Household Tips

Help? Does anyone out ther know where BUY a REPAIR MANUAL for a BISSEL, PROHEAT, PROTECH MODEL #7920 series, upright Carpet Cleaner

I bought my latest Bissell Proheat 2x at Sears 2 years ago. I use it every week or two in my living room and occasionally to clean the tile floors. It was working fine up til about 3 months ago, when it stopped spraying water onto the floor. It sprayed soap, but no water from the bladder. Luckily, after my past bad experiences with Bissell machines, I purchased the extended maintenance service when I bought my current machine at Sears. So I took it to my Sears and dropped it off for service. It was only supposed to take a week to get it back, but when I didn't get a call from sears after a week, I called the service department and they said it was taking longer because they are still trying to fix the problem. I'm glad I bought the maintenace service on my Bissell so they can remedy the problem because I'm used to their common problems with past machines, but it is a major inconvenience not to have my machine for several weeks when I really needed to clean the carpet. Now, I finally get it back after about 3 weeks and I use it at home, and it works fine, spraying water and everything, the carpet is clean again! Although the repair department left on my repair tag that I was not following the post-cleaning procedures for my machine... I clean the tank and brushes and everything visible and let them air dry, does sears expect me to unscrew the whole thing every time I used it and clean the hoses and everything else? That's rediculous, I want an easy maintenance machine. I use it 3 more times over the summer months, and now, it's not spraying again! I'm irritated, I was hoping to research an easy way to fix it myself, but since I paid for the extended maintenance, I will just have to take it back to sears and wait for them to fix it again. But this time, I'm going to ask them to give me a detailed note as to what EXACTLY was the problem, what was clogged, etc. I just wanna know so if it's something I feel comfortable doing, I won't have to take it back to sears so often in the future. So frustrating! So, I read alot of people asking about where to repair their Bissells, Sears will do it, just find one with a repair drop off. They fixed mine, I just don't know why it's clogged again so soon. But for a new machine, it was worth it to me to buy the extended maintenance agreement on the Bissell because now if the sprayer wants to keep clogging, I will keep taking it to sears and let them deal with it. I normally don't buy extended warranties on things, but being familiar with Bissell carpet cleaners, it beats having to buy a new machine after only 2 years. I'll just have to wait for it every time they fix the thing. They clean very well when they actually work.

Only had mine for about a year when it quit dispensing water and soap. I've tried everything. Ready to throw it away. It's a piece of crap.

Does anyone know what i should do to fix my flow indicator it won't spin. Thank you

You are definitely in the minority...This carpet shampooer stinks!

Hi, we just got the above cleaner from good-well not sure the year. Anyone know how I can get a book for it. It looks like it has never been used. Just no book. I just happened upon this site, how crazy is that.

Same problem as everyone else... after a few years of use, I was getting sporatic flow.

Long story short, the pump needed replacement. I could see it pumping air bubbles into the flow... that should not be happening! I suspect it is a cheap design, and a seal fails after awhile.

I got a replacement here http://vacuum-parts.net/bissell5.htm#PUMPS

While I was in the machine, I took the heater apart and cleaned out some gunk. Don't worry, there's nothing inside you can screw up... the electrical components are sealed... when you pop the cover, you only access the channel where the water flows.

New pump, clean heater, just like new.

This machine is dead easy to work on once you set your mind to it. Just download the service manual mentioned on a previous post.

How do you clean out the floor nozzle window (part 014-9865)- mine has carpet fuzz that just stays in there - it isn't stopped up but it could in the future if not cleaned out.

I just purchased a Bissell Proheat Plus model 1698-1 they do not make this model anymore, I got it at a garage sale, for 25.00.
I had him show me it worked on carpet, it picked up the water, the smartmix switch thing is broken and i got it home and ofcourse now it will not spray anything. I had borrowed this same machine from a friend and had great results we have two dogs and twins 9 year olds it cleans great. I cannot seem to find out if the smartmix thing would cause it to not spray water or even the mix? any suggestions

the pulley that works the brush bar on my machine broke not the one on the bar but the actual driver I waS told that the cost to repair was almmost hat of a new machine ummm think I will by a different machine

Go to you local janitor store or some where they carry Orange out. You shouldn't use those type of cleaners. Try asprin, put it in a glass, let it dissolve, let it sit for an hour and then clean it up - it works on other types of stains. Won't hurt

I just found a bissell proheat in the dumpster near my apartment. It is in excellent shape, so I took it home and tore it apart to make sure everything was in tact, like the belt. I cleaned it up, put it together and tried it out, and everything worked on it perfectly --- for how long I am not sure, but it seems to do the job. For most people out there who are having these problems, just spend an hour taking it apart to find the problem. That way if anything goes wrong you know how to fix it. The only thing not to mess with unless you know what your doing is the motor. Everything else was essembled to come apart for home use. I have 2 dogs and could not afford a cleaner, so today I scored.

I bought the Bissell Proheat in Aug 08. The water wouldn't spray right from the start. I took it back to the store and took a different one. This one started leaking all over the floor within 2 weeks. I noticed the water reservoir looked like it was defective at the top. I ordered a new water reservoir and had to pay almost $50.00 with shipping. Customer service at Bissell told me they would refund my money if it resolved my problem. The refund never came but the problem seemed resolved. By January it started leaking out the bottom of the reservoir again. Then it made a grinding noise and the power brush quit. When I looked in the belt access, a piece was there. I took it out. I tried running it without the power brush and it seemed to run alright, so I kept using it. By March, more and more things became wrong. This machine it truly a piece of junk. I love how well it cleans, but it is plastic pieces all over the place. It rarely sprays water anymore. I think it will find a home in the dump this weekend. I guess it cost less than renting a steam cleaner for the past 6 months, but I think if you pay a few hundred dollars for a machine - it should last longer than that.
I never abused it. It was cleaned carefully after each use and was handled with care when I used it.
Now I'm going to have to buy one a lot better built.

I have purchased a Bissell ProHeat 2X and the first time my husband used it he cracked the container that held the cleaner and water. How do I go about ordering a new part for this machine?

I just bought the Bissell Pro heat and so far so good. I bought the Hoover on the 14th and it stopped working five days later and so took it back to Walmart and decide to try the Bissell out. It did a better job than the Hoover. I hope it keeps on going.

I have FIVE small dogs. PUHLESE. Use it once a month! Hah! Don't buy it. They don't last.

My Bissell also STOPPED SPRAYING WATER.

I've owned a Bissell 9200 for a few months. I've used it twice, the last time most likely being around August. I attempted to use it this past weekend and it wouldn't spray. I searched all the help sites I could find and thought the solution was a clog in the heater, which many said was located in the arm. After I took the arm apart, to my surprise, THE HEATER IS NOT LOCATED IN THE ARM OF THE 9200 MODEL.

It's still under warranty, however am not located near a service center so I took it upon myself to try to fix it.

I'm just a single female who ends up trying to fix a lot of stuff herself so, I don't speak "technical instructions". But, here's what I did in the event that it may help someone else.

