You need to find the exact location of the clog. It sounds like something solid like a nail through a pipe. If all ports are bad then it is between the closest port and the unit. Did you try a small plumbers tape from the unit into the hose (not from a port towards the unit)? Get the suction working as good as you can, put a paper towel through the first port while putting your ear on the wall. However may thuds you hear is now many turns the clog is away from the valve. We are trying to find the location so can you see if you an access the pipe to cut it and clear it or repair it. Also, when things are quiet in your home, turn on the unit, put the hose in the furthest valve, then go back toward the first inlet and unit and put your ear on the wall. You should hear the clog rattling. Find it, access it, and repair it.

The best and only way to overcome a consistent filter clog is converting to a disposable paper bag. However, this is only possible if you can get an adapter into the intake hole inside the tank. Take a look at our Conversion Kit to see if this will work for you.

The screen needs to be cleaned off everytime you empty the unit.

Try disconnecting the pipe at the power unit, then use a shop vac at the inlet that is having issues. The reverse pressure might dislodge the hard bottle lid. If that doesn't work, you'll need to call a https://www.acevacuums.com/fairfax  to snake out the line or replace the hose.

Does your system have great suction directly at the unit where the PVC pipe intake is connected? If not, please refer to our Troubleshooting Guide to help pinpoint the issue. If your system does have great suction at the unit, then the issue may likely be a break in the vacuum lines somewhere or an an elbow came undone. The best thing to do is turn the vacuum on in the middle of the night when it is completely quiet and listen for a suction sound in the walls, basement and attic.

Many SilentMasters have two motors. If one motor is out you will have 50% power. The motor appears to spin because air from the working motor is turning it. Press on the white minibreakers on the bottom right to see if one is popped out (pops out about an inch). Also, go through these steps to ensure the issue is not something else, such as the hose.

The best option is by using a paper towel or our specialized Free Flow Pipe and Hose Maintenance Sheets which will help push the item(s) through the pipeline and back to your unit . When a central vacuum is installed properly, the first turn right at the inlet is the sharpest - if it makes it past this turn, the item will go all the way through the system (even up a pipe) with the help of a paper towel or specialized cloth.

If all ports have strong suction except for one, this indicates a clog in that section of the pipeline. Follow the steps in Solution #3 on our TroubleShooting Flowchart to resolve this issue.

To remove the drywall pieces, suction full paper towels, socks, or specialized Free Flow Pipe and Hose Maintenance Cloths (one at a time) into the hose from the towel's corner edge. Do this several times in each inlet to knock the debris through the pipes and into the collection unit. You may want to change/clean your filter first though because drywall dust is the most restrictive to air flow.

The screw is not causing the motor issues. The sparks are the motor brushes going bad and heating up the machine. The motor or entire unit should be replaced (we recommend the SilentMaster or Flo-Master). In order to dislodge the screw, suction a paper towel or our specialized Free Flow Pipe and Hose Maintenance Sheets through your hose and into the piping to help push the screw through to the collection unit.

Turn the hose around so that the suction is coming out of the handle. Put the handle into the wall port using your hand as a gasket and use the system's suction power to try and remove the sock.

It is very possible that the clog is at a junction in the piping so you have part of the home with suction and part without. It may also be the hose used in part of the home is clogged. Please run through the steps to the left of the Start button on our Troubleshooting Flowchart to find the issue and solve it.

As the necklace weighs more than normal debris, it will require more assistance to move through the pipe. Suction a dozen dry paper towels or socks (one at at time) to get it moving through the pipes to be collected in the unit.

This is likely due to a combination of condensation and clog build up. You may have a burr or something catching hair and debris in the pipeline which may have occured from a sloppy connection during installation. Over time the hair and debris builds up to a mass that is not able to pass through the pipeline due to the torque of the suction coming from your unit. Please review Solution #3 on our Troubleshooting Flowchart for ideas on how to unclog the system.

In the central vacuum industry we use this simple hose end to test inlets and help work out clogs. Slide it into the inlet and the suction will start (on inlets with two small metal contacts inside the inlet hole). If there is a clog in the lines cover your hand over the hose end and let pressure build up then release. Do this until the clog gets loose.

Please try the hand over end trick some more, letting the suction built up and then releasing it. Try that for 5 minutes. If not successful you'll need to apply suction to the inlet valve (hole). You can do that by hooking your hose into the valve on the main unit and run the hose to the valve to suction out the clog. You first need to disconnect the intake pipe to the main unit. If the hose is too short to do that then remove the unit from the wall and bring it closer to the valve. Do the same build up and release with the main unit suction into the valve.

We suggest putting the hose handle end into the vacuum port on the wall or preferable into a port on the vacuum unit. Use your hand as a gasket for leaking air. Put the end in and out of the port and try to work the clog loose. You can put a dull butter knife down the hose and try to loosen it that way too.

You can try removing the VacPan and attempt to locate the clog in the pipeline at the opening. If it is further up the line, you may need to call a service technician to have it removed.

You'll probably have to access the pipe and cut it if the key ring is too heavy to move. If you think it will move, suction up full paper towels or socks (one at a time, repeatedly) to see if it makes it to the tank. If it has to go upward it will probably never make it and you'll need to cut or use a very flexible fisherman's tape to try to hook it.

Doubtful you did any harm to the motor or the system. You should turn on the vacuum with the hose connected and let air flow through it for 15 minutes to let the hose and pipes dry out. Do this after the bag is completely dry.