Why Your Bissell Vacuum Is Blowing Air – And What To Do About It


Bissell vacuums blow air because of a clogged nozzle, or a damaged filter or vacuum belt. A full dirt canister or a dirty filter can also make a Bissell vacuum blow air.

We rely on our vacuums to clean our space fast, so it’s incredibly frustrating when they stop working and start blowing air or dirt out instead. After all, it’s a clear sign that’s something’s wrong and that we need to fix it.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the possible reasons why your Bissell vacuum is blowing air and how to fix each one. You’ll also find how to fix a Bissell vacuum suction and reverse the airflow on the vacuum.

5 reasons Why Your Bissell Vacuum Is blowing Air

Bissell offers 5 different types of vacuum cleaners based on their method of operation. The solutions in this post are for anyone with the following models of Bissell vacuum cleaners:

 Range of vacuum cleaners
UprightPowerGroom Swivel Rewind
MultiClean Allergy Lift-Off
PowerGlide Lift-Off
CleanView Swivel Rewind
Pet Hair Eraser
Stick & cordlessFeatherweight Lightweight
ICONpet Pro
Featherweight Turbo
PowerGlide Pet Slim
PowerEdge
PowerSwift Ion XRT
AirRam
RoboticEV775 Connect
SpinWave plus wet and dry
EV675 Multi-Surface
CanisterZing II Bagged
MultiClean Wet and Dry Auto
Hard Floor Expert
PowerClean Multi Cyclonic
GaragePro Wet/Dry
OptiClean Multi Cyclonic Bagless
SmartClean
Handheld/portableAuto-Mate CordedPowerClean Pet Lithium Ion CordlessTurboSlimAeroSlim

1. Clogged nozzle or Reduced air flow

The nozzle and hose of Bissell vacuum cleaners can become clogged when it suctions up debris or dirt particles that are too large. 

These large pieces of debris block the air movement into your vacuum and make it blow out air and dust instead.

Solution:

  • Disconnect the vacuum from its power source 
  • Detach the nozzle by pressing down the nozzle release button
  • Shake it thoroughly to release any lodged debris. You can also use a long stick (or similar) to dislodge the dirt and wipe the nozzle with a soft damp cloth
  • Return the nozzle to the vacuum

2. Damaged vacuum belt

The belt in a Bissell vacuum spins the brushroll and allows the vacuum to suck up dirt. If there are cracks or melted points on the belt, the vacuum loses suction, stops picking up dirt and starts blowing air.

The easiest way to figure out if this is your problem is to listen to your vacuum while it runs. Ideally, it shouldn’t be loud (at least compared to when you originally got it).

If the noise level suddenly rises and it stops picking up dirt, take a peek underneath while it’s running. If you notice that the brushroll isn’t moving, then you probably have a damaged belt on your hands.

To fix this, reach out to the Bissell customer support to request an appropriate replacement belt for your vacuum model and also an expert to replace the damaged one (if needed).

Or, if you want to replace it yourself, you can buy replacement Bissell belts from Amazon. Just make sure you get the right one for your model.

3. Incorrect setting or installation

Some Bissell vacuum cleaners have features that allow for height adjustment, positioning, and surface selection for optimum performance.

For example, the Bissell Robotic vacuums have auto height adjustments that help them clean difficult to reach spots. 

If these settings aren’t properly adjusted, it can cause the vacuum to malfunction and start blowing air. If your vacuum has any of these adjustable features, check and confirm that the settings are correctly selected.

Wrong installation or assembly of the dirt container and filter can also cause your vacuum to stop working. To fix this, disassemble your vacuum and then carefully reassemble it to make sure that the dirt container is properly installed.

4. Dirty filter

A vacuum cleaner filter has two main functions. First, it traps the sucked up dirt and deposits it into the container. Second, it protects the vacuum motor by preventing large dirt particles from entering it, building up, and possibly causing damage.

A dirt filter can become so clogged that air can not pass through it properly, and air is pushed out of the vacuum instead.