I unscrewed all the screws that I could on the base. I removed the cover over the motor. Doing so revealed the hoses attached to the soap dispenser. Located closer to the rollers were more hoses. On the same side as the foot lever, above the wheel is the where the HEATER is located.

Being that I was looking for a clog, I unclamped one hose at a time; inserted a safty pin into what the hose was attached to and wiggled it; re-clamped hose afterwards.

The only slight confusion may be with the screws. There are only two sizes. I used finger nail polish to mark where the small ones went.

I reassembled it, turned it on, and it actually started spraying again!!!!!!!!

So that this "blockage" won't occur again, I will take advice I've read about cleaning Bissell's hoses out after using it.
See, taking the thing apart was really nerve racking! Especially not knowing if it would even work after I put it back together.

GOOD LUCK WITH FIXING YOUR CLOG!....you'll probably need to sooner or later.

I have the bissell pro heat and It would release the water when I pressed on the
release triger. Took it to the shop and they had it for ever and still didnt fix it Can any one tell me if these machine are worth
fixing and if so where can I take it I live
Clarksville Tenn.

My Bissel Turbo Brush Pro Heater does not dispense the shampoo. Instead,when I fill up the dispenser, the shampoo comes right out onto the floor. Do I need to get a replacement seal or take it to the repair shop; there aren't many in my area.

Does anyone have a link or info on quick repairs for the Bissell Proheat? Mine does not spray from the front when actuated by the handle trigger. The handle-held hose adapter sprays. I cleaned the lines. Signed "Dry in Temecula"

I literally just purchased an industrial carpet cleaner tonight online. The Bissel Proheat has been the best carpet cleaner to date that we have purchased but after having it for only four months, I went to use the upholstery tools and after that, the water and detergent would no longer come out the bottom of the unit. If I wanted to clean the carpet, I had to spray it down by using the hand tools verses just being able to get it to come out the bottom. This was the first time I had ever used that tool also. It sounds like everyone else has had problems as well. It was great while it worked but I have purchased so many of these in the past due to three teen boys and two dogs that I am going commercial/industrial this next time. I am sick of having to throw them away.

I, too bought the Bissel 9200. I used to have the black pro-het, which I loved until it broke. I bought the 9200 2X. It is too heavy.... does not suck the water back up and has a water system that is not user friendly. Who designed this piece of junk? Don't they realize that it is mostly women who use it? They made it twice as heavy as the old model and not as good. I bought mine at Walmart. Hopefully they will take it back. I hate it.

I will never buy another Bissell product. I bought a Bissell steam cleaner a few months ago and it leaks black stuff all over the place and left black stripes on our carpet. This purchase was a terrible waste of money. When we can afford to we will purchase a steam cleaner from another company.

I lost the instruction booklet for my bissell carpet cleaner. Where can I get another booklet?

Mine sucks fine but will no longer dispense detergent, just hot water. Any help?

I'm just now at 10.57pm, still trying to use this stupid machine. I started at 6.30 pm. I 'm having the same problem. mine is also bbeen used about 3-4 times and always with frustration.

I have the same opinion as many of the others on here. I have spent a lot of money on a piece of equipment that just does not work. Between the spray not spraying, the suction not working, and the only repair store is 50 miles away from here I have lost my faith in Bissel. I thought I was going to save money by buying my own machine instead of having to rent the rug doctors at retail stores but I guess I have just thrown away almost $300.00 on a piece of junk.

My bissell won't pick up the water/soap, what is wrong with my machine!

I bought the Bissel ProHeat 2X MultiSurface 9200-T - worked twice, then broke.

Bissell Service and Target Service have set up a nice system for themselves, where no one is responsible for their inferior product, and they stick the consumer with $200+ of worthless plastic garbage. All the Bissell 800 number get you is a script read by some remote teleworker: you CANNOT return their products - not at Target, not to Bissell. Instead you're supposed to take the machine to an appliance / sewing machine mechanic in your ZIP code.

The whole process has made me so mad I could scream. No wonder we do not produce any value any more in our economy. I'm seriously considering taking Bissell to small claims court, just to mess with their general counsel office and send the worthless judgment to a collection agency.

My wife and I purchased the upright preheat cleaner a year ago. We have used it three times and it has broken every time. I have cleaned it and removed the dog hair but it hasn't made much of a difference. When I want it to spray, it won't. When I don't want it to it floods the carpet. I have spent almost three hundred dollars on a piece of junk. I have replaced the belts on it. It doesn't suck the water and shampoo up that it leaks all over my carpet. I honestly think my carpets are MUCH worse than they were BEFORE purchased this piece of junk and BISSELL should either replace my carpets or pay for them to be cleaned professionally since I have spent more time and money on their junk than I spent rebuilding the motor for my car.

Mine was fine for two years or so, then the motor burned up. Seems to be a common problem.

my machine will not suck up cleaner now after dispensing what could be wrong? cleaner comes out ok, but it won't suck up

My Bissell - the very same model here - NEVER heated the water, leaks all over the place now, after a year of occasional use and, the handle is broken, the trigger sticks there fore I would NOT recommend the brand to ANYone. If you have never had a GOOD carpet cleaner, then you may think the Bissell is great simply because having any carpet cleaner is great. There are MUCH better models out there than this one.

I have had two of these. The first one lasted less than 2 hours of use and we returned it for a refund. We borrored another one and that had only been used three times. It burned up. Bissel means junk. Notice the number that have burned up. Is it UL listed?

My bissell is broke and Iam looking for somewhere to get it repaired here in Maryland any one with info would be appreciated

bissell turbo proheat shampoo not dispensing

I bought a Bissell pro heat and it cleaned wonderful while it worked. It's been less than a year and the motor burned up and the appliance repair man won't even put it back together, he told me to junk it. I'm really upset about this.

I disassembled my bissel proheat because it was not heating the the water nor spraying properly. What I discovered was that the heater had been by-passed either as a factory rebuild or repair shop "fix". The real problem is a kinked hose in two places where the hose goes up into the handle. Replacing this tubing with a non-kinking harder tube and reconnecting the heater solved the problems. Fortunately, I only paid $27.50 for the used unit and the new tubing was only $3.00. There are lots of screws and parts so be ready for somewhat of a project.

Hello folks,
I wanted to leave a follow up comment since I bought my Pro heat cleaner from Bissell.
My wife and I have used the machine 36 times since we bought it. Our floors are not only clean but now shimmer as if new (18' Porcelain tile floors). The wood floors also shimmer beyond clean. All the bathrooms are super clean including the Main bathroom. I wish we could attach pictures to show everyone all the results. People would think that the house is brand new with new floors. As far as the machine is concerned, we have had NO problems what so ever and it works like new each time we use it. If we can pass the white glove mother-in-law inspection, then I am happy. My Mother-in-law thinks we have the floors professionally cleaned and polished. My neighbors want our floor cleaner’s business card. Funny! Thank you Bissell.

I have had my bissell for 4 years. It cleans the carpet very well WHEN it is working right.
Since I have purchased it I have had a lot of trouble with the water spraying out. I would have to turn it off a few minutes then it would start spraying. Now It doesn't want to spray out anything, so needless to say I'm throwing it away and shopping for one that will work ALL of the time.

