Shark are certainly known for their high quality and long lasting vacuums. But it’s true that any vacuum can fall victim to suction issues. So, has your shark vacuum lost suction? If so, don’t throw it away yet – here’s how you can fix it…
I have tried to make this post as “actionable” as possible 😆 so there are a few different things to tick off in your quest to fix your shark vacuum suction.
Shark Vacuum Lost Suction? How To Fix It
If your shark navigator lift away stopped working, you should follow these steps to fix it. But first, you must figure out why your shark vacuum lost suction. The reason could be:

1. Something is Obstructing the Vacuum
It is one of the common reasons why your shark navigator lift away stopped working. If you suddenly notice that your shark vacuum lost suction, there are two places to check for possible obstruction. They are the opening that leads to the brush roll and the dust cup air duct.
The reason why these two places are prone to be blocked is that the dirt you clean goes through them. If you accidentally allow the vacuum to suck in toys, nails, or other chunky objects, it could cause obstruction and can be the reason why your shark vacuum lift away stopped working. Another reason why your shark vacuum lost suction could be because of a thick mass of pet hair obstructing the vacuum.
How To Fix
To fix the blockage around the roller brush area, place the vacuum on your legs with the cleaning head facing you.
If it’s small chunks of pet hair or debris you can easily remove with scissors or a pair of tweezers, slowly and carefully do so.
If you see an object obstructing the brush roll, you cannot forcefully take it out. Instead, you have to remove the brush roll from the vacuum, which is easy. To expose the screws underneath the vacuum, use a metal spudger to take out the wheels covering the screws. Get a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the screws.
Remove the roller brush carefully to prevent debris and pet hair from flying around. You can place the brush roll on an abandoned cloth, magazine, or newspaper, so you don’t dirty your floor. Carefully remove the obstruction, then reconnect the vacuum cover plate with screws. That should fix your shark vacuum suction.
To fix the air duct blockage, stand the vacuum upright. Remove the dust cup, then detach the hose to check for any clog in the air duct behind the dust cup.
2. Unclean Filters
Another reason why your shark vacuum lost suction is that you’ve gone a long time without cleaning the filters. The accumulated dirt and debris around the filter might be why your shark navigator lift away stopped working.
How To Fix
Press the dust cup release button at the back of the vacuum handle to release the dust cup from the vacuum body. Once you’ve located the dust cup, take out the filters. Rinse the filters with warm water until they are clean. After thoroughly drying the filters, you can reattach them to the vacuum. Please note that if you’ve been using the filters for a long time, the only solution that might work is replacing them.
3. Full Dust Cup
It is the most common cause why the shark navigator lift away stopped working. When the dust cup is full, there’s no place for the dirt the vacuum is taking in to go. It causes the suction to stop working, but this problem has an easy solution.

How To Fix
Remove the dust cup from the vacuum, then empty its content. If you’re unsure of how to locate the dust cup where the filter is on your shark navigator, check your user’s manual.
4. Old Hose
The reason why your shark vacuum lost suction might be because of the old hose on the vacuum. As you use the vacuum to clean, its various parts are prone to wear and tear, and over time, it gets weaker. One of the two hoses, or both (the hose between the hose and handle or the hose between the vacuum head and the base), might be fragile, which is why your shark navigator lift away stopped working.
How To Fix
The only solution is to replace the hose, and you can do so by visiting the Shark website, or you can buy it from Amazon.
5. Damaged Motor Head
If none of the reasons above are why your shark vacuum lost suction, it might be because of a damaged motor head.
How To Fix
Give the vacuum to a professional to replace the motor head. Most people opt to buy a new vacuum since returning the motor head is almost the same price as purchasing a new one.
Who Makes Shark Vacuums?
The shark vacuum cleaner is made by the American designer SharkNinja Operating LLC. SharkNinja has two main brands; Shark, which specializes in vacuum cleaners and other related products, and Ninja, which designs kitchen appliances. The combination of their two brand names is where the company’s name originates from.
Shark vacuums come in different models and types. They have handheld, stick, upright, cylinder, and robot vacuums. Some vacuums are cordless, while others are battery-powered.

Key Features Of Shark Vacuums
1. HEPA Filter
Most, if not all, of shark’s vacuum cleaners, have a HEPA filter feature. This type of filter cleans 97% of dust, pollen, and other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. HEPA filters are necessary for every household to eliminate pet dander, dust mites, and other airborne allergens.
2. Lightweight
Most shark vacuum cleaners do not weigh much which makes them easy for you to carry. Their corded stick vacuums have the least weight with an average of blah.
3. Low Noise Level
The least noise level on a shark vacuum cleaner is 50dB, while the most are 80dB. Unlike other vacuums, the noise level is manageable for noise-sensitive people.
4. Cleaning Accessories

All shark vacuums have extra cleaning accessories for versatility. Accessories like crevice tools, upholstery brushes, pet tools, dusting tools, etc.
For other features, check this shark vacuum cleaner review.
How Much Suction Power Do Shark Vacuums Have?
Shark vacuums often have more than one cleaning mode, each having different suction power. For example, the shark navigator lift away has a maximum suction power of 18 Kpa.
Shark Vacuum Lost Suction be gone!
If you notice your shark vacuum lost suction, immediately turn off the vacuum while you search for the reason. If you fix anything on the vacuum, ensure it is turned off and unplugged.
Good luck and happy vacuuming.
Thanks for reading along!
In some articles, In some of our articles, especially product-based stories you may see that they contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link. The goal with my beloved Vacuum Base website has always been to educate and assist people using the in depth knowledge I have amassed through my career. If you do purchase through an affiliate link, I appreciate and thank you for your support!

Most loved articles

Best Vacuum Under 150 in 2022 – With Comparisons & Buying Guide
Resident Crazy Carpet Lady is going to guide you through finding your Best Vacuum under 150. It’s true, you can find a budget friendly cheap

Best Wide Ironing Board Covers (2022)
An ironing board is a big, flat plank of wood or metal coated with heat-safe cushioning and used to securely iron garments or linens. Modern

5 Best Vacuum cleaners for wood floors (2022)
Wood floors improve the appearance of any room, but they do require extra maintenance to keep them looking new. That entails a thorough cleaning program

How to get hair dye out of carpet
It’s a lot of fun to dye your hair at home. What’s not enjoyable is when you spill hair color on the carpet. Hair dye

Kenmore 31140 Pet Friendly Vacuum Review (2022)
Kenmore Floor Care Elite Upright Bagged Vacuum cleaner intended to remove pet hair, dust, and other tiny particles that might cause asthma or allergies. It

Benefits of a HEPA vacuum cleaner
If you are a chronic allergy sufferer, or live with someone who is, it’s no wonder you’re doing some research on the benefits of a

Dirt Devil Razor Pet Vacuum Cleaner review
With so many possibilities, it can be challenging to pick a vacuum cleaner! However, owning a vacuum cleaner is essential either you have carpets, hardwood floors, or

Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Review – Vacuum Cleaner
BISSELL is one of the oldest and largest vacuum cleaner manufacturer in the world. They are well known for providing high quality appliances with focus

Can you use a steam iron to kill bed bugs?
This guide will analyse how to get rid of bed bugs on a tight budget using a steam iron to kill bed bugs. Bedbugs spread