Troubleshooting a No-Suction Kenmore Intuition Canister Vacuum: A Behind-the-Bench Look

Written By Matt Douglas

Hey folks, Matt here with House of Vacuums! Today on the bench, I had a Kenmore Intuition canister vacuum—complete with Quiet Guard sound tech and true HEPA filtration—that came in with a classic issue: no suction. Like, zero suction. So I thought I’d walk you through the diagnostic process and what it took to bring this thing back to life.

Step 1: Listen First

Whenever a vacuum shows signs of weakness, I like to start by flipping it on and listening to the motor. This Kenmore had that signature old “grumbly bearings” noise, but nothing that raised red flags mechanically. Still, there was no suction happening at all.

Step 2: Inspect the Obvious

Cracking it open, I immediately noticed a few things:

  • The secondary filter was completely trashed—clogged up and filthy.

  • The bag wasn’t seated properly. It had slid out slightly, which is a known issue with cardboard collar bags. That misalignment can let air bypass the bag or restrict airflow altogether.

But as bad as that looked, those things alone wouldn’t explain total suction failure. Time to dig deeper.

Step 3: Hose and Suction Testing

I tested the hose—clear as a whistle. Then, I ran a quick suction test (not something I recommend doing casually) and got a whopping 40 inches of water lift… which is not good. For context, a typical full-size vacuum should be pulling somewhere between 65 and 100 inches. Clearly, something was seriously restricting airflow.

Step 4: Filters Make (or Break) the Difference

Now here’s where things got interesting. The HEPA filter? Gone. Just a blank spot where it used to live. The secondary filter, however, was the real culprit. When I pulled it out and shook it—holy cow. Dust everywhere. That thing was so packed with debris it felt about four times heavier than it should. No amount of cleaning would save it, so I swapped it with a new one.

Once I reassembled the vacuum and ran the suction test again—boom, 92 inches of water lift. Just like that, the Kenmore was breathing freely again.

Step 5: Check for Follow-Up Clogs

But we weren’t done yet. I noticed some dirt trailing from the power nozzle and found a small pile underneath it. That usually signals airflow issues from blocked filters causing backup in the wand or nozzle.

Sure enough, there was a clog deep in the power nozzle, likely pet hair mixed with a piece of paper. I took it apart (they’re not overly complex), cleared it, and reassembled. Clean as a whistle.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it—how a completely non-functional vacuum turned into a strong performer again with just some basic filter replacements and a bit of cleaning. If your Kenmore (or any canister vac) suddenly loses suction, don’t panic. It’s often a dirty filter or a small clog causing big problems.

Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll catch you in the next repair!

—Matt, House of Vacuums 🧰🌀

Matt Douglas

Matt's journey in the vacuum business began in 1998, during his junior year of high school at Paso Robles Sewing & Vacuum. He remained there throughout college and even for a short time afterward, eventually managing the sister store Atascadero Sewing & Vacuum. Following a move across the country to Lynchburg, Virginia, he spent 15 years in corporate training and marketing, working within both healthcare and higher education.

In 2017, Matt and his wife, Jen, acquired House of Vacuums in Lynchburg, with his father, Rex, managing the daily operations. Matt continued his healthcare marketing career until late 2023, when Rex retired. This prompted Matt to transition into the business full-time. Having come full circle, Matt is now back to his roots, pursuing his passion: helping people find the perfect vacuum for their homes.

https://www.thehouseofvacs.com
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