Reggie Alvarez
Reggie Alvarez is the repair & maintenance editor at Vacuum Owl. He's the byline on every "won't turn on," "lost suction," "won't charge," and "how do I clean this" article on the site, because he does this work for real - fifteen years repairing vacuums and small appliances across the US Southwest, with a steady stream of dead and dying machines on his bench that he tests every fix against. When a Shark brushroll stops spinning or a Dyson loses suction, Reggie's article describes the actual fix - including the continuity test he'd run before telling you to buy a $40 motor. He believes most vacuums are thrown out years before they need to be. He lives in the US Southwest.
Published work
Articles by Reggie Alvarez
Troubleshooting & RepairDecode lights 1 and 3 before you buy: a fault code, not a dead pack. Charger reset, 30-45 min temp delay, swap test, and the 3-year warranty most owners miss.
Troubleshooting & RepairFix Bissell vacuum no suction in under 20 minutes. We stripped down 6 uprights: the tank, the twin filters, the lower hose and the seals. Most fixes cost $0.
Troubleshooting & RepairFix it or replace it? Most Bissell repairs cost under $20, a belt and 10 minutes. 2026 part prices, DIY vs shop, and the warranty facts nobody tells you.
Troubleshooting & RepairMatch your Bissell to the right belt. Bissell uses 4 belts, not 1 (32074, 1604895, 1600319, 1608840) plus a screw-count check, fit steps and fixes.
Troubleshooting & RepairStart with the belt: Bissell's No.1 failure. Fix no suction, no power, blinking lights and stalled brush rolls on CleanView, PowerForce, ICONpet and CrossWave.
Troubleshooting & RepairFix a Hoover that won’t pick up in five steps: empty at two-thirds, dry filters 24 hours, clear the nozzle channel, check the belt, set the height dial.
Troubleshooting & RepairFix a Hoover brush roll that won’t spin in 5 ranked steps: mode, stall reset, end-cap hair, belt, drive-shaft test. Includes the burning-rubber stop rule.
Troubleshooting & RepairFix a Hoover that keeps cutting out: cool the thermal cut-out 30 to 60 minutes, clear the clog and filter, test the switch, decode 3 flashing OnePwr lights.
Troubleshooting & RepairCheck the brushroll on/off pedal: pedal = flat AH20065, no pedal = stretch AH20080. Hoover belt decoder, 15-minute swap steps, and why belts keep breaking.
Troubleshooting & RepairMatch your Eureka model to the right belt (Type U 61120 or E0205), swap it in about 12 minutes, and fix a brush roll that still will not spin.
Troubleshooting & RepairFind your Hoover reset button in the 7-model table: red overload button, thermal-only, or LED reset. Plus a red-light and error-code decoder.
Troubleshooting & RepairDecode your Bissell’s red light: it’s a fault code, not a dead battery. Isolate outlet, charger or battery in 10 minutes, plus what warranty covers.
Troubleshooting & RepairFix a Bissell that won’t turn on with 5 checks, most take under 10 minutes. Covers the thermal protector, the red pedal switch, and the $6 microswitch.
Troubleshooting & RepairFix a Bissell CrossWave that won’t pick up water, spray, or spin. 9 tested fixes across 5 machines, plus the cracked foot hose Bissell’s guides never mention.