Owners' Guide Vacuum Cleaners
it is important to know you rvacuum cleaner's parts and features to ensure its proper and safe use. Review these before using your cleaner.




NOTE: All models have one set of attachments in the canister, Some models have an additional set, which can be kept in the accessory bag for garage use or other dirty areas,

WARNING: Electrical Shock Hazard DO NOT plug into electrical supply until assembly is complete. Failure to do so could result in electrical shock or injury.
Before assembling vacuum, check the PACKING LIST on the cover of the separate Repair Parts List. Use this list to verify that you have received all the components of your new Kenmore vacuum
The wand length is adjustable and requires no assembly, To adjust, simply push down on the wand adjust button and slide the upper wand to the desired height.

The swivel, located on the PowerMate allows you to turn the handle to the left side to reach farther under low furniture.
When adjusting the wand length you may have to hold the PowerMate ® with your hand or foot.

Insert wand into Power-Mate ® until the wand button snaps into place.

It is normal for the canister hood and cover to come off when opened further than needed, Line up the hinge slots, insert them, and close the hood and!or cover to replace it
CAUTION: Never open canister hood with the cover open. This will help to prevent damage from occurring to the canister hood andlor cover.


To store: Disconnect hose from wands and canister to prevent stress on hose during storage, Store hose in a loosely coiled position so the hose covering is not stressed.

WARNING:
Personal Injury and Product Damage Hazard




Suggested sweeping pattern.
For best cleaning action, the Power-Mate ® should be pushed straight away from you and pulled straight back° At the end of each pull stroke, the direction of the Power-Mate ® should be changed to point into the next section to be cleaned. This pattern should be continued across the rug with slow, gliding motions.

NOTE: Fast, jerky strokes do not provide complete cleaning.
The hose swivel allows the hose to turn without moving the canister This is helpful for cleaning in small areas Check hose for twisting before pulling canister.

CAUTION:
Product Damage Hazard
Use care if the Power-Mate ® and wand is left in the upright position as it may tip over easily, Property damage can occur if tipped.
WARNING:
Personal Injury and Product Damage Hazard
Carpeted stairs need to be vacuumed regularly. For best cleaning results, fully close the suction control.

WARNING:
Personal Injury Hazard
Use care if canister is placed on stairs. If it falls, personal injury or property damage could result.
For best cleaning results, keep the airflow passage open. Check each assembly area in HOW YOUR VACUUM WORKS occasionally for clogs Unplug from outlet before checking.
The dirt sensor light system is mounted on the Power-Mate s nozzle near the reset button. It consists of a series of three red lights and one green light

The lights give you an indication of the amount of dirt particles that are passing thru the sensor n its way to the dust bag
When the Power-Mate ® is first started, the following light sequences occurs in a two second time frame:
NOTE: If the nozzle is on a surface that has dirt on it, dirt will be picked up by the vacuum and one or more red lights might stay on
When the Power-Mate s is being moved back and forth on the floor, the lights will change from one configuration to another as more dirt or less dirt is being vacuumed. As long as one or more red lights are on, dirt is passing through the wand to indicate that the surface still needs cleaning
When the green light stays on as the PowerMate ® is moved back and forth over an area, the sensor is not seeing enough dirt to warranty further cleaning of that area.
NOTE: Dirt sensor lights DO NOT function in the FLOOR setting
Although the dirt sensor feature in your Kenmore Power-Mate s is designed for years of trouble free use, the passage of dirt through the air passage system can coat the lens causing the green light to come on and stay on - never switching to red. When this happens the lens must be cleaned.


CAUTION
Never use water or any cleaning solution when cleaning the lenses. The residue of the water or cleaners will accelerate the recoating of the lenses and make cleaning necessary sooner
CAUTION
DO NOT attach or remove handle or wands while cleaner is ON. This could cause sparking and damage the electrical contacts.
NOTE: If the Power-Mate _ is attached, turn cleaner off before removing handle from wands.






*Always clean attachments before using on fabrics. ** 3-way On/Off switch should be in FLOOR position.
*** Handi-Mate Jr and Power-Mate Jr attachment instructions are included with the products,
NOTE: When separating wands depress Iock button completely before pulling wands apart. If wand lock button is difficult to push the two wands more tightly together to line up the LOCK button with the hole. Depress LOCK button and then pull wanes apart.
Active brush edge cleaners are on both sides of the Power° Mate . Guide either side of the PowerMate along baseboards or next to furniture to hetp remove dirt trapped at carpet edges.

The Power-Mate has built-In protection against motor and belt damage should the agitator jam. if the agitator slows down or stops, the overload protector shuts off the Power-Mate ®. The canister motor will continue to run.

To correct problem: Turn off vacuum, remove obstruction, then press reset button
To reset: Push in the overload protector button.
The suction control allows you to change the vacuum suction for different fabric and carpet weights. Opening the control decreases suction for draperies and lightweight rugs, while closing the control increases suction for upholsteries and carpets.

WARNING: Personal InjuryHazard Always unplug the vacuum cleaner before cleaning the agitator area as brush may suddenly restart. Failure to do so can result in personal injury.
The light comes on whenever the airflow becomes blocked, dust bag needs changing or canister safety filter needs cleaning.

NOTE: The light may come on when using certain attachments, due to reduced airflow through attachment
In some cases, when vacuuming loose fibers, like new carpet lint, the bag may be full and the light may not come on.
In some cases, when vacuuming fine materials such as powder, soot, plaster dust, carpet freshener, the bag may not appear full but the light does come on.
Refer to TROUBLESHOOTING.
When the unit is running, the indicator window will be green if there are no clogs. When the indicator turns completely red there is a need to check the dust bag for being full or the other areas that may be clogged. See HOW YOUR VACUUM WORKS.

