Overheating Shark Vacuum – Causes & Fixes [2023 Guide]

Published by Ahmad Jamal on May 13, 2023

Shark is one of the best selling vacuum brands around the globe, and most importantly in the US.

Using shark vacuums to the fullest means overcoming shark vacuum problems, specially the overheating shark vacuum may suffer from.

In this CleanersAdvisor guide, we’ll break out the causes, the different situations that allow this problem to occur, and what to expect from your vacuum afterward.

Therefore, we’ll present you with every possible fix to your overheating shark vacuum problem, that we’ve tested ourselves, and worked for us on different shark vacuums.


What Causes My Overheating Shark Vacuum?

Here are a list of problems that may cause your overheating shark vacuum:

1. Full dust bin.

2. A Clogged vacuum hose.

3. A problem with your brush roll that stopped it in its tracks.

4. Dirty/ clogged filters.

5. Electric-related issues.

Read more for how to fix each of these problems.

Overheating Shark Vacuum

How Do I Know If My Shark Vacuum Is Overheating?

Most of the time, when your shark vacuum is overheating, then it’ll turn itself off.

However, in some instances, a handful of shark models will either display a red error light, or an error code that indicates that the vacuum is overheating.

Other models – like the Shark Rotator Lift-away- will show a flashing red light to tell you it’s overheating.

But what happens when shark vacuum overheats?


What Happens If Shark Vacuum Overheats?

According to Shark’s Official support website, if an overheating shark vacuum occurs, then the thermostat installed inside the shark vacuum will automatically turn the vacuum off.

This is mainly done to protect your vacuum from further overheating shark vacuum damages.

Additionally, overheating shark vacuum’s motor will cause your shark vacuum to smell like burning.

Should this problem occur, read through to know how to deal with it.


How to Fix an Overheating Shark Vacuum?

Once you encounter an overheating shark vacuum, then before you do anything, carry out these 3 safety-specified fixing steps:

  1. Turn off your vacuum immediately
  2. Unplug your vacuum from its power source
  3. Let your shark vacuum cool down for 45-60 minutes (according to Shark’s safety user manual).

Now that your Shark vacuum has cooled down for 45-60 minutes, follow the steps below to fix your overheating shark vacuum:

1. Empty The Dust Bin

Shark vacuums differ in the way they warn you when their dust bin is full, some feature a “max Fill” marker, robot vacuums return to their dock and empty their bins, and others show different error types.

However, if you’re not noticing the errors of the markers or your robot vacuum has encountered an error, then it’ll start to overheat.

Therefore, always be wary of the signs, markers, and potential errors, and don’t let the shark vacuum’s dust bin get full without emptying it regularly.

2. Remove Different Cloggings

Since different cloggings in vacuum brush roll or hose or any other attachment can cause an overheating shark vacuum, it’s safe to say that you need to remove different cloggings once you encounter them.

At CleanersAdvisor, we’ve already fixed some of those problems in other guides, so make sure to check our guide on shark vacuum brush not spinning, as we’ve explained how you can get rid of clogging.

Clogging can occur in vacuum hose as well, and here’s how to unclog vacuum hose properly.

Overheating Shark Vacuum

3. Wash/Replace Filters

Shark vacuums come in various types, shapes, and sizes, and therefore, they installed different filtering systems accordingly.

Some come with 2 pre-motor and 1 post-motor filters, other types come with HEPA filters instead.

The point is, understand how many filters are there in your vacuum, and wash them regularly.

Pre-motor filters should be taken away and washed once every 4-5 weeks, while post-motor filters (since they deal with less trouble) can be washed once per 6-12 months.

However, if you’re taking apart your filters to wash them and found some damaged filters, you should replace them with the correct ones, and use the vacuum’s user manual to help you with that.

Here’s a video to help you wash the filters properly:

4. Replace The Power Cord

Some overheating shark vacuum problems are caused by faulty electrical cords, such as the power cord or a faulty electric socket.

A damaged shark vacuum’s power cord can cause a major overheating shark vacuum issue, therefore, you should inspect the power cord for scratches, loose wires, or even cracks.

If you’ve spotted any of these, immediately stop using it, and send the vacuum to an expert to fix the power cord, since it’s some safety-related matter to deal with electricity if you’re not a master of the craft.

5. Damaged Motor

Another cause of your overheating shark vacuum is a damaged motor circuit.

Using the vacuum for a longer period of time or using the wrong electric capacity can cause this motor-related problem.

However, if you can’t get a grasp on what the problem may be, take your vacuum to a specialist and ask them to inspect the motor, if it’s burned out or damaged, then it needs to be fixed, as replacing your vacuum motor can be quite expensive.


To Wrap Up

An overheating shark vacuum is not an easy task to carry out, however, our CleanersAdvisor experts have paved the way for you by providing you with potential causes, and the best fixes.

If you’re still encountering the same issue, ask us in the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.