Usually, a shark robot vacuum is pretty quiet. It efficiently cleans any hard floor. Occasionally, many consumers have noticed that it starts emanating loud sounds. Fortunately, there are a few ways to diagnose the problem and reduce the noise levels back to normal. The post below covers those, but before that, it is better to understand the usual sound produced by the Shark robot vacuum.
Is The Shark IQ Robot Loud?
The shark IQ robot typically produces 50 to 60 decibels of sound. For comparison, a motorcycle produces 95 decibels of sound, whereas a normal conversation takes place at 60 decibels.
Why Is My Shark Robot Vacuum So Loud?
The increasing noise from the shark robot vacuum can indicate problems with the brush, clogging of the filter, damage to the vacuum, and so on. The section below covers all those problems and what to do when such issues occur.
- Brush issues:
The moving parts in any vacuum suffer maximum wear and tear. That is why whenever the Shark robot vacuum starts producing more noise, take a look at the brushes. Shark vacuum consists of two types of brushes highlighted below.- Side brushes:
One will notice two brushes at the front if one observes the Shark robot vacuum. The job of these brushes is to capture dander, hair, and dust. Due to the consistent operation of these brushes, they might suffer from wear and tear and eventually break. The noise will undoubtedly increase if there is a fracture in the brush assembly. - Main brush:
The main brush collects debris from the side brushes and the path of the vacuum cleaner. Consequently, it handles much more debris than the side brushes. If the side brushes break, so can the main brush roll. Debris can damage the main brush roll so much that it might break. It is best to change it every 3 to 4 months when using the vacuum consistently.
A damaged main brush roll can start moving from side to side on spinning. In that case, making a wedge can fix the problem.
- Side brushes:
- Clogging of the filter:
Ultimately, the fans pass off the debris to the filter. After that, it moves to the dustbin. However, some debris and dust will still get collected in the filter. If the filter gets clogged, the noise level of the Shark robot vacuum certainly goes up.
Regular cleaning and replacing the filter every 3 to 4 months will ensure this problem doesn’t occur. - Drive belt damage:
The drive belt of the Shark robot vacuum ensures that power is transferred from the motor to other moving parts of the vacuum cleaner. Over time, it can suffer from wear and tear, leading to loss of elasticity. Either that or the teeth might corrode, resulting in belt slippage. In that case, the Shark robot vacuum will not move appropriately and produce a loud noise. - Gear damage:
The drive belt passes power from the motor to the first moving component. After that, gears are used between these moving components to pass power from one component to another. The speed is controlled through these gears. Since these gears work in conjunction with one another, at some point, the wear and tear will be so high that the gears will start slipping rather than working in conjunction. In such a case, the sound level of the Shark robot vacuum will also go up. - Fan overheating:
Every Shark robot vacuum requires a fan to reduce overheating by dissipating the heat. However, the fan also gathers dust and other contaminants in the process. Some of these contaminants can damage the fan resulting in loud sound emanating from the fan. - Motor wear and tear:
Every moving part of the Shark robot vacuum derives power from the motor. That is why the strain on the motor is significant. It also suffers from immense wear and tear like any other moving part. If the motor starts to fail, the vacuum cleaner’s noise will undoubtedly increase. - Ingestion of big piece of debris:
Most people have thick carpets or area rugs in their homes. If the Shark robot vacuum runs over them or a garment like a shirt, it will likely ingest a significant amount of fabric or threads. Resultant clogging will increase the noise of the vacuum. In most cases, removing that piece of fabric can fix the problem. However, if one ignores the piece of fabric, the motor can get damaged, resulting in a complete breakdown of the Shark robot vacuum. - Frame wear and tear:
The Shark robot vacuum can often get accidentally damaged by pets or children. While emptying the vacuum cleaner, it might accidentally fall on the floor. The frame suffers from wear and tear or a crack in such cases. A damaged frame certainly increases the noise produced by the shark robot vacuum. In such a case, it is best to replace that part of the frame or the entire vacuum cleaner if replacing the frame isn’t possible. - Motor burnout:
If the gears suffer from extensive wear and tear or the drive belt is not in place, one shouldn’t continue using the Shark robot vacuum. The motor comes under strain if one uses the vacuum cleaner in such a case. Eventually, the motor will suffer from burnout. Buying a new motor is expensive, so replacing the vacuum might be the only option if the motor burns out.
Can You Make a Vacuum Quieter?
Solving the problems above can make the vacuum quieter. Other than that, there are a few general tips to make the vacuum quieter.
- It is best to unclog the filter from time to time.
- Emptying the vacuum is another way to keep the noise levels down.
- If there is any unusual sound from the vacuum, diagnosing and fixing the problem is best; otherwise, the noise level will keep increasing.
- Always avoid using the vacuum over the area rug or thick carpet. This will prolong the vacuum cleaner’s life and keep the noise down.