I’m pretty sure this was all my own fault. I got so enthusiastic vacuuming (isn’t my life exciting?) that I let the canister fill up way beyond the marked line before emptying it. Now although the attachments have plenty of suction, there’s none at the base. So I’m sure there’s a wad of compressed cat hair somewhere in the works. There are lots of DIY instructions on youtube, but I’m not so good at that sort of thing and don’t want to make things worse. My repair shop is charging me $90 to take the unit apart and fix it. (The warranty explicitly doesn’t cover removing blockages, so I didn’t even bother going that route.) Anyway, just a word to the wise–don’t be a dummy like me.
I’ve blocked my dyson up before and I found that if I undo all the little curvy parts, I can usually find the blob of stuff. IIs it an upright? Check those small tubes near the bottom.
A wire coathanger does wonders in vacuum tubing. No way would I be paying for a shop to do that LOL. I don’t know if the dyson is especially complex.
All I can contribute is the following:
This really sucks. Ducks
Hard to describe if you don’t have a Dyson upright, but there’s no tubing involved in this problem–the lack of suction is at the base, the part that you use on carpet. There’s plenty of suction in the tubing that comes out the back for the attachments. I think it has to be taken apart to get to the blockage, and I’m not good at that sort of thing. One of the benefits of aging is gaining a deep understanding of one’s limitations. (I can’t unlock a car door with a wire coathanger either. 
)
It’s funny, I never had a vacuum that needed a suction-related repair until I bought a “never loses suction” one. With other vacuums it was always problems with belts or burned out motors that killed the entire unit. And yeah, my Cuisinart blade was one of the ones recalled, too. Not my day for pricey gadgets!
I’ve called Dyson and they walk me though it. Did you check the filter?
I find the instructional videos on YouTube fantastic. Really has helped with my Roomba. The only Dyson I have is the cordless Animal. I sometimes have to unclog it with a dinner knife. Put dinner knife in the dishwasher afterwards. If you have no luck go out and get a cordless while they are on sale. I love it. The whole family finds things to vacuum now. Top of kitchen cabinets even.
Did you take out the filter and wash & dry it?
You do know there’s a separate filter that is separate from the dust receptacle?
Ha! Can I borrow your family, @OspreyCV22 ? I’ve read that the cordless version has a rather short life before it needs re-charging, so it can’t be used for major cleaning (with two long-haired cats, every cleaning at my house is a major one). Not true?
Never considered that, but it seems odd that a blocked filter would allow suction in one part but not the other. Oh well. The guy who is repairing it is an elderly man who works alone and fixes all manner of electrical things–lamps, kitchen appliances, etc., and has a shop that’s packed to the rafters with parts and miscellany. You need a vacuum cleaner bag, filter or belt for an obscure or old model? He’s got it, and it’s probably on “special”. Your receipt will be scribbled on a piece of scrap paper. He’s one of a dying breed, and I don’t think there’s anyone else like him in my town. I’m always afraid he’s going to decide to retire, so if my repair bill encourages him to keep his shop open another year, it will have been worth it.
@MommaJ It only lasts about 11 minutes in the power mode. But coincidentally that’s about how long my interest in cleaning lasts. It recharges quickly enough. Our real vacuum is a Kirby but since we’ve been frequently using the cordless, I seldom get out the Kirby. It lasts long enough to vacuum family room and kitchen which is a huge area in my house. Younger son vacuums his room a couple of times a week. Before: never. I received it for Christmas last year. I think I read about it here. I have back problems and it’s so light! I bought my son in college a cheaper cordless knock off and he’s the only one on his floor with a vacuum and it’s borrowed often. He says his roommate vacuums a lot.
The symptoms you describe do sound like a clogged filter. Google. Sometimes you can clean them in the dishwasher.
I have a Dyson but I think they are overrated. One thing I don’t like is that the base is tough to clean – it’s not easy to pop out the roller brushes and the belt that turns them doesn’t seem to come off. In a house with pets & carpets that can be a problem. The Dyson doesn’t begin to compare in quality with my old Kirby - but the Kirby weighs a ton and is unwieldy, so I use the Dyson most of the time because it is just easier and quicker. And definitely nicer dealing with the canister rather than a vacuum bag. But it certainly does lose suction if the canister hasn’t been emptied or filter clogs up. I think the main difference is that the sides of the canister are transparent, so I can see at a glance whether it’s getting too full (though I usually empty it every time I vacuum anyway).
I’m glad you’ve found someone to work in it. Don’t feel bad – I only tried once to take the Dyson apart for a thorough cleaning and that was years ago… it’s just not that easy no matter what the hype.
That’s what led me to quickly lose enchantment with a Roomba, once upon a time, as well. Yes, it was effortless to sit in my house while little Roomba hummed around doing its thing – but then I had to deal with cleaning out all that pet hair stuck on the roller brushes. After a few months I just figured it was less work overall to spend 10 minutes with an upright vacuum cleaner than 30 minutes trying to clean those brushes every time I vacuumed. (That might have been back when I still owned my Aussie mix, who was quite the shedder – might not be as much of an issue with a short haired breed, but the long strands of fur would get wound around the wheels and jam up everything).
Our 12 yr old Dyson had the same problem recently. DH was vacuuming up saw dust in the garage and the suction slowed. The vacuum made a high pitched noise and you felt like you were in as airport. He YouTubed and Googled, replaced the filter, cleaned out hose and traps, but in the end it was the motor. It was done. He ordered a new one online and installed it. Now its almost as good as new.
I still think my Dyson was the best gift my ex ever got me. [I like it, in case that wasn’t clear!]
We use the pink V6 stick and love it, $90 coupon at Costco right now
Just following up. Got my Dyson back. Repair guy said it was clogged deep in its innards and I wouldn’t have been able to deal with it myself without entirely disassembling it. (I believe him.) As God is my witness, I will never let the crud get higher than the red line again! (Wish the thing had an overfill alarm for dodos like me.)
Good to hear that your Dyson is back in business!
( As I was typing, a Dyson banner ad appeared below the thread.)
@BunsenBurner, I think that was banner ad technology at work, not coincidence. Kind of creepy, isn’t it? If using an ad blocker on a free site doesn’t make you feel too guilty, that’s the way to avoid all the banner ads.