Approximately six montha gao I bought a Bissel Proheat shampooer. After 60-90 days the motor burned up. I exchanged it out for another one. It quit dispensing the shampoo and soaking up water after about 60 days. Once again I exchanged it out. It sounded like a rebuilt machine that was thrown back in the box without ever being fixed. It sounded awful. It has already completely quit doing anything. That is three machines in less than six months. I also bought a vacuum cleaner that quit picking up dirt. I exhanged it out for a more expensive model. When I got home it was missing a piece to the hose. Wal Mart did not want to return it saying it was against Bissel policy and gave me an 800 number. Another man was in line with the same issues. I will never buy another Bissel product and have told everyone who will lsiten tome about all the problems that I have had.

I have only used my cleaner a few times. Now the spray doesn't work. These machines at TOO expense to break down after only 3 or 4 uses. Don't waste your money on this one.

My wife and I bought the proheat machine and immediately began to use it thought our house. With over 3700 square feet of 19 inch Atlantic white porcelain tiles, wood floors and carpeting in two guest bedrooms, our office and fitness center.
We both were absolutely amazed with the cleaning power of this machine. We cleaned the entire house in less that three hours. Since we had some spare time, we decided to clean the carpeting in both our vehicles. WOW, clean like new. We have tried them all, and can honestly tell you, that this is one of the best machines for the money out there. We were so happy with the machine, we went out and bought another one as a gift for my Mom

best thing I bought. Works very well. I have white carpet and two kids that like to drink juice. Those sippy cups do leak and my Bissell cleans it all.

My Bissell Pro-Heat will not spray water or suction up water at all. I have tried everything. I am disgusted and ready to throw it in the garbage and NEVER buy a bissell again!!!

I've had a model 7901 (Proheat plus) for about 5 years. It's seen limited usage. After the first few uses, I started having issues with spray. The wand would spray fine, but the floor spray would not (i.e. the little spinning flow indicator would not spin or spin very slowly). Usually some shaking would eventually get it going. Not today. I read through most of the comments here, and found the repair document link (NOTE: Edited so the hyperlink would work). Using the repair doc, I opened the lower unit to see what was going on.

The pump pulls water from the water tank, the water leaves the pump and mixes with the cleaning solution, and then the water line comes to a T split. One side of the split goes up the wand hose, the other side goes up the handle to the heating unit (I did not see the heating unit, it is enclosed in the handle and I didn't feel like cracking it open). The return line comes back out from the heating unit and then into the flow indicator housing and out to another T split which goes to the two floor sprayers.

My wand spray worked, so I knew the pump was fine. The water line that went up the handle to the heater was a little kinked, but not totally pinched off. I decided that the problem must be at the heating unit. I decided to bypass the heating unit by cutting the return water line and attaching it to the end of the T that feeds the heating unit. I reassembled and my floor spray started working again. HOWEVER, NOW MY FLOOR SPRAY IS ALWAYS ON. Also, my cleaning solution is not mixing into the water anymore. Either I put it back together incorrectly, or it was already gummed up and not working anyway. I just added a bit of cleaning solution when filling the water resevoir and that seemed to work just fine.

At least the thing is mostly working again, as it does clean well when it works. From what I've read, if I had cracked up the handle and corrected (if possible) whatever was wrong in the heating unit, it would probably just fail again. I also rarely used the wand, so I'm satisfied with this solution.

NOTE: If you decide to open the lower unit, make sure you that the two screws at the back of the unit, directly under the handle, are completely backed out before attempting to open the unit. I thought I had both screws backed out, but one was not quite out. The plastic is very thin and the screw head ripped through it. Fortunately 5 of 6 screws seems to be enough to hold it together, but because of the breakage I'm hesitant to crack it open again to figure out what's wrong with the solution mixing.

Good luck!

Lynette,
I aquired my Bissel second hand, it had no manual so was surfing the net to find one. I stumbled on your site....your suggestions on how to run the machine, and the cleaner to use was really helpful. I live in Alaska, have white carpet and two dogs that think they are human. (Go figure) I kid you not, we were about to replace the carpet. I have had it professionally cleaned, used my hoover shampooer, rented shampooers, but nothing has done the job that the Bissel is doing. I did have to stop and take it a part to romove some hair that got wound up in the rollers and froze them, but the belts had not broken, the rollers were just caught. I downloaded the instructions to get into the belt compartment, and the instruction manual, we were back in business in 1/2 hour. I am very pleased an amazed at the job this ProHeat is doing.

Thank you for you site, the pictures and all the links. It is really a help.

spray not working and rollers do not roll

Hello!
We do vacuum before we use the cleaner each time, but have 2 dogs who shed a lot, so the clear plastic frontplate gets all clogged with pet hair, and this decreases the suction. Does anyone know how to take that clear frontplate off to clean it out? Thank you so much!
Koren

Hi all-

For those who have mentioned that your Bissell won't suction back up the water/solution...I just tinkered around with mine and wound up doing something that worked:

1. There's a plastic, red, rectangular lint-catcher in the water tank. It pops out in order to be cleaned. I think this was my problem - mine was dirty, and the manuals say that if that filter is dirty, the machine won't suction.

2. There are two black "gaskets" on the machine itself. I'm talking about the two black plastic thingies on top of the base of the unit. Put down the handle, and one of the gaskets is directly underneath the red lint-catcher mentioned above, and the other is directly above the clear covering that the water would normally suction up through. Make sure both of these are "seated"...ie. push them down so they fit.

3. The manual says that the water carrier must be seated properly as well so that the unit will suction properly - just really push it down into place, making sure that the red lint-catcher and the black gasket underneath it are fitting together.

4. Ensure that the dial is set to "floor cleaning" rather than "tools/pretreat."

I hope this information helps. The Bissell website also said that you can put the handle down, take out the water carrier, and place your hand over the smaller rectangular opening that would be directly beneath the red lint-catcher. If there is no air movement when the unit is turned on, then it needs to go to a service center for repair.

Good luck!

I have an appraisal on my home this following monday early... I am so up set my carpet cleaner is not cleaning the water doesn not seem to be coming out.I have try for three times to get it to work... I am just sick, I can't let some one come with the carpet dirty.. this is such a important appriasal.. real estate is still good hear and I need to get the best price. please answer this If i just had a phone number I would try talking with tech staff to try to fix it.. my phone number is 210 7227983 san antonio texas

I have a Bissill proheat 2x and it quit putting out water period. I have only had it for a year and everything else works fine on it. Please help me figure out what to do.

Thank you Jeff, Mike and Andy. I printed out Jeff's instructions on how to fix the water blockage and gave it along with the machine to my husband this morning. He took both to the work shop and within about an hour had it working again. It's working great, as it always did - when it was working.
Thank you again because we were just about out the door to by another cleaner and it wasn't going to be this same one. Don't know what I will buy next when the time does come. I will flush this machine out good after each use along with blowing out the water hoes with air pressure. Will see if I have anymore problems. Thank you again Sylvia

Reading back through this list of comments, it amazes me how many of you are saying exactly the same thing; that it is blocked. It states very clearly in the instructions of this machine that the carpet MUST be thoroughly vacuumed before wet cleaning. If you are managing to block your Bissell, then clearly there must still be something in the carpet big enough to block it, and therefore you haven't vacuumed properly.

