I just bought a carpet cleaner & it's not sucking up any water....help?

[KatyMac]

The carpet isn't too damp - but there is no water in the dirty water tank

Surely this is wrong?

[breaghsmum]

what make, model etc have you bought? did you read the instruction manual just to check if there's something specific you have to do?

[KatyMac]

Well I did my best with the manual not my area of expertise

this one

[Millarkie]

Oh I did this recently with my Bissell - if there is a switch to choose between 'tools' and 'floor' check that it says 'floor'

[breaghsmum]

ok i have a vax, not that model but when using it, you squeeze the trigger to spray out the foam while going forward and then release the trigger to suck up the water/dirt/ shampoo while pulling back. is this what you have been doing? or does yours have a different way of doing it? usually all you need to read in the manual is the 'getting started' bit

[Lilyloo]

I have a vax, the old orange one, there is a grey switch at the base that if you push it sucks up water check as it should be filling with dirty water!

[KatyMac]

Millarkie - no switch (that I can see)

Breaghmum - that is exactly how I have been doing it....manual is a bit light on detail

[LittleMissNorty]

I've got a vax - different model and it works the same as breaghsmum....when you squeeze in the trigger, my carpet gets very wet.....is the water going down in the clean water tank?

Then let go of the trigger and go over that area to suck up

[KatyMac]

Yep water going down - I am on my second tank

Dirty tank is empty

[LittleMissNorty]

I find warm water works better as well

[LittleMissNorty]

oh very odd! Is there any suction to feel when its switched on? Is there anything on the vax website?

[breaghsmum]

have you checked you have the dirty water tank all connected right, (i know its not rocket science) but make sure everything has 'clicked'. it does sound strange. is it new or 2nd hand?

[KatyMac]

Ah ha

No suction - lots of blowing

Bugger

[Lilyloo]

You should feel / see water being sucked back up when drawing it back ??

[KatyMac]

No

I am phoning the helpline in the morning (in amongst everything else I have to do tomorrow)

[breaghsmum]

have you had any luck with the helpline yet?

[KatyMac]

Yes there is a float.....& it wasn't floating

[breaghsmum]

good stuff. glad you got it sorted. you can clean to your hearts content now!!!

[Mrswhapples]

I know this is a very old thread, but be just bought a Vax and it's also not sucking up any water. I can't find the float and have checked any connections. Did they get you to do anything to yours?

[WashingUpFairy]

If it's like mine the float is in the dirty water tank. Give it a good rinse under the tap to make sure nothing is stuck and you should be good to go.

[Tutu1000]

If it is the cylinder Vax carpet cleaner have you made sure that the pipe from underneath the motor part of the unit is hanging in the water?

[Tutu1000]

This is the type of cleaner that I'm talking about here. I have borrowed my DSIL's one a few times and have on a couple of ocassions got very cross with it not working properly only to find that I've forgotten to unclip the pipe and dangle it in the water.

[Alisonwonderland1066]

My vax dual power pro carpet cleaner isn't sucking water into the dirty tank AV looked at it but now the clean water is running into the dirty one any help plz

[Itsbullshit]

I have an oldish Vac machine, bought brand new and used only few times. it is not sucking up the water tho have checked everything mentioned as appropriate on here. Pls advice,

[isseywith4vampirecats]

I have the vax one and its usually one of two things either the filter in the float has got full of debris or theres a rubber seal that connects the dirty tank to the machine at the back top of the tank and if this hasn't connected properly it stops the tank soaking up the water