kirbyman65
Well-known member
Hello! I was wonder if any one has ever had a vacuum burn up/ catch on fire? Thankfully this only happened once for me (sadly to a Hoover elite) just curious if it has happened to anyone else.
Vacuum’s caught on fire
- Thread starter kirbyman65
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
Once, the housekeeper
at the rectory was using a Eureka upright. It smoldered, etc. The pastor was a very nervous man. He called the fire dept. They came, with sirens, all set for an inferno. They called in "It's just some old sweeper". The pastor threw it out, and poured himself a drink. I almost died laughing. I was 18.
at the rectory was using a Eureka upright. It smoldered, etc. The pastor was a very nervous man. He called the fire dept. They came, with sirens, all set for an inferno. They called in "It's just some old sweeper". The pastor threw it out, and poured himself a drink. I almost died laughing. I was 18.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Yes
In 1995, my parents bought our first log cabin along with our first vacuum which was a green Sharp from what I was told cause I wasn't around yet at the time. A year later, we had the place renovated. One day when someone went to go use the vacuum, all the sudden it was sparking and eventually blew up. We took it in to get repaired at my old local vacuum store, my buddy said there was no way it could've been fixed cause it was all melted inside. Evidentially what happened was is that whoever did the outlets during the renovation wired one of them on incorrectly. So they not only had to fix the outlet but also had to buy us a new vacuum. We exchanged that Sharp for a top of the line black Panasonic Performance Plus MC-V7387 and gave them the invoice. While it didn't caught on fire I don't think, I believe that counts as one. If my parents had kept their brown Kirby from their old house and brought that one up there instead of buying the Sharp, it probably would've been fixed or factory rebuilt by Kirby. But my dad always likes to upgrade so he probably would've had the contractor traded that Kirby in for a G4 or still buy the Panasonic which would've been more likely than getting a G4.
In 1995, my parents bought our first log cabin along with our first vacuum which was a green Sharp from what I was told cause I wasn't around yet at the time. A year later, we had the place renovated. One day when someone went to go use the vacuum, all the sudden it was sparking and eventually blew up. We took it in to get repaired at my old local vacuum store, my buddy said there was no way it could've been fixed cause it was all melted inside. Evidentially what happened was is that whoever did the outlets during the renovation wired one of them on incorrectly. So they not only had to fix the outlet but also had to buy us a new vacuum. We exchanged that Sharp for a top of the line black Panasonic Performance Plus MC-V7387 and gave them the invoice. While it didn't caught on fire I don't think, I believe that counts as one. If my parents had kept their brown Kirby from their old house and brought that one up there instead of buying the Sharp, it probably would've been fixed or factory rebuilt by Kirby. But my dad always likes to upgrade so he probably would've had the contractor traded that Kirby in for a G4 or still buy the Panasonic which would've been more likely than getting a G4.
human
Well-known member
A few years ago, I was vacuuming my bedroom with a newly-acquired Kirby Legend II, when I began smelling smoke. I shut the machine off immediately and felt the motor cover, which was not exceptionally warm. I then took off the floor nozzle and immediately discovered the source of the smoke. I had vacuumed up a tissue, which had gotten stuck between the belt and the spindle, and friction caused it to catch fire. Fortunately, the only real damage was to the tissue.
texaskirbyguy
Well-known member
I had obtained a Kirby Legend II that was burned to a crisp from the Plano shop when it was closing 5 years ago.
It was a sweet looking machine, but the smell was horrible.
The story was that a guy was vacuuming and sucked up something hard, which caused the crappy deteriorated grey fan to partially break and start rubbing on the fan case.
He kept vacuuming.
As the friction got worse and worse, the fan melted and deformed more, straining the heck out of the motor and caused more friction.
He kept vacuuming.
The motor was probably billowing out black smoke, and making the worst noise ever, based on how the motor looked inside.
He kept vacuuming.
The fan finally melted into a big glob and finally seized the motor.
He kept vacuuming.
Finally the buzzing stalled motor burned open a winding, which was surprisingly delayed.
He probably kept vacuuming in silence.
It look a baby sledge to get the motor apart - it was a black charred mess. I have some pictures of it somewhere. I am sure UL did a similar test before these were released for sale. No actual fire.
I was able to salvage the motor brushes for another project - that was all of the motor that was good.
One of our members here took it off my hands - he said he would try an ozone machine on it to rid the smell. Hope it worked..
It was a sweet looking machine, but the smell was horrible.
The story was that a guy was vacuuming and sucked up something hard, which caused the crappy deteriorated grey fan to partially break and start rubbing on the fan case.
He kept vacuuming.
As the friction got worse and worse, the fan melted and deformed more, straining the heck out of the motor and caused more friction.
He kept vacuuming.
The motor was probably billowing out black smoke, and making the worst noise ever, based on how the motor looked inside.
He kept vacuuming.
The fan finally melted into a big glob and finally seized the motor.
He kept vacuuming.
Finally the buzzing stalled motor burned open a winding, which was surprisingly delayed.
He probably kept vacuuming in silence.
It look a baby sledge to get the motor apart - it was a black charred mess. I have some pictures of it somewhere. I am sure UL did a similar test before these were released for sale. No actual fire.
I was able to salvage the motor brushes for another project - that was all of the motor that was good.
One of our members here took it off my hands - he said he would try an ozone machine on it to rid the smell. Hope it worked..
My mother told me in her teenage years that it was her responsibility to vacuum the house. She was vacuuming with a Kirby (not sure which model) 1970s and was using the hose around the fireplace and accidentally sucked in a live coal. The Kirby was smoking so my grandmother put it outside on the driveway and called the fire department. According to my mother the firemen all had a good laugh!
My grandmother sewed a patch on the bag and continued to use the vacuum.
My grandmother sewed a patch on the bag and continued to use the vacuum.
kirbylux77
Well-known member
Kenny, it's a good thing your Mom was using a Kirby from the 70s - since it had the metal fan, the bag patch was all that needed to be done. If it was a Tradition or later model, you would be needing to change the fan too.
Back a few years ago, I answered a Kijiji ad that said "Free Hoover Windtunnel Canister Vacuum". This was one of the Futura style models, not the Anniversary Edition. Said it was working but needed repair. So, got it home and everything seemed fine....motor running, electric hose working, etc. So figured they were just paranoid and nothing was wrong with it. Vacuumed with it for about 5 minutes, and then the electric hose started smoking and melted into a pile of rubber on my kitchen floor! Needless to say, it went into the dumpster that night.
I figure the owner or a repair shop opened it up, attempted a repair, re-wired the vacuum wrong and that's why they thought the vacuum had gone bad. If it had been wired up correctly, it would likely still be in use.
Back a few years ago, I answered a Kijiji ad that said "Free Hoover Windtunnel Canister Vacuum". This was one of the Futura style models, not the Anniversary Edition. Said it was working but needed repair. So, got it home and everything seemed fine....motor running, electric hose working, etc. So figured they were just paranoid and nothing was wrong with it. Vacuumed with it for about 5 minutes, and then the electric hose started smoking and melted into a pile of rubber on my kitchen floor! Needless to say, it went into the dumpster that night.
I figure the owner or a repair shop opened it up, attempted a repair, re-wired the vacuum wrong and that's why they thought the vacuum had gone bad. If it had been wired up correctly, it would likely still be in use.
mark40511
Well-known member
My first Kenmore progressive I bought in 2004 I think... It was burgundy... I used it for a couple of years until it started having issues with the PN shorting out...the suction only worked fine so I asked my dad in NC if he wanted it...when I visited I dropped it off....about a year later I was on the phone with him and he said he was using it and it burst into flames