Be honest; how many of you really follow the manual? I use mine exactly as they instruct (after a very thorough vacuum with one of their cyclonic bagless vacuums), and I have never had a single problem.
Stains don't cause blockages, only solid objects do.

I would recommend this product to anyone, as long as they use it as the manufacturer instructs.

Hi, I'm very happy with my Bissel, it has held up much better than Hoover's steemcleaner and is one of the best retail products available. I think what you see in the comments is more due to fact that people search for and post comments much more frequently if they are having problems or are dissatisfied for some reason. It does require some preventative maintenance but it's very easy. If you do need to do more advanced repair experience (flow/spray problems, pump replacement etc.) I found a dealer service manual on-line with very good instructions on troubleshooting and repair! http://www.bissell.com.au/images/IncludeContent/Service_Center_Help/Upright_Deep_Cleaner_Repair_Guide.pdf

Cheers.
Andy

I cannot remember the last time I read so many negative postings about one item. Thank you all. I was just on my way out the door to purchase this very cleaner. Now I am calling Stanley Steamer. The problems are more than I want to deal with.

Bissell finally posted my repair suggestions in there chat column. I hope this helps you folks with getting your bissell to spray again and not have to trash it.

I tried posting my last post in the bissell website chat room and they would not post it, suprising uhh!!. i think a class action lawsuit could be the ticket . They should fix these units for free after spending that much money.

For The SPRAYING PROBLEM !. After about 10 hrs of figuring this unit out, I believe i found 4 main reasons for this unit to stop spraying the solution.I went to google to find information on these proheat models,bissell has pdf. files on repairing these units if you search.I suggest you read these manuals to get fimiliar with the disassembly of these units( you may find the manuals at the bissell web site i believe.)#1 I will start with the easiest.Make sure the smart mix bottle and the water tank are completely seated into the fitting .I had the bottom tank fitting pull out from the bottom mounting surface preventing it from fully seating with the tank,this caused the unit to suck in a tiny amount of air and make the unit almost stop applying the solution, the red spinner was hardly moving. I pushed up on the fitting from underneath the machine and could here it snap into place. That was the easiest fix.#2 Check the heater inlet and outlet, yes you will have to dissasemble the handle part of your unit to get at it. one of my units heater was completely clogged and this will result in a NO SPRAY condition, the red spinner would go like crazy to start out then completely stop , if you wait abit it would start again then stop.You can remove the(7)screws from the back of the heating unit to reveal the inlet-outlet tubes and the water channels that also might be blocked, clean the tubes with a very tiny screwdriver or paperclip or whatever you can find small enough to clean the insides of the tubes.#3 I had a NO SPRAY situation which i tracked down to be a faulty water pump, it was sucking in air as i could see bubbles entering the spraying system right from the pump.It would also spray water when you first pulled the trigger then it would slowly come to a complete stop (red spinner would not spin-- indicating the unit not spraying.I had an extra pump from the first unit that got thrown down my driveway from frustration#$%%$#.I replaced the pump and presto the unit was spraying (red spinner spinning).There was no air entering the system after i replaced the pump.#4 I would check all of the fittings and hoses to make sure that everything is good there.Caution !! i had this unit completely torn down so i could check everything going on.it was sitting on the washing machine overhanging the wash tub. water and electricity dont mix so be careful. Im not saying you have to go to this extreme but i consider myself mechanically gifted and had to find the cause of all these problems, this is the best unit i have used and i wanted to get it fixed and my Holiday break gave me the time to do it. one word of caution on reassembling these units, make sure the smart mix valve is assembled correctly and inserted into the tube when putting the cover back on, also make sure the top and bottom halves are completely together when putting in the screws, if you dont and you tighten the screws the plastic bosses the screws go into will break, i had this happen to me. The trigger being sticky could also be a problem but i would think not to common, that would be opposite of the no spray problem and be a easy fix.

To fix the NO SPRAY problem is quite simple. The trigger switch is spring loaded and will stick in the close position even the switch is pushed. To correct the problem: Remove the power cord cradle and the upper portion of the handle by removing the 2 screws at the bottom of the upper half of the handle (Front side) and the two screws at the bottom of the cradle (back side). Be sure to keep track of the two nuts when removing the upper screws. Lift the upper handle out of the machine. At the top of the lower handle between tow poles you will find a small square opening and the spring loaded switch. Use a flat blade screw driver and push on the switch several times to unstick the switch. Replace the upper cover without any screws and test the machine to see if it sprays. If not,try to push the switch again several times and try again. If it works then put the upper handle and cradle together. If it does not work then it could be something else.

I'm looking for a replacement dispenser bottle for the Bissell Little Green Clean Machine. Can anyone help me please? Model #1653 Thank You.

I have owned three now because as many have noted.....it stops spraying the cleaning agent and the clean water solution. I have replaced it on the warranty. The problem is in the mixture valve....they have a cheap plastic mounting and a cheaper plastic knob for setting ones mixture. The plastic mounting is so cheap it bends so the knob can not push down the required spring loaded valve for chemical or water. It is possible to rebuild it but one would need a complete shop to do so and it should be metal ....not cheap plastic.

I do not think I will be purchasing another Bissell once the warranty runs out and I predict in a few years they will not even be in business any more.

MY BISSELL PRO HEAT SHAMPOOER IS NOT WORKING IT NOT CLEANING MY CARPET

I have had this machine for 3 years. It has never really worked from day one. The spinner would never spin to make the water come out. I have used it maybe 5 times. Now, the water does not come out at all. Piece of trash. Never buy one again. Has anyone purchased a good carpet shampooer?

My husband and I only got about 5 uses from our Bissell Pro Heat (we only used it for one 16 x 20 foot room each time). This fifth time while using it it made a terrible noise and started smoking. We unplugged the machine and found a plastic piece on the floor. The motor is toast. We will never buy one of these machines again.

I had a Bissell Pro Heat. Loved how well it cleaned the carpets but not at all impressed with the construction. Many plastic parts have broken and when trying to replace one of them, the taps for the mounting screws broke while tightening them back up. I can't even use it now. Paid $279.00 for about 10 uses. Don't store it with shampoo in the small resevoir, the pins and valves get gunky. Won't buy another.

I bought a Bissell Pro Heat Steam Cleaner a couple of years ago. Ever since I bought it, it has been nothing but trouble. It never did work properly and there is a "moon" shaped piece of plastic near the brushes that keeps slipping down causing it to catch on the carpet and breaking into pieces. I sent for another piece like that only to have it do the same thing. I got tired of messing with it...the Bissell Pro Heat Steam Cleaner now sits out by the trash.

I have owned the same Bissell Carpet Cleaner for 13 years now and it has finally broken down. Anyone have ideas on where I can take it to get it repaired? It is no longer under warranty!

