’s worth noting that this is the US version of the site, so by ‘dust cup’ they mean the dust canister and the ‘wall outlet’ refers to the plug socket. But cleaning the Shark vacuum filter is also an important step in this troubleshooting process, as a dirty, clogged filter is often the cause of overheating in the first place.
As the Shark website explains, ‘Vacuum cleaner filters catch tiny dust particles in the exhaust air before it is expelled from your vacuum. If the filters aren’t regularly cleaned, this dust can build up until they get blocked, preventing the air from escaping properly. This can reduce suction power.’ In turn, this will trigger the motor protective thermostat, cause it to overheat, and keep stopping.
Of course, cleaning the filter should be part and parcel of your Shark vacuum cleaner cleaning process anyway, but I know that it can often be hard to keep up with this maintenance when you’re in a rush or you just simply forget. However, it’s extremely important to remove both the foam pre-filter and the post-motor filter and give them a wash.
‘Simply tap off loose dirt and then rinse them under a tap. Only use water – do not use soap,’ Shark suggests. Then, you must always let them air dry before popping them back into your vacuum and turning it on again.
If the filter is damaged or the water refuses to run clean, no matter how long you try to clean it, it may be that you need to replace it. These can be bought from Shark directly, and it’s essential that you choose the right filter for your specific model.
The best-case scenario is that the above steps will solve all of your issues and your Shark vacuum will stop turning off out of the blue, but it may be that you also need to check for a clogged hose, too. And if you have an old vacuum cleaner that has seen better days, this constant stoppage could be a sign that you need to replace your old vacuum.
These spare foam filters are suitable for one of our top-rated (and one of the most popular) Shark vacuums - the Shark Stratos Vacuum Cleaner. You can find replacement filters suitable for other models on the website, though.
If your old, overheated Shark vacuum is beyond repair and you want to replace it with a new model, I'd recommend this one. It scored itself a perfect 5-star review and even empties itself so you don't have to remember to do it every time.
This post-filter is suitable for 12 Shark vacuum models, and the brand recommends that you always use Shark replacement parts if you need to. Otherwise, it may affect your warranty.
FAQs
Why does my Shark vacuum keep stopping and beeping?
Although Shark stick and upright vacuums don’t tend to beep, Shark robot vacuums will often beep and stop when there’s a problem that needs to be addressed. This is typically a blockage, clogged filters, overheating, or even just an obstruction in its way.
It’s important to address this problem as soon as possible to prevent any damage to your Shark robot vacuum, or reach out to Shark directly if you can’t solve this problem yourself.
How long is the Shark warranty?
In the UK, the Shark warranty is 12 months, but there is the possibility for this to be extended, depending on the model and whether you register your new appliance with the brand.
If you register your new Shark appliance within 28 days of purchase, you can enjoy a warranty of five years for non-handheld vacuum cleaners or two years for cordless vacuums.
If your Shark vacuum keeps stopping, give these steps a go. And make sure you let me know how you get on in the comments!
