Kenmore 116.31912 User Manual [en, es]

Owner’s Manual
Manual Del Propietario

Kenmore

Vacuum Cleaner

Aspiradora

Model, Modelo 116.31912

116.31913

CAUTION:

Read and follow all
safety and operating
instructions before first
use of this product.

CUIDADO:

Lea y sigue todas las
instrucciones de operación
y seguridad antes del uso de
este producto.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estafes, IL 60179 U.S.A.
www.sears.com

Part No. C01ZCHA10U00-KC01ZCHAZ0U0

Printed in Mexico

Imprimé aux Mexique

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Before Using Your New Vacuum.................2

Kenmore Vacuum Cleaner Warranty ... 2

Vacuuming Tips

Performance/Safety Features

..........................................

..............

11

12-13

Important Safety instructions......................3

Upright Vacuum Cleaner Parts and

Features

Assembly Instructions
Operating Instructions

.....................................................

............................

...............................

Releasing the Handle....................................7

ON/OFF Switch
Pile Height Selection and Setting

Agitator On/Off Selector .............................8

Attachments
Attachment Use Chart

..............................................

................

.............................................

................................

5-6

8-10

11

Vacuum Cleaner Care

4

6

7
7

Vacuum Storage .........................................14

Cleaning Exterior and Attachments

Dust Bag Changing

Filter Changing ...........................................16

Light Bulb Changing

Agitator Cleaning........................................17

Clog Removal

Troubleshooting.......................................19

Requesting Assistance Or Service

..............................

.........

....................................

...................................

.............................................

..........

14

14

15

17

18

20

BEFORE USINO YOJR NEW VACUUM

Please read this guide, it will heip you assemble and operate your new Kenmore vacuum in

the safest and most effective way.

For more information about vacuum cleaner care and operation, call your nearest Sears store.
You wilt need the complete model and serial numbers when requesting information. Your vacu
um’s model and serial numbers are located on the Model and Serial Number Plate.

Use the space below to record the model number and serial number of your new Kenmore
vacuum.

Mode! No..
Serial No.

Date of Purchase

Keep this book and your sales check (receipt) in a safe place for future reference.

KENMORE VACUUM CLEANER WARRANTY

LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON KENMORE VACUUM CLEANER

This warranty is for one year from the date of purchase, and includes only private household
vacuum cleaner use. During the warranty year, when this vacuum cleaner is operated and
maintained according I0 the owner's manual instructions, Sears will repair any defects in
materia! or workmanship free of charge.

This warranty excludes vacuum bags, belts, light bulbs, and filters, which are expendable parts
and become worn during normal use.

For warranty service, return this vacuum cleaner to the nearest Sears Service Center In the
United States.

This warranty applies only while this product is in use in the United States. This warranty gives
you specific legal rights, and you may aiso have other rights which vary from state to state.

Sears. Roebuck and Co., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

A

Your safely is important to us. To reduce the risk of fire, eiectrical shock, injury to per
sons or damage when using your vacuum cleaner, follow basic safety precautions

including the following:

Read this manual before assembling or

using your vacuum cleaner.

Use your cleaner only as described in
this manual. Use only with Sears recom
mended attachments.

To reduce the risk of electrical shock -
Do not use outdoors or on wet surfaces.

Disconnect electrical supply before any

servicing or cleaning. Failure to do so
could result in electrical shock or person

al injury.
Always turn cleaner off before unplug

ging.
Do not unplug by pulling on cord. To

unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord.
Do not use with damaged cord or plug. If

cleaner is not working as it should, has
been dropped, damaged, (eft outdoors, or
dropped into water, return it to a Sears
Service Center.

Do not pull or carry by cord, use cord as
a handle, close door on cord, or puli cord
around sharp edges or corners. Do not
run cleaner over cord. Keep cord away
from heated surfaces.

Do not leave cleaner when plugged in.
Unplug from outlet when not in use and
before servicing.

Do not allow to be used as a toy. Close
attention is necessary when used by or
near children.

Do not handle plug or cleaner with wet
hands.

Do not put any objects into openings.

WARNING

Do not use with any opening blocked;

keep free of dust, lint, hair and anything
that may reduce air flow.

Keep hair, loose clothing, fingers, and ail
parts of body away from openings and
moving parts.

Do not use cleaner without dust bag

and/or filters in place.
Always change the dust bag after vacu

uming carpet cleaners or freshener, pow
ders and fine dust. These products dog

the bag, reduce airflow and can cause
the bag to burst. Failure to change bag
could cause permanent damage to the
cleaner.

Do not use the cleaner to pick up sharp
hard objects, small toys, pins, paper
clips, etc. They may damage the cleaner
or dust bag.

Do not pick up anything that is burning or
smoking, such as cigarettes, matches, or
hot ashes.

Do not use cleaner to pick up flammable
or combustible liquids (gasoline, cleaning
fluids, perfumes, etc,), or use in areas
where they may be present. The fumes
from these substances can create a fire
hazard or explosion.

Use extra care when cleaning on stairs.
Do not put on chairs, tables, etc. Keep
on floor.

You are responsible for making sure that
your vacuum cleaner is not used by any
one unable to operate it properly.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Proper assembly and safe use of your vacuum cleaner are your responsibilities. Your
cleaner is intended only for household