Just a note: I read many comments where the person says they have all these problems. Here is my solution to MOST of those problems. YOU MUST clean the machine thoroughly after each use and remove ALL water.
Before putting the machine all back together and putting it in the closet until the next cleaning, let the pieces that you can take apart air dry for a day before storing the machine. It is difficult to dry every nook and cranny manually. This is how I have taken care of my machine all these years and I would say by doing that I probably prolonged its life by at least half. It is broken down now, but after 13 years of cleaning carpets after dogs and a family of 5, I would say it has paid for itself over and over many times!
Oh and from day one, all I have ever used in my machine for cleaner/soap is vinegar. Vinegar does a great job. Soap will leave a residue and in time after repetitive use can make some types of carpet go really hard/crunchy!

Thanks!

I have 5 German Shepherds in my home. no lack of hair around here!
We've had our bissel proheat for about 5 years now, and we use it every 1-2 months. Never had a problem with it, ever.
But we do have a really good vaccuum and always make sure we have got as much hair up as possible before cleaning.
As someone else mentioned, a good vaccuum is the key to any steam cleaner. These are NOT vaccuums and should not be treated as such.
Take care of your machines and they will last you a long time.

My soap dispenser on the Bissell proheat just lets the soap run out. How can I replace this part? Otherwise I have been very happy with my cleaner. Can you put soap in the water instead?

My husband purchased the heat pro 2X and I cleaned 6 rooms plus a long hall way; *(he thought we had to replace the rugs)no big deal, but these rooms had been home to 11 puppies and 2 adult dogs for about 9 months and you can't imagine the mess they made. Well I must confess and applaud the bissell company for making an excellent cleaner. This cleaner along with their cleaning products cleaned up all traces of any doggie messes that were hard to get up by a competitor cleaner. I recommend this cleaner to anyone who has had any carpet cleaning issues. Even hard, dried on dirt and grime came up. The rugs look like brand new, and smell good too!

I ONLY HAD MY BISSELL FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I HAVE NOT GOT IT GOING YET. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ALL THE WATER UP. YOU CAN'T DEEP CLEAN. IT DO HAVE SUCTION, IT PULLS THE DIRT RIGHT UP WITH THE WATER.

My carpet cleaner will not spray water, I do not have the manual, can you help?

Just checking where to have service in the Western suburbs of Chicago, IL. I used the machine over the past 6 years or so and love it.

Got the brush belt replaced. Ours is sitting with one end on the red roller thing, and the other end on raw metal, is this the case with everyone, or have we lost a part? The metal thing turns and all.

Even with the belt replaced, no water is going into any of the hoses at all, not even the one leaving the little hole that the tank sits on top of. So I do not know if the pump is bad, or if I am just not getting everything back on correctly, because there is a gap there, despite my best efforts to make sure that all of the hose is out of the way, before I put the screws back in, I kind of have to force it all back together. It seems like it should all fit flush before the screws go in, and I have tried and tried to achieve this, but I keep having to force it a little.

Any hints would be appreciated.

The brush on my Bissell only spins when the handle is fully upright and locked. As soon as I depress the handle release, the brush quits spinning. If I lift the front of the cleaner slightly to reduce the amount of weight, the brush will turn, but as soon as I let it drop back to the floor it quits.

Hello,

I have a Pro Heat 7909-1. This may help most of you for a unit not pumping water.
I am somewhat of a mechanical person, so taking apart a cleaner was not an issue. You should be comfortable in taking the cleaner apart to do what I suggest. If you are not comfortable or not mechanically inclined then take it to Bissell for repair.

I also have had the problem since the first use of the pump sometimes not working, it's 4 years old now.
The unit appears to vacuum up water and dirt no problem, however sometimes when I push the button to pump the water and cleaning fluid it does not work.

It appears that the pump can sense if the unit is vacuuming or not! There is a diaphragm mechanism in the pump that does not allow the pump to work if the dirty water tank is full. It stops the flow of water / solution from dispensing if the tank is full. Actually this is very ingenious. It keeps you from adding more water to an already wet carpet…

Caution! Danger! Warning! Please unplug the power cord from the receptacle when working on your cleaner!!

I started with cleaning the unit inside and out. I also cleaned the hose lines, the tanks, trigger, and the heater. (Put tanks and other non electrical parts in the dishwasher)
I used low-pressure compressed air for the solution and water lines.

When I emptied the solution tank, I noticed the solution was slimy. I always use the Bissell solution, thought that was strange. New bottles from the store were the same way.
I strain the solution now with a coffee filter before putting it in the solution reservoir. Perhaps overkill.

Since I have been straining the solution and emptying when the dirty water when it is full I have had no problem.

Here’s what to do:
1. Vacuum your carpet very well before cleaning!
2. The Bissell picks up water not dirt and hair.
3. Strain your cleaning solution every time to remove the slime.
4. Take it apart and clean everything, hoses, plastic parts, EVERYTHING.
5. Make sure the belts are good, and since you have it apart, replace them!
Good luck.

If it still will not pump then you need either Bissell repair, or a new pump.

Thanks for reading.

Rick

Mine stopped putting down water also, while following Jeffs advise above, I actually found that one of my hoses was kinked inside of there, which explains why shaking the heck out of it sometimes would help get more water to come out, I am thinking that is the problem, however I also seem to have a broken belt, my husband is searching for belts now.

As for the people with pet urine troubles, get something to neutralize the odor and remember that you are not only dealing with soiled carpet, but also with soiled padding and probably flooring as well, so be very liberal with the neutralizer. Products make promises promises, and with time and neutralizer you will likely be able to mask this odor from the human nose, however the pet nose is ever more sensitive. So to really take care of this problem you have to face the cold hard truth, that henceforth, any dog entering your house is going to recognize your carpet in this area as a luxury toilet accomodation. Therefore, you must take steps to ensure that there are not unattended dogs in this area. Get a crate, get kiddie gates, get a fence, whatever it takes. If the offender is a male cat, get him neutered immediately. Unneutered male cats will whiz on everything they encounter, your daughters pom poms, your napping Grandfather, they have no shame, they are on a mission. Once neutered, they will go in their litter box. Usually.

Failure to take these steps will lead to more soiling and an odor problem that running a meth lab on your carpet will not mask.

I've borrowed one of these machines, and it worked well for about a 6 foot swath. When my husband turned to go the other way, the machine balked, and now will only go backwards smoothly! Frontwards is impossible. We checked out the belt...fine. Now we can't think of what else to check. We can't find a Bissell site!

I was considering buying a Bissell to replace my OLD Hoover Steam Vac... think I will get another Hoover. It has cleaned my carpet as well as my two daughters carpets for approx. 6 years now. Still going strong and doing a good job. It is just starting to be a bother to "borrow" it from a daughter each time I need it. I am therefore adding a second machine to "our" collection so that I might have one to use when needed.

We have had our bissell proheat for 4 years and has worked fine untill now. It has also stopped spraying water. I took completely apart and cleaned all tubes. To test pump, and flow, I opened completely and put the hose that draws from resivour and two sprayer hoses in same glass of water. When I pushed button there was constant flow. I then switched to tool mode and squirted liguid back into glass that was resivour. again worked great. I put back together and worked for 30 seconds then stopped, I then took off top of water revivour and then spraying worked again. Obviously i cant clean that way, does anyone out there have any ideas. I am going to take heater apart for fun of it, I think i might be getting air in line and loosing pressure, this is close to being a doorstop.

