The Kenmore Progressive “intelli-clean” upright vacuum has been one of the most popular vacuums in recent years. I’ll cover some of the more common problems that occur in common use, as well as how to remedy these situations.

Hopefully, you can use this article as a guide to troubleshooting your Kenmore if you have any issues.

Problem n. ° 1- There is no suction. This is a very common problem with this vacuum cleaner that can have several causes.

Solution: Check the bag. This may seem obvious, but a full bag reduces the power of the vacuum. The performance indicator light next to the “intelli-clean” light will turn red if the bag is full. Simply open the front of the vacuum and pull the bag out, discard the bag and replace it with another. There are (2) varieties, the regular paper filter bags and the HEPA style cloth bags.

If changing the bag didn’t work, try …

Checking for obstructions. Take a look at the point where the hose meets the base of the vacuum and check for any obstructions in the hose or from the base of the vacuum to the brush roller. If you find a clog, you can usually remove it with a wire hanger or something that can clear the clog.

If there are no obstructions, try …

Checking the filters. On the Kenmore Progressive there are (2) filters. Check both, one is on the back between the extension hose and the other is under the bag inside the cover. If the filters are clogged, the vacuum motor cannot produce suction to draw dirt into the bag.

Problem n. 2- The vacuum cleaner does not turn on. This problem is the result of an overheated motor causing the reset button to pop out as if a switch were being tripped. The overheated motor can be caused by a full or nearly full bag or a clog in the brush roll, such as too much hair or thread wrapped around the brush roll.

Solution: The remedy here is to check the brush roller, remove any obstructions, and press the white reset button to restart the motor.

Problem n. 3 Intelli-Clean not working. The sign that the intelli-clean is not working is that when you press the intelli-clean button on the handle, it makes no difference whether it is on or off, it does not change the suction.

Solution: The remedy is to open the front cover, remove the bag and take a cotton swab and clean the spot where the bag is placed in the vacuum cleaner. The inside of the opening has a sensor that activates the smart cleaning function. If the sensor gets too dirty, it won’t work properly. Wipe the inside of this area to clean the sensor and replace the bag.

Problem n. 4 Blowing dust down the back of the vacuum. This is a sign that there is a tear in the bag, and dust is seeping into the vacuum chamber and blowing the exhaust filter. If you see this problem, you must do something immediately or the vacuum could be permanently damaged.

Solution: Remedy: remove the bag. Then clean the inside of the vacuum chamber with a damp cloth and dry. Clean the filter next to the motor and shake the vacuum to remove any dirt particles that enter the vacuum. Finally, replace the bag and clean or replace the now dirty exhaust filter.

Hopefully you will be able to use this information the next time your Kenmore Progressive 35922 or 35923 flashes. Now you know exactly what to do. If you run into a more complex problem than what I have written about, chances are you will need to take your vacuum to the repair shop for repair.