Why Is My Shark Vacuum Making a High Pitched Noise?

Not long ago, my Shark vacuum made extreme sounds that were as loud as nonstop fireworks. I’ve tried many things to get rid of the sound and finally it stops.

Typically, the reasons why Shark vacuum is making a high-pitched noise continuously are four in total, that includes –

Why Is My Shark Vacuum Making High Pitched Noise?
Filthy dust container.
Blockage in filters.
The floor nozzle brushes & hose contain dust.

To know the root cause in a better way, keep on reading since I’ll show working ways of fixing these issues!

This Is Exactly Why Shark Vacuum Makes a High Pitched Noise

There are countless issues that the Shark vacuum faces but the high-pitched sound of it indicates serious trouble (needs attention).

After doing some checkups on my vacuum, here I find the 4 causes which are why it makes loud and irksome noise:

Reason 1: Something Trapping In The Hand Vacuum & Wand

As you daily use the vacuum in your home where every type of particle flows on the floor, during the cleaning it’s possible the hand vacuum and wand catch some of them.

The ear-splitting noises usually come from the vacuum due to zero care on the hand vacuum and wand areas.

It happens when a large quantity of grime blocks the path deeply which causes the internal issue to reduce flow through the suction air.

How To Fix:

Turn the Shark vacuum in the OFF position and plug out the cable.
Take out the hand vacuum from the wand. You’ll hear a little clicking sound.
Inspect all the intake opening parts to the end part to locate dust. If you spot some, take an extended brush and run it into the hole. Be sure it’s clean!
Now, remove the wand from the floor nozzle area using your hand and move it left to right and up motion. During the process, it’ll make a clicking noise.
Check both ends of the wand to locate debris. If you find some, use the same brush and run into the hole to clean well.
After cleaning, place the wand in the floor nozzle and then insert the hand vacuum on it. Check if it still makes noise or not.

Tip:

Clean the wand and hand vacuum once a year using an extended brush.

Reason 2: Clogged Dust Container

A shark dust container filled with dirt and debris

Sometimes the fill dirt on the dust container causes the machine to make a strident sound. The clogged dust, hairs, particles, and so on can cause the vacuum hose to get stuck too.

Due to this reason, it not only damages the air suction power but also causes unstable operation which increases the loud noise.

How To Fix:

Power off the Shark vacuum like you normally do.
Take out the dust cup.
Hold it on top of the dustbin.
Hit the release button in forwarding motion and swing open it. Empty the dust cap by removing the dust into the dustbin.
Open the under button to open the door. Remove the dirt by tapping the dust cap to knock off the stuck debris.
Wipe out the dust cap using a dry rag.
Put it back in its place and see if the vacuum still makes the same sound or not.

Tip:

Empty the dust container once or twice a week (7 days) and wipe it using a rag.

Reason 3: The Filters Are Terribly Dirty

Filthy pre-motor filters that are under the dust container can cause the machine to go louder than usual when operating.

You see, the dirt inside the filters can cause the suction power to spend without being used and stuck in the middle path which eventually causes it to make irritating machine-like noise.

Plus, the post-motor filter inside the grill (locate it below the dust container or cup) can get dirty and cause the vacuum to make extremely loud sounds.

How To Fix:

Open the dust cup and place it in a safe zone after turning the device off.
Pull out the foam and felt filters.
Beat the 2 filters to remove the dust from the surface.
Take a pot of water and fill 3 drops of liquid soap. Mix it well and then dip the foam and felt filters in the mixture and rub them lightly.
Wait for 3 – 4 minutes and take them out. Wash the filters using fresh water.
Dry them naturally for a day. After that, set everything back in its place.
Locate and take out the HEPA filter from the dust container by removing the grill.
Take a small toothbrush or brush to wipe out the stubborn dust from the HEPA filter.
Then, put it back in its place.
Now turn on the vacuum and test if the sound is gone or not.

Tip:

Wash the pre-motor (foam + felt) filters once every 3 months. Clean the post-motor (HEPA) filter once every year without water and soap.

Reason 4: Debris Stuck Inside The Floor Nozzle Brushes & Hose

Lastly, the debris that blocks the floor nozzle brushes (roll + rotating) and nearby hose joints cause the Shark vacuum to speak loudly during usage. If the number of debris is bigger inside them, it will make even more noise.

How To Fix:

Turn the vacuum off.
Take out the floor nozzle from the wand.
Take a slim screwdriver to turn the 3 locks on the bottom of the nozzle. Move the screwdriver to the left (anticlockwise) motion to open the cover.
Lift the nozzle cover and inspect for dirt.
Tilt the nozzle neck in the back position.
Remove the hose that connects to the nozzle and check for dirt. If you find dust, take a pair of nose-needle pliers to take out the stuck debris.
If you spot dirt in the rotating and roll brushes, then use a pair of scissors to remove the dirt or hair properly.
Take a dry rag to wipe out the nozzle cover and clean the other areas.
Put the cover on top of the floor nozzle and turn the locks to right (clockwise) motion to close the fitting.
Insert the floor nozzle back into the wand properly. Hope now there’s less noise coming from the vacuum!

Tip:

Clean the floor nozzle and hose once a year using a good pair of nose-needle pliers or scissors.

7 Tips To Reduce High Pitch Noise Of Shark Vacuums!

If you are hearing incessant loud noise whenever using the Shark vacuum, take a deep breath. After that, follow the given instructions to cut down the high-pitch sound:

Maintain your Shark vacuum daily after use like cleaning the wand, hand vacuum, floor nozzle brushes, filters, and other parts.
Replace the motor (located inside the floor nozzle near the brush roll) and insert a new one since sometimes a burnt motor causes a high-pitch sound.
Remove the hose from the vacuum to clean them using an extended brush.
Take a screwdriver to remove the 5 screws from the handle part and check inside if the hand vacuum mouth has deep dirt. If it contains, clean the dirt using nose-needle pliers.
Lubricate the bearings, screws, and other metal parts using oil.
If the vacuum belt is worn out or damaged, it can cause the vacuum to produce a whistling noise. Locate the vacuum belt and inspect if it is worn out. If it’s damaged, replace the belt immediately since this needs replacement in between 6 months to 1 year.
Replace the post-motor and pre-motor filters.

Ending Note

I figured out the no.1 reason why Shark vacuum makes a high-pitched noise is nothing but lack of maintenance.

It’s suggested by the maker of the Shark vacuum to clean the machine once in 3 – 6 months. So don’t be lazy in taking good care of the tool.

Still, facing the same noise after trying the above techniques? Then, it’s best to replace the damaged parts or maybe get help from the Shark service center to fix the issue.

Hope this guide helps with these solutions to get rid of the loud almost ear-bleeding noise. Happy Vacuuming!