NOTE: Red may appear when using attachments or when cleaning new carpet, due to reduced airflow by the attachments themselves or new carpet fuzz filling the bag quickly.
This vacuum has a thermal protector which automatically trips to protect the vacuum from overheating. The thermal protector turns the motor off automatically to allow the motor to cool in order to prevent possibie damage to the vacuum.
To reset: Turn off and unplug the vacuum from the outlet to allow the vacuum to cool. Check for and remove any clogs. Also check and replace any clogged filters, Wait approximately 50 minutes and plug the vacuum in and turn back on to see if the thermal protector has reset. In some cases, the unit may suddenly restart. DO NOT leave unattended.
The lower wand has a "U" shaped flange in the area where the power cord attaches, The base has a "U" shaped slot near the front caster°

The slot allows the wands and Power-Mate to be stored with the canister to conserve storage space. The canister must be stored on end for this feature to be used,
The wand will slip out of the slot as it is lifted up for use and will slide into the slot as it is lowered for storage
The Power-Mate ® must be in the flat position as shown in the illustration. Use the handle release pedal to place it in this position.
NOTE: You may save space by lowering the telescoping wand as shown in the ASSEMBLY section.
CAUTION
To prevent tip over, never leave Power-Mate on or in the upright position with the wand fully extended. Moving the wand to a lower position and turning the handle to one side will make the Power-Mate more stable and less likely to tip over
The vacuum cleaner creates suction that picks up dirL Rapidly moving air carries the dirt to the dust bag through the airflow passages. The dust bag lets the air pass through, while it traps the dirt.
For best cleaning results, keep the airflow passage open. Check the starred areas occasionally for clogs. Unplug from outlet before checking.

For best cleaning results, the dust bag should be changed often. The electronic mechanical bag/hose check indicator will come on when the bag needs to be changed or the airflow is blocked° NOTE: See PARTS AND FEATURES for Bag Number.




CAUTION:
NEVER REUSE A DUST BAG. Very fine materials, such as carpet freshener, face powder, fine dust, plaster, soot, new carpet lint, etc. can clog the bag and cause it to burst before it is full and may cause damage to vacuum motor. Change bag more often when vacuuming these materials.
CAUTION: Do not use attachments if they are wet. Attachments used in dirty areas, such as under a refrigerator, should not be used on other surfaces until they are washed. They could leave marks.
Check motor safety filter occasionally and change when dirty.
WARNING: Electrical Shock lazard Unplug power cord from electrical outlet. Do not operate the cleaner without the motor safety filter. Be sure the filter is dry and properly installed to prevent motor failure and/or electrical shock.
Remove the bag as outlined in the BAG CHANGING section.
This white and grey filter must be replaced when dirty, it should be replaced regularly depending on use conditions. The filter CANNOT be washed as it will lose its dust trapping ability,
NOTE: Use motor safety filter #20-86883_ In Canada, #20-86883C.


CAUTION : NEVER REUSE A DUST BAG. Very fine materials, such as carpet freshener, face powder, fine dust, plaster, soot, new carpet lint, etc. can clog the bag and cause it to burst before it is full. Change bag more often when vacuuming these materials
WARNING:
Fire andlor Electrical Shock Hazard
Do not operate with a clogged exhaust filter or without the exhaust filter or exhaust filter cover installed.
The exhaust filter cartridge must be replaced when dirty. Replace the filter when the entire surface area is covered evenly. The filter CANNOT be washed as it will lose its dust trapping ability.
NOTE: Use exhaust filter #20-86880. tn Canada, #20-86880C.




CAUTION:
When you remove the end caps, a small metal washer on each end may come off.DO NOT lose these two metal washers.
NOTE: In order to keep cleaning efficiency high and to prevent damage to your vacuum, the agitator must be cleaned every time the belt is changed.
The agitator must also be cleaned according to the following schedule:

Remove any dirt or debris in the belt path area or in the brush roller area.
Carefully remove any string or debris located on the agitator, end caps, washers or agitator shall
IMPORTANT
Replace the washers and the end caps. See the exploded view for correct assembly

Disconnect cleaner from electrical outlet.
Check and remove hair, string and lint buildup frequently in the Power-Mate ® agitator and end cap areas. If build-up becomes ® excessive, disconnect Power-Mate from wand and follow the steps below.















Review this table to find do-it-yourself solutions for minor performance problems. Any service needed, other than those described in this owner's manual, should be performed by an authorized Sears service representative.
WARNING: Electrical Shock Hazard
Disconnect electrical supply before servicing or cleaning the unit, Failure to do so could result in electrical shock or personal injury.
| PROBLEM | POSSIBLE CAUSES | SOLUTION |
| Cleaner won't start. |
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| Poor Job of dirt pick-up. |
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| Cleaner starts but cuts off. |
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| Power Mate ®will net run when attached |
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| Constant green light on in dirt sensor |
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| Any some,or all red lights in dirt sensor burn and never turn green |
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| No green or red dirt sensor lights |
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| Eleetronlc/Mechanlcal Bag/Hose Check indicator activates |
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| Cleaner picks up moveable rugs or Power.Mate® pushes too hard |
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| Light won't work |
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| Cord won't rewind |
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| Cleaner leaves marks on carpet |
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Reference file: Kenmore 11620813001 Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Additionally, the document applies to other Kenmore models: 116.20812, 116.20813, 116.21813, 116, 21875