To fix a dirty filter, follow the specific instructions for cleaning and replacing the filter of your Bissell vacuum model in your user manual (if you have one), or follow these general guidelines:

  • Remove the dirt container by pushing the release button (the filter is located inside the container)
  • Open the top lid of the container and remove the filter
  • For most Bissell vacuums, you can rinse the filter with tap water. The Pet Hair Eraser Corded Hand Vacuum requires you to periodically tap the filter against a trash can to release the dirt rather than rinsing it
  • If you’re rinsing, allow to completely air dry before reinstalling and operating your vacuum (It is important to check if you can rinse the filter on your specific Bissell model)
  • If you’re only tapping, reassemble the vacuum once you’re satisfied with the cleanliness of the filter. If after tapping the filter it still appears dirty and/or clogged you will need a replacement filter. These can be ordered direct or are also available from Amazon:

Please confirm the correct filter cleaning method for your Bissell vacuum model beforehand – as some may be washed, while others must remain dry.

You can access the user manuals for Bissell vacuums on their main website here.

5. Full dirt container

Bissell vacuum cleaners collect dirt either in bags or specially designed containers with different holding capacities. When these dirt holders are full, the vacuum is unable to work as efficiently.

Instead, it sends air back out of the vacuum along with dust and debris – the exact opposite of what you want your Bissell vacuum cleaner to be doing.

To fix this: 

  • Unplug your vacuum or just turn it off if it’s cordless. 
  • Detach the dirt bin from the vacuum by pushing the detach button
  • The vacuum filter is often attached to the dirt bin, so remove the filter by gently pulling it away from the container
  • Empty the dirt bin into a trash can
  • Wash the dirt container under tap water (Not compulsory). Do Not use a dishwasher to wash the container
  • Allow the container to dry completely before reattaching the filter and reassembling

How to reverse the airflow on a Bissell vacuum

The ability to reverse the air flow on a Bissell vacuum is only available on select models, these include:

  • PowerGroom Swivel Rewind,
  • MultiClean Allergy Lift-Off Vacuum,
  • PowerGlide Lift-Off Vacuum,
  • CleanView Swivel Rewind
  • Pet Hair Eraser upright vacuum cleaner
  • Zing II Bagged Canister Vacuum,
  • MultiClean Wet and Dry Auto Vacuum,
  • Hard Floor Expert Canister Vacuum,
  • BISSELL PowerClean Multi Cyclonic Canister Vacuum,
  • GaragePro Wet/Dry Vac,
  • OptiClean Multi Cyclonic Bagless Canister Vacuum, and
  • SmartClean Canister Vacuum

To reverse the airflow on a Bissell vacuum:

  1. Locate the bag on the vacuum and remove it
  2. Detach the hose or nozzle if it has one
  3. Take the vacuum into a driveway or patio. Plug it in, point it away from you, turn it on and let it blow dust out of the vacuum. 
  4. Let the vacuum run for a minute or two to make sure it’s clean
  5. Attach the hose to the opening for the dirt container and seal very tightly to avoid air leakages
  6. Depending on why you need your vacuum to blow air, you can stop your transformation process here. Or proceed to attach a plastic bottle with a narrow end for blowing something like an air mattress. 

Why your Bissell vacuum isn’t suctioning

A Bissell vacuum stops suctioning when its airflow or air intake becomes blocked. This blockage is usually caused by clogs in the hose or nozzle from picking up larger dirt particles.

A lack of suction can also be caused by a full dirt container or a dirty filter.

How to fix the suction on a Bissell vacuum

To fix the suction on a Bissell vacuum identify which part of the vacuum that has the obstruction. 

  1. Test the end of the hose by turning on the vacuum and facing it to your palm. 
  2. If you feel it blowing air instead of trying to suck in dirt, then detach the hose completely from the vacuum
  3. Check for cracks or breaks on the hose. If you find any, it’s time to get a replacement. If there are no damages, push a broomstick into the hose to push out any debris through the end of the hose.
  4. Reattach the hose and switch on the vacuum to confirm that it has stopped malfunctioning.
  5. If it still has suction issues, try emptying the dirt bag and cleaning or replacing the filter as described in earlier sections.

Plentiful Air has more information on why Bissell vacuums stop suctioning and how to fix it available here.

Russell Singleton

Russell holds a Bachelor of Science (Environmental and Marine Geoscience) with Class I Honors. He is currently completing his doctorate in science and is passionate about all earth processes, especially isotope geochemistry and paleohydrology.

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