A Karcher window vacuum is a valuable product that makes it easy to clean your windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces in your home without leaving smudge marks and fingerprints.
This device works well for removing moisture and grime from the windows in your home and even in your car, leaving them streak-free and shiny.
However, they’re only helpful when they actually work, and your Karcher window vac not charging will mean that you won’t be able to use it.
If your window vac isn’t charging, it’s likely due to a fault in the window vac charger or the battery itself.
But if you need help handling these problems, keep reading to find out more information.
How Do I Know if My Window Vac is Charging?
If you see a green light flashing on your Karcher window vacuum, you’ll know that the device is charging.
The light will slowly flash continually until the vacuum is fully charged, after which the green light will stay on permanently.
Your window vacuum can take up to two hours to fully charge up fully.
Most Common Causes of the Karcher Window Vacuum Not Charging
Your Karcher window vac is powered by a battery that needs to be charged with a charger that will come with the unit upon purchase. If your vacuum isn’t charging, it’s most likely due to a fault in either of these elements.
Here’s what you need to know about each of them and why they might stop working.
The Battery
Some models of the Karcher window vac have a removable battery, whilst others don’t. Both of them use a lithium-ion battery which offers a decent battery life and a relatively long lifespan of around 300 power cycles.
Obviously, this implies that your battery won’t last forever and will need replacing at some point.
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries typically last around 2-3 years, so if you’ve had your vacuum for a while, then a faulty battery might be the problem.
Pushing your battery beyond its lifespan and capacity can also lead to more trouble than simply not charging. Batteries might begin to leak or even explode if overused, so watch out for the signs of overuse.
The Charger
If your battery isn’t that old and hasn’t been used beyond its lifespan, you might also be dealing with the simple issue of a faulty charger.
Chargers have a lifespan too, but these can usually last for thousands and thousands of charges. The long lifespan of your charger means that it will typically outlast even the battery itself, which implies that the chances of your charger wearing out before your vacuum is even a few years old are slim.
However, chargers can also become damaged or worn in crucial places impacting the charging ability.
If your battery and charger aren’t that old or have not been used for very long, then a damaged charger might be the cause of your device not charging.
Other Common Issues Found With Charging
While an overused battery or burned-out charger are the most common causes for your Karcher window vac not charging, there are a few other issues that might be causing the same problem.
Here’s what you should consider when struggling to charge your vacuum.
Damaged Battery
If you have dropped your Karcher window vac while using it, knocked it against the wall, or otherwise damaged it, this could potentially damage the battery.
It’s essential to take good care of your equipment and use it with care in order to avoid damage like this.
If you’ve damaged the machine, you might need to buy a new battery or even purchase an entirely new window vac.
Water Damage
Another issue that might be causing the problem is water penetration. Your Karcher window vac is an electronic device; we all know water and electricity don’t mix.
Cleaning windows typically involves water, so you always need to be careful when working with your vacuum to ensure that water doesn’t get into the mechanics of the machine.
If you suspect that you’ve gotten water inside your vacuum, this could prevent it from charging, and you might need to replace it.
Over Charging
Leaving any electronic device on charge for unwarranted periods of time can be damaging to its batteries.
Leave your device plugged in only until it’s fully charged, and then remove it from the charger. This is good practice for all your devices – not just a window vac.
If you’ve left it plugged in once it’s fully charged and overused the charger, you may have permanently damaged the battery and prevented it from charging.
Battery Run Down
Similar to how you don’t want to leave your window vac on charge all day long, you shouldn’t be letting it run completely flat – and this rule applies to some other devices with rechargeable batteries too.
Try not to allow your Karcher window vac to run out of power entirely before putting it on charge. Instead, recharge it before it runs flat.
If you’ve let the battery run completely flat a few times, you might have caused irreparable damage to the battery, and you will then have to replace it.
How to Fix the Charging Issue
Once you have identified the potential causes for your battery to stop charging, you can take the necessary steps to rectify the problem.
If you’re unsure how to handle it, here are some things you can try.
Clean the Charging Socket
You can start off by cleaning the charging port on your Karcher window vac.
If your charging socket is blocked with dirt or dust, this could be blocking the connection to the charger and blocking the flow of electricity.
Use a microfibre cloth, a cotton bud, or even a toothpick to scrape any dirt and debris from the charging socket, but do this carefully so as not to physically damage the port.
Try Another Power Outlet
Another basic troubleshooting step is to try out another power outlet to rule out faulty plugs. Sometimes, a power outlet might have a connection problem, which could stop your vacuum from charging.