I've had six of these....ok..ok...you would think that after six, I'd get a clue. All-in-all, it is the best cleaner out of all the vacs I've owned; it just stinks in reliability. It is the absolute worst mechanical device that exists in the Western World. It would work for about two cleanings and that was it. Every single one I've owned breaks. Every problem described above happened to the ProHeats I purchased. Customer service is a joke. Don't buy this machine unless you're just planning on cleaning your carpet once.

I purchased the Hoover with all of the spinning wheels....it doesn't clean as well but will get the job done with a couple of more passes that what was needed with the ProHeat. It also holds more water and solution so you don't have to keep refilling every five minutes.

I just finished shampooing my carpets with the Bissell Pro-heat that I got for christmas and thought to myself, "I bet someone out there could really benefit from my opinion", so here it is.
Although the Bissell is not a "bad" machine, it doesn't come close to doing the job that the Hoover it replaced did. I had my Hoover for 7 years, and let me tell you, I got my money worth and then some. It didn't have proheat and it wasn't self-propelled but it picked up water twice as good as the Bissell. It held more water, which made for less trips back and forth to the sink. And I really think it did a much better job at beating the dirt out then picking it up. Also, because the suction was so much better the carpets dried a lot faster. It seems to take the carpets forever to dry with the Bissell. If I could exchange this one for my old one, (I already gave it away) I would, in a heart beat.
Bissell vs. Hoover Hoover hands down!!!!!!!!

I love this cleaner too! I dont know how to change the belt. It broke for the first time today. :(

I hve owned the Pro-Heat for about 7 years and only used softened water in it.We are having the problem of no water dispensing. We have opened the heater, No Clog. We have taken every hose off and blown air through all, No Clog. We have replaced all belts. Still no water. Can you get a replacement pump?

I am so glad I found this sight. I was about to purchase the Bissell Pro Heat Steam Cleaner but after reading about all the problems experienced, I'm crossing that machine off my list. Thanks for sharing bad experiences. Who needs problems????

Since the heater never worked that well anyway and it constantly clogged, I just removed it. You can pick up a connecting tube from any auto parts store. Simply splice the tubes together. You will have to black tape the like color wires together.

Jeff's instructions may be correct, but since when did we start having to be mechanical engineers to use an "appliance of convenience"????

My advice... take the Bissell to Goodwill, and rent a Rug Doctor for $20. They've NEVER failed me... and should they ever, Safeway would give me back my money anyway....

I have a broken part off me proheat cleaner, It will not spray any more, then my wife found a 1/2" round plastic part with a black suction nipple about 3/8" long in the middle of it. this all started when i didnt see how to change the belt and had taken it
apart, yes the whole thing. any way, I can send a picture, it just wont spray. I broke some thing.

rick

My machine won't spray water. It feels like the red gasket (or whatever you call it) on the bottom of the water tank isn't connecting well to the unit. I have tried to adjust it repeatedly.

We took it apart as per Jeff's instructions. Heating unit was not clogged. Put it back together and it STILL does not dispense cleaning solution. The belt is fine. The dials are set correctly. Any other possible solutions to get the solution flowing!!

The reason your Bissell units quit spraying is because the tubing (heater and lines coming into and out of same) are stopped up with minerals or corrosion. The corrosion comes from water sitting in the heater box while the unit is not being used.. it oxidizes the cheap pot metal heater. Solution is to blow the lines with compressed air after each use. How? Stick an air blower onto your compressor hose and into the hole where the water enters the machine under the bucket. Depress trigger on both carpet unit handle and air. Blast air until no more water comes out the front sprayer. You may also have to remove the little spinner dingus and blow the bottom, and the cleaner container also has a hole going to the mixer/head. Blow out every line you can easily access. If you still aren't satisfied you've got the water out, remove the screws holding the handle front and rear halves together, so you can get to the heater box. Snatch both inlet and outlet lines off of the heater, and blast air through it, and the lines. Reassemble. Easy, No? What a suck machine. If you don't blow the lines, you are guaranteed a stopped up system, at some point, rendering the machine a useless $300 door stop.

FORGET IT! i used this machine ONE TIME and it never worked again. My stupidity was that i didnt buy an extended warranty for it and it was like 3/4 months in between the first time I used it and I couldn't find my original receipt.
good luck if you buy one!

Just dropped in to see how things are going and it looks as though I may have helped a couple people get their machines working again and that's great!!

Your very welcome and I am glad I was able to help.

OMG!!! all these problems..i was considering buying the Heat Pro Bissel carpet cleaner..but according to all these complaints and having to take the machine apart...forget it! i much rather buy a better cleaner for more money and have it work well.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I have had a Bissel Pro Heat and it stopped dispensing the liquid. I followed the instructions posted here to clean the metal box in the handle and it works like a charm again. Great, Great Job!!!

It is clearly obvious that the OP got one of the very few "awesome machines" manufactured by Bissell. No, actually they do really do an awesome job of cleaning.... once or twice. She must have gotten lucky and got one of the very few that will actually last long enough to be worth the purchase price. Mine, after using only a few times, has also stopped spraying water and cleaning solution. Suction works fine on mine, just wont put down anything to suction back up. Many stores now have these on clearance, sales people will tell you that they are sick of dealing with them, advising folks NOT to buy them. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, including OP. I just hope (s)he realizes just how lucky (s)he is to have one that actually works. Might not be such a great idea to rave too much, could ruin your reputation if anyone were to waste their money buying one based on your review.

my bissell was great but it won't pick up the water anymore and we replaces the from plastic parts and still no luck.

Thanks Jeff for your solution. I spent hours taking apart my machine trying to figure out why it wasn't spraying. There was definitely a clog in the heating system. Once I cleared the clog, it worked perfectly. I have to admit that taking out the heater was a bit of a chore ... not for the faint of heart if you're not mechanically inclined.

This machine has many flaws. I'm just happy I was able to fix it and get a few more uses out of it. I would never recommend this product to anyone. You get what you pay for.

It sounds like perhaps alot of people may need a more powerful vacuum. We use to be satisfied with our vacuum. Then I went over the same carpet with a fairly expensive bagless (Eureka) and was amazed at the amount of debri my old machine was leaving behind. Debris that was there but just not visible to the naked eye, especially animal hair. Animal hair is like a filter that will eventually clog. The nice thing about the bagless is that you can see all the stuff you didn't even know was on your floor. The proper vacuum will save alot of grief in respect to shampooer not being clogged. Also, as much as I hate too spend alot of money on high priced shampoo, the cheap stuff simply does not work. Hope this helps.

Jeff,
You were right on. That fix just saved me another $65 for servicing. The first time I had it serviced, they told me it was clogged. I did not think it would have happened again after only 2-3 spot cleanings. I was just about to toss this Bissel Proheat and shop for another new carpet cleaner.

