Dyson Blinking Blue Light: What It Means

When you see the blue flashing light on your Dyson, you may wonder what does flashing blue light means. Here’s the most common causes of the blinking blue light and how you can fix it.

Why is my Dyson blinking blue light? Generally, the blinking blue light on a Dyson indicate a low battery or a clogged air filter. The number of flashes can indicate different problems, and you can always refer to your user manual for a breakdown of what problems they denote.

Dyson vacuums are a great piece of hardware, but they do experience problems from time to time, indicated by a fast flashing blue light.

This article will help you diagnose and fix the problem with your Dyson vacuum so that you can get back to having a clean home straight away. (1)

What Causes the Blue Light to Blink on a Dyson Vacuum?

dyson flashing blue

There are a number of causes for the solid blue light and blinking blue light to appear on your vacuum, and understanding all the possible reasons and what the number of blinks means and assessing when the blinking occurs can help you quickly sort out the issue.

For example, if the blue light flashes 10 times, it indicates that the battery is drained and needs charging.

In general, the blue light indicates one of the follow problems:

  • Drained battery
  • Poor battery economy
  • Clogged air filter
  • Blockage in the vacuum

Drained Battery

drained dyson battery

One of the most common reasons your light will blink blue is because your battery is drained.

Thankfully, if the blue lights flashes 10 times, it’s just letting you know that the battery needs charging.

Putting the battery on charge for a few hours should fix the issue quickly.

Poor Battery Economy

Over time, batteries begin to lose the maximum charge they can hold, giving you progressively shorter use times after each charge.

If you’ve had your Dyson vacuum cleaner for quite a while and the blue light still appears while charging, then it’s entirely possible that the battery needs replacing.

If the blue light is solid while charging, then you have cause to suspect that the battery is failing, especially if you’ve noticed a decay in the battery life.

Replacing the battery is quite simple; all you need to do is follow these instructions:

  1. Turn off and unplug your Dyson.
  2. Press the red button and remove the battery.
  3. Insert the new battery pack and put the vacuum on charge.
  4. Once fully charged, you’re ready to go!

A Dyson battery should last about 4 years, so if you’re experiencing poor battery life early into your purchase of a Dyson, consider consulting your warranty information to see if you can have it replaced at no cost to you.

Clogged Air Filter

dirty filter

One of the most classic problems with a vacuum, the air filter is an all-important component that strongly affects the function and overall wellbeing of a vacuum. Without it, the vacuum can’t suction air properly, resulting in a reduction of air flow and less efficiency in trapping dirt.

The purpose of a filter is to block and trap dirt while still allowing some air to flow through. If the filter gets clogged, it can’t allow any air through, resulting in a decrease of suction power and less efficiency for the vacuum as a whole.

Similarly, if the filter starts to wear out when past its best, the fins won’t block dirt from passing through, causing a greater emission of dust from the exhaust and a more unpleasant smell when using the vacuum.

The blue light generally indicates that the air filter needs cleaning or replacing. To do so, you’ll need to identify the pre-filter and post-filter on the front and back of the vacuum, respectively.

If you haven’t replaced your filters within a year, then it’s probably time to get new ones to keep your vacuum operating effectively.

Filters covered with dirt should be gently cleaned using warm tap water and left to dry for 24 hours. Make sure to use a stopper if you’re cleaning it in the sink!

To replace your filter, simply take out the pre-filter from the front and post-filter from the back, replacing each with an appropriate filter for your vacuum. You should notice that the blue light disappears if the filters were your issue.

Blockages

Finding blockages in your vacuum can be an absolute pain, but if you notice the blue light come on and a sudden decrease or pulsing in vacuum power, then your problem is likely a blockage.

To start, remove any attachments from your vacuum and check whether the problem still persists. If it does, then there’s probably a blockage in your vacuum hose. If not, then you might want to check your attachments for blockages.

To do so, check each for debris. If you spot something, you can use a pipe snake to remove it or whatever rod-like object you have around the house.

If you don’t have anything, you may be able to remove it using a combination of suction and hard knocks. Put the attachment back on the vacuum and repeatedly tap the side of the attachment to see if you can dislodge the debris.

If the blockage is in the hose, you’ll probably have a much easier time handling the issue since the vacuum hose is more flexible.

Locate the debris in the hose by removing it from the inlet cover (make sure the vacuum is off and unplugged, of course!).

You may be able to squeeze or knock the debris loose from the outside of the hose and use the suction to remove it from the hose if it’s inaccessible, but a pipe snake is the best tool for the job.

Also, make sure to check whether the dust container is full or not! If the dust canister is full with dirt and debris, empty it before using your vacuum.

Blockages and Battery Life

It’s quite possible that the problem of battery life is caused by a blockage or poor air flow, which is why it’s important to check your battery and air filters, as well as looking for blockages, when you spot the blue light.

A worn-out filter forces the Dyson to work a lot harder to get enough suction to work properly, reducing the battery life significantly.

Similarly, a blockage in the hose can put more strain on the Dyson vacuum as a whole, causing it to be less efficient and more prone to losing battery charge faster.

Checking for blockages, cleaning or replacing your filter, and evaluating your battery health are the three common causes of the blue light, but they should all be checked if you suspect you have a problem.

A well-maintained Dyson works better than a poorly maintained one, which is why it’s always important to make sure that your hose, filters, and battery are working in sync for best performance.

Is This The Right Time To Replace Dyson Filters?

Have you replaced your Dyson filter recently or is it time for a fresh one? If it’s been over 12 months since you’ve replaced your Dyson filter, then now is the time. Dyson says that their vacuum cleaner filters need to be swapped out once every year to avoid any issues with performance down the line.

It’s super easy to replace a Dyson filter- even if you’re not especially handy! Just make sure to get the right model of replacement before starting.

The following chart details the Dyson model and associated filter type.

ModelFilter Type
Dyson V7Pre / Post FilterView Price
Dyson V8Pre / Post FilterView Price
Dyson V10Post FilterView Price
Dyson V11Post FilterView Price
Dyson V12 SlimPost FilterView Price
Dyson V15 DetectPost FilterView Price

Why is my Dyson v8 flashing blue light when charging?

The Dyson V8 flashing blue light when charging indicates that the battery is being charged.

When the battery is fully charged, the blue light will turn off. If the light continues to flash even after a full charge, it may indicate an issue with the charger or battery and you should get it checked by a qualified service technician.

Additionally, if your vacuum has been inactive for a long period of time, it may take longer to charge and you should allow the battery to fully charge before using your vacuum.

Final Thoughts

There are a number of issues that can arise with a Dyson vacuum, but none are more ambiguous than the dyson blue light. While it can indicate several problems, make note that if the light flashes exactly 10 times, your battery just needs charging.

If the light is continuous, then it’s definitely worth checking for blockages in your hose and attachments. In addition, it’s just good practice to clean your filters every now and again, as well as replacing both the pre and post filters after 12 months of use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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