My Philips Vacuum Cleaner shows the dust bag is full when it is not

The dust bag-full indicator could be triggered when an object is stuck in the nozzle, tube, or hose of your Philips Vacuum Cleaner. Check if any of these parts are blocked, and remove the blocking elements.

The pores in the dust bag of your Philips Vacuum Cleaner may become clogged (i.e. after vacuuming ashes, fine sand, lime, cement dust, or other similar substances). 

When the pores are clogged always replace the dust bag with a new one. Suitable dust bags for all Philips vacuum cleaners are s-bag® dust bags FC8021 & FC8022. 

If you use a power setting that is not suitable for your flooring it can cause an increased suction and noise. In this situation the dust bag indicator can get triggered, even though the dust bag is not full. Please change the power setting to a lower setting and check if the indicator still changes color.

If your Philips Vacuum Cleaner’s motor protection filter is dirty, your dust bag indicator could change color. This filter is located behind the dust bag. If you remove the dust bag holder with the dust bag, you will see the motor protection filter. This filter should be cleaned every four to six weeks or at least every time you replace the dust bag. We recommend replacing the motor protection filter every year.  

To clean the filter, follow these simple steps:   

1. Take the filter case and foam filter out of the appliance (image 1) 
2. Separate the washable foam filter from the filter case (image 2) 
3. Tap the foam filter over a trash bin to clean and wash the filter gently to remove embedded dirt. Focus on areas with noticeable buildup, but refrain from strong scrubbing to not damage the filter fibers. Rinse the filter under running water until the water runs clear (image 3). 
4. Wait 24 hours until the foam filter is fully dried (image 4).  
5. Reassemble the parts (images 5 and 6). 

After you have cleaned the filter, check again if the dust bag indicator still changes color permanently even when the dust bag is not full yet.

Note: If you have used your motor protection filter for more than a year and the indicator still changes color it is advised to replace the filter and check again if the indicator changes color. 

If you have checked the above-mentioned possibilities and the appliance still indicates the bag is full, please replace the disposable dust bag or empty the reusable dust bag, even if it is not full yet. You can order a new dust bag on philips.com/support by searching for FC8021 & FC8022.

If the appliance still indicates the dust bag is full after placing a new bag, please take it to a Philips service center or contact us for further assistance at www.philips.com/support.