I've got the same bisslle that you have and it quit spraying water. Whats up? Tech support said to take it to a service center. I've probable got maybe 4 hours of use out of the unit.

Sincerely, Rick Potter
Osage City, Kansas

Thanks so much, Jeff!!!

That helps a lot.

To all of you having issues with the unit not dispensing through the main jets. It is most definately caused by a clog in the heating system and is very easy to remedy.

Simply remove the two nuts and bolts securing the upper portion of the handle and remove it (reverse of what you had to do when you bought it) Then, on the lower handle, remove the screws (on the back side) holding the lower portion of the handle together.

Once open you will see the heating block with two clear lines attached to it. remove the lines by opening the spring clip and sliding it back then, pulling them off. they may be stuck so a flathead screwdriver will help to lift the edge and slide them off. not sure if it matters if they get reversed I don;t think it does. but try and remember which was which anyhow!

Next remove the 7 phillips screws holding the plate on the back of the heating block. careful not to lose the O-rings when you remove the plate. Once inside inspect for a blockage and clean the water channels using whatever works. I used a flathead screwdriver to clean the channels and a small nail to clean the blockages out from the inlet and outlet ports. once the blockage is cleaned up you should have flow once again!!! Put it all back together and clean your carpets!

Hope this helps!
Jeff

Have bought 2 bissell pro heat- $200.00 and 300.00 from JC Penneys. Both were the biggest waste of money ever spent. 1st one lasted one cleaning (3 rooms) then stopped dispensing. 2nd lasted 6 rooms then would random dispense and then would not extract and vacuum up the water, trigger sticks, and leaks water all over. Will never buy another bissell again

i have a bissel pro heat and only used it two times on well vacumed floors .8ft by 16ft area now it won't mix the water and soap. it just uses soap.

I have had the Pro Heat 5 and now the Pro Heat 6. have experienced the same problem with both. Sometimes the soap will just not dispense. It has nothing to do with a sticky trigger or how I have it set in or any of the caps I have replaced. I always give it a thorough cleaning after each use both by filling the soap dispenser with clean water and by sucking up clean water out of a cookie sheet. The 'Bissell 'help' line is not much help. I want to get a steam cleaner for my daughter for Christmas, but don't want her to have the 'Bissell frustration'. Any suggestions? She has 5 inside dogs and lives on a farm.

I borrowed my friend's cleaner and it worked wonderfully. But the clear plastic suction area has to be cleaned of hair and dirt. I took two screws off the front end but the clear section will not remove? What am I missing? How does one clean it?

Have a puppy,not trained! Bissell Proheat just sets the urine stain and smell in your CARPET! Taking carpet out,nothing will get out either smell or stain,the heat set it in! Don't use heated carpet cleaner on DOG URINE!!!!!

By the way, here's what Bissell says about using vinegar with pet urine stains & odors on their website:

How do I remove urine stains from my carpet?

Wet - To achieve the most successful removal of stains and related odors, it is important to address this problem as quickly as possible. For wet stains, use your deep cleaner to thoroughly deep clean the carpet fibers. Prepare a vinegar rinse to neutralize any leftover residue that may cause discoloration. To make a vinegar rinse, mix one part white vinegar to three parts water. Apply the rinse to the freshly cleaned area. Do not soak. Repeat the deep cleaning process with your machine, Ventilate the area well, using a fan blowing directly across the damp carpet to accelerate the drying process.

Dry - Older urine stains are difficult to remove, often leaving carpet fibers permanently discolored or with an unpleasant lingering odor. To clean older stains, use your deep cleaner to thoroughly deep clean the carpet fibers. Repeat the cleaning process several times. For best urine stain lifting and odor removal results, you should apply an enzyme-type product. BISSELL recommends applying a BISSELL Pet Stain and Odor Remover Product to break down organic residue. Saturate the carpet fibers, overlapping the edges of the stained area. Cover the area with a damp towel so that the area remains moistened for 24 to 48 hours. Repeat the cleaning process with your machine. Ventilate the area well, using a fan to accelerate the drying process.

Becky -
I've actually thought about doing the same thing myself -- using vinegar in the Bissell Pro-Heat. I just haven't done it yet, so I can't offer firsthand experience.

I would THINK that it would be better than the soaps & detergents that you're "supposed" to use, and it would likely prolong the life of your steam cleaner. Though I'm far from an expert on this topic.

Personally, I'd say go for it.

Here are some people who've done it:

I have a "Dirt Devil" feather lite,and it quit sucking,so i went and bought a "Bissell Quick Steamer",I also own a "Bissell Green Mean Machine".
My question is can you use vinegar in the "Bissell's?
,for pet odors and overall cleaning,I'm very frugal, and don't like spending money on solutions that may or may not work,any suggestion's?
Thanks,
Becky

From Kathy in OR., One last thing, I asked myself what were the odds of having 2 problems with 2 of these Machine??? Till I talked to the Store and found out they have many people bringing them back. I am just very lucky to deal with a store that will take them back, with out the hassell of sending them to the Company and waiting for a refund from them, not to mention the cost of Shipping. I am going to try the Hover, which I always thought was a Cheap brand, but have been told by 2 people that it works better, go figure!! I'll give it a Try.

To Chris, on Jan 13. I know what you mean, when you say it is not sucking the water back up, I am on my second Bissell Pro Heat, both were used about 5 times. The first one just quit doing anything, and smelled like rubber, I took it back. Last night we used the new one for the 5th time in three months, and it would not suck up the water. Socked the Floor, was able to bring up the water with hand attachment only!! Not a very nice evening, it worked beautiful, as with did the first one 4-5 times. We clean it, vacumm very well before use, put all the settings in the correct place. Take extra care of it as it is not cheap and we are very carefull with everything we buy. It is being returned today, not replaced again. The new small Spot Vacumm leaks fluid out of the side vents, with very little suction, it to is going back and the Dept., head of the store told me she was already aware of this problem. I'm very disapointed and need no advice, buyers beware if you plan on useing it Reg., but it may do better if your just doing a spot?? I find that doing a spot cleaning, leaves the rest of the carpet, looking like I need to Just Do it All. Sincerly And Honest Kathy in Oregon.
PS. It takes a lot for me to complain, this is my first complaining about a product on line, people should not be mislead, and you are very Lucky yours has lasted Two Year????
PSS. I really Believed in the Bissell name, till going through this. It will be cheaper to rent The Rent Doctor or have Stanley Cleaning come out, and a lot less STRESSFUL

My flow indicator will not spin anymore... what could be the problem ?

My doesn't spray, either. It worked great one time. I have checked everything possible and followed some of the instructions on this board. No luck. I am at my limit of frustration.

Hello everyone -

To all of you who are posting service-related questions and repair questions... I cannot help you.

If anyone reading this can offer some advice to these people... please do!

As stated in the above article, my Bissell ProHeat works great. It has for over 3 years now! As I've mentioned, sometimes the trigger on the solution dispenser will stick, but I just keep clicking it, and it "unsticks". THAT is the extent of my knowledge about "fixing" these awesome cleaning machines.

