FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
VACUUMING
A: This is your Neutral/Drive pedal. When you are vacuuming or using the carpet shampooer in the upright position, push down the Drive (D) pedal. This activates Tech Drive® power assist to make pushing your Kirby easy.
For the balance of product usage (i.e. cleaning hard floor surfaces, vacuuming in canister mode with attachment hose, vacuuming in hand held mode, using air pump, turbo accessory, etc.) push down the Neutral (N) pedal.
SHAMPOOING
Watch Engineering Manager John Lackner explain how to prevent misalignment issues while installing the brush roll in the Kirby Multi-Surface Shampoo System.
A: First and foremost, only use genuine Kirby carpet shampoo with your system. Unscrew the large cap from the shampoo tank and use it to measure carpet shampoo. Do not use the cap from the bottle of the shampoo to measure. For a small room, fill the tank with water to the first line on the side of the tank and add one capful of shampoo. To clean a large room, fill the tank to the third line and add three capfuls of shampoo.
A: To produce foam properly, the suds screen and foam sponge must be in place on the shampoo tank. To check this, remove the tank and make sure they’re properly in place.
A: This could be for one of two reasons. The suds screen and/or foam sponge are not in place. If not in place, this would allow too much water to dispense, over-wetting your carpet.
Repeatedly cleaning the same area would also cause this. To avoid over-wetting moving forward, allow the system to dispense a layer of foam on the carpet and then turn the valve on the shampoo tank to OFF before going back over the area to work in the foam and scrub the carpet.
A: Check to make sure you have both your suds screen and sponge in. The suds screen goes in the small hole on the tank, the hose goes over it and the sponge goes in the large hole on the tank.
LIFETIME REBUILD PROGRAM
Our current turnaround time is approximately 60 business days from the date the Kirby is received in our Rebuild Department.
On the older machines the serial number is located on the bottom of the motor unit. On the Classic 2CB through Legend II, the serial number is located on the front of the fancase. Generation 3 through Sentria 2, the serial number is located on the aluminum casting that goes over the motor unit, about ” down from the edge of the headlight cap, (don’t lift the headlight cap) on the cloth bag side of the machine.
For the older machines through Legend II: We rebuild the Kirby with new parts, polish and buff the metal castings, replace the cloth bag (if you have a Kirby bag and send it in) and replace any of the basic attachments that are worn, broken or cracked. We also give a one-year warranty on all parts and labor. We do nothing with shampoo parts or any other accessories.
For the Generation series Kirby Machines: We replace the brushroll, outer permanent bag, front motor bearing, fan, carbon brushes, cord, lightbulb, belt and all the trim parts such as the wheels, hubcaps and nozzle bumper. We also inspect and replace, repair or rebuild, as needed, the motor armature, rear motor bearing, field coil, all the electrical wiring, switch and Tech Drive. We polish and buff the metal castings, replace any of the basic attachments that are worn, broken or cracked and give a one-year warranty on all parts and labor.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
A: Please check out this How-To Video here, with instructions on how to change the belt.
A: For new Kirby Systems purchased from an authorized Distributor or through Kirby.com, there is a three year limited warranty.Please check our warranty page for more information
A: No, the three year limited factory warranty, Lifetime Factory Rebuild program and Fire Plan are not transferrable. They are only valid for the original owner of the Kirby system and require papers that show proof of original ownership and purchase date.
A: First, make sure the unit is plugged in, and then check that the accessory connected to the unit is properly attached. Depending on what attachment you’re using, make sure the Power Nozzle, Hose, Carpet Shampoo System or Air Intake Guard is properly attached. Then, check to see if the Mini Emptor, Shampoo Take, or Hose is properly attached to the side. If those are all connected properly, your unit should turn on.
A: New Kirby systems are sold through our physical and online store.
A: You can contact us through phone or email. Find more information on our contact page.
A:It is likely the belt isn’t turning freely on the brush roll. Flip out the belt lifter handle and turn it clockwise until the green arrows line up. This will release the belt from the hook in order to turn freely on the brush roll. Make sure to check the brush roll for tangled hairs or debris that may be preventing it from turning.
A: There are two safety switches on your Kirby. One is on the front of the unit and one is on the side where the bag attaches. If there is nothing attached to the front of the unit, such as your floor nozzle, attachment hose or shampoo system, the Kirby will not turn on. This is to prevent injury to you from the fan and prevent damaging the fan. There is also a safety switch on the side of the unit where the bag attaches, or the tank if you are shampooing. If the mini emptor or tank is not snapped tightly against the Kirby you will not have power. You need to remove the bag or tank and put it back on again and make sure it snaps tightly into place.
A: The owner manuals for our Kirby systems are available here. You can also call us for any further information.
To determine the manufacturing date of your cleaning product, locate the date code that has been printed on the bottle. Next, use the guide below to determine the manufacturing date for your bottle of cleaning supplies.
DATE CODE CONVENTION
“A(Y)(DDD)”
A, B, (…) = 1st batch passed that day, 2nd batch passed that day, (…)
(Y) = last digit of the year juice passed
(DDD) = Julien date of day juice passed
EXAMPLE
A0001 would be the first batch passed on the date 1/1/2020.