Simply plug your charger into a different power outlet and try to charge your vacuum there.
Try Another Charger
As mentioned, there is always the possibility that your charger has burned out or become damaged. Your Karcher window vac not charging could be due to a broken charger.
If your charging cable is broken or frayed, this is most likely the root of the problem. However, there might be less visible issues with the charging device, too, so testing another charger is a good step to take before making any replacements.
Check the Circuit Module
If you have a multimeter and wish to test your battery, you can open it up and check the circuit module. In order to do this, you’ll need a set of screwdrivers, a knife and a pair of gloves for protection. Here are the steps to take:
- Detach the vacuum head from the body of the window vac.
- Remove the rubber covering and then remove the screws and separate the two covers.
- Remove the logic board from the vacuum.
- Use your multimeter to test the battery. If it reads less than 1.5V, you’ll know that you will need to replace the battery.
- Replace the logic board and screw the vacuum back together.
If you’re not comfortable working with electronics, ask for help from a friend or family member who has some experience or reach out to a professional. Alternatively, take your window vac to an appliance technician.
Replace the Battery
If you’ve performed the above check or determined some other way that your battery needs to be replaced, you can purchase one separately and have your Karcher window vac up and running again in no time.
Removeable Batteries
If you have a Karcher window vac with a replaceable battery, this process is simple and quick.
Make sure you purchase a battery with the correct voltage for the size and model of window vacuum you have.
However, if your vacuum doesn’t have a removable battery, you must go through a specific and more complicated process to change it.
Non-Removable Batteries
In order to replace the battery, you will need to follow these steps:
- Open and dismantle your Karcher window vac as described in the steps to check the circuit module.
- De-solder the old rechargeable battery.
- Solder in the replacement batteries using solder tags.
- Reassemble the window vac.
Only try this if you are comfortable with soldering and working with electronics. Otherwise, a better option is to contact Karcher and find another solution.
You should also take note that once you have replaced the batteries and tampered with your vacuum cleaner, this will likely void your warranty if it is still in place. Karcher will no longer repair or replace your window vac if you need assistance.
Buy a New Charger
If you suspect that your charger is the culprit, you will be able to purchase a new one.
Claim Your Warranty
If you haven’t tampered with the battery and are concerned about replacing the entire vacuum, most Karcher window vacuums come with a warranty.
This means that if you contact Karcher and send your window vac and window vac charger to them (or the store you purchased them from), you will have a few options.
Karcher could fix the issue for you, or if it can’t be solved quickly, they might replace your window vac.
Find a Professional
If you need clarification about why your window vac isn’t charging or working correctly, you could always take it to an appliance technician for repairs.
However, keep in mind that the expense of labour and the cost of new parts might not always be worth it, and you might even be better off purchasing a new vacuum cleaner for around the same price.
Make sure to ask for quotes and compare this to your other options before committing to getting a repair.
Is Your Karcher Window Vac Not Working Still?
What if your window vac is charging (the light is going on), but the vacuum is still not working or turning on after a full charge?
If this is happening to you, then the problem is likely related to a faulty or worn-out battery.
Essentially, if you’re experiencing this, it means that the vacuum is connecting to the charger, and power is flowing into it, but the battery cannot process that power in order to charge or turn on.
You will either need to replace the battery as explained above or contact Karcher to find out about your warranty to get a repair or replacement.
In case you’re concerned about a different issue, you can reach out to Karcher for this too, and explain what problems you’re dealing with. to figure out the best course of action.
How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Battery
If you have a Karcher window vac and want to ensure that your battery and charger both last as long as possible, there are a few things you can do to preserve the battery life and charger:
- Make sure to keep the battery from running flat. Recharge your vacuum before the power runs out entirely and you have a dead battery. Instead, put it on charge before the battery dies.
- Only leave your vacuum on charge as long as necessary. Once the device is fully charged, remove it from the power right away.
- Protect it from water damage – even when cleaning your windows with water, be careful not to let any get inside your window vacuum.
- Take care of your charger by storing it in a safe place such as a drawer or cupboard. Make sure that the cables aren’t moved around too much, and keep them away from pets and children.
Final Thoughts
If your Karcher window vacuum isn’t charging or turning on, there are a few potential causes for the issue and many different routes you could take to fix it.
For some, reaching out to Karcher immediately to ask about their warranty might be the best course of action.
However, others may try simple troubleshooting methods first, such as testing different power outlets and other chargers.
Test the above methods until you come to the best conclusion and get your vacuum charging and working again.