If you need help with your machine... consult your user's manual. If you've lost yours, check these:

• Bissell User Manuals #1
• Bissell User Manuals #2
• Bissell User Manuals #3

Other than that, you may want to check out HowTo MendIt.com

the foot peddle is stuck and not letting the handle down so i cannot get the bucket with the water out please tell me how to fix the foot peddle
mary

Same problem for me I used the cleaner once greate..After that the pump would not spray water??...Is there any quick self correcting solutions?.

Mine doesnt suck or spray. What the heck is wrong with it. Any advice will help. Thanks!!!! :)

MY Bissell doesn't spray anymore either, what is up with that?

Same problem here. It does not spray solution or water anymore. I only bought it in February.WHat is the problem?

I have a bissell proheat, It doesn't spray solution or water. Sucks up fine , Attatchments work also. What could be problem. Stopped spraying in middle of cleaning. Belt is ok

I HAVE A PROHEAT CARPET CLEANER AND HAVE BEEN FAIRLY SATISFIED WITH IT UNTIL TODAY. THE BELT WHICH ROTATES THE BRUSH HAS STOPPED WORKING. I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING TO THE BELT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REMOVED THE "BELT ACCESS" PANEL FROM THE SIDE. ANY ADVICE?

2 in the past 3-4 years 600 bucks POS stay away ...pumps fail.

the bissell carpet cleaner is the worst machine outthere. I bought one in 2000 with a 4 year warranty and since then I've had four of this plastic disposable nightmares. The reason I've had four is because i've had to return it to best buy every year for a new one beacause they kept on breaking. After my warranty expired I've had no choice but to purchase a new one. I will buy anything but bissell.

I used the bissell carpet cleaner 2 times before letting my mother in law use it. It stoppped sucking up the water for her, then when I got it, It didn't spray or suck. Piece of crap! Anyone know how to fix that?

Ty,
Darcy

I have overwet my carpet trying to get the hang of it I think. I have brown streaks that appear only after it drys. Taking too long to dry.

My Bissell Proheat stopped dispensing fluid today. Sucks it up ok. I found a broken toothed belt on the floor and suspect that it came from the Proheat. It does show this belt as being the brush belt in the instruction manual but it fails to show where it is located on the machine. The brush has stopped rotating. Perhaps the 2 problems are not related. Anybody know where the brush belt should be located and how to change it.
Dave

which model is everyone's favorite?

Hi, I have purchased my Bissell proheat steam cleaner and the insturctions are missing. Where can I find an instruction manual? Thank you so much. Ava

I've had a the above carpet cleaner for about 2 years. I've torn it apart more then 10 times to repair it. The problem with these models is numerous. One major problem is the water reservoir. The inside bladder develops leaks and allows the dirty water to contaminate the clean water. The heater inside the handle clogs up at every other time we used it. Today I went to use it, and it started to whine, and then smoke, and poof, it quit. I torn it down to find the bearing inside the motor failed, and refuses to allow the motor to run. It's now sitting at the curb ready for trash day. I'm a mechanic, not a miracle worker. Anyone wanting a smart bottle, just email your request to CTerrian@hotmail.com
I would gladly send it to you.
What a waste of money.

I have had this machine for 2 years and have problems on and off with the dispensing of the cleaner and the water. The cleaner issue resolved itself but I now have a problem where the machine only pulls liquid form the detergent dispenser leaving the water bucket full of clean water surrounded by dirty detergent. Any ideas on how to resolve this?

Thank you for the instructions. I bought a bissell
powercleaner pro platinum at a garage sale today
and I had no idea how to use it. We just got a
dog so I thank you for the tips. Well off to
cleaning my carpets.

Pam

We have one of these cleaners and we where very impressed with the clean and the condidiotn of the carpet afterwards. Then when we came to use it a second time it stopped spraying water or cleaning fluid... Suction worked fine and so did all the tools.
A quick check of everything and it all looked OK so I opened up the top of the unit by taking the handle off and removing the screws from the front and back of the lower half. Inside here are a number of wires and a metal box with the pipes attached to it, routed through an on/off switch which is what you control from the top part of the handle. I found on ours that one of the outlet pipes was blocked up completely so the fluid couldnt flow at all. Get a thin srewdriver and twist it in and out to clear the blockage - reconnect the pipes back in the right order, put the handle back together and run hot water though it so help flush the rest of the dirt out. Worked for me and now its back to its original condition. The only thing I can think of the the heater has solidified the cleaning agent and eventually its blocked up the small outlet pipe.....
The manual doesnt suggest running water through it at the end of a clean, but I'd do this everytime to make sure all the cleaning fluid is flushed out.

Good luck

Chris -
I'm not sure that I can really help... especially when you don't say exactly what your cleaner is doing (or not doing) with regard to "sucking the water back up"...

But I can offer this small tidbit:
I was told that the carpet doesn't really have to be that "wet" for the Bissel steam cleaner to work. That means, you don't have to depress the trigger (to release the cleaning fluid & water combo) as many times as you might think.

I know that sometimes I overdo it, feeling that the carpet is getting cleaner if I go over the same spot repeatedly -- with the trigger depressed. As a result, the carpet gets really wet, and it seems to take forever for those spots to dry.

When, in reality, I think the longer you leave the vacuum part over the wet spots to suck up the (small amount of) liquid & the stain, the more powerful the "clean" is in the end.

Hope that makes sense... it's just something I've noticed.

I have owned two of these steamvacs. Both cleaned carpet exceptionally well but....I have had a problem with the unit sucking the water back up. Have had same problem on both units. Can anyone help???

John - The only thing similar that's happened with mine is that the trigger button on the handle (that's used to dispense the liquid cleaner) frequently "sticks".

It's not a problem though... I just immediately do a rapid succession of clicks on the trigger and it unsticks itself.

For the record, back before I even owned a carpet cleaner (when I was just scouting them out at different stores) I spoke with the saleslady from the vacuum department at Sears one time about this. She said if she had to name one fault with a carpet cleaner like this, it's that it tends to have a sticky trigger after using it for awhile.

Even the one she owns & uses regularly at home sticks all the time. (She just rapidly depresses the trigger a number of times to unstick it too.)

I guess it's just a given with these types of cleaners...

Other than that, the only other advice I could offer is to try running straight HOT water through the machine once (including in the little container meant for the liquid cleaner). I once heard the Bissell man on QVC mention that you can use pet deoderizer in that container too, so I'm guessing you could pretty much try anything... vinegar is supposed to de-gunk things, right? Just a thought...

I am having problems with the cleaner not dispensing. I have cleaned every possible filter possible but to no avail. Any suggestions?

Lisa -
Check out a product called TECH. (I've mentioned it here.)

It's absolutely the best I've found for removing even set-in stains. Our home builder recommended it during the build process when the sub-contractors spilled paint (and other things) on our brand new carpet.

It has worked wonders around our house!

I breed Labs, so I know about pet stains! I agree that the Bissell works great, but I have a diarrhea stain from a dog that I just can't get out! Can you help? I've used the Bissell pet shampoo, and I've tried a combination of vinegar and ammonia. It didn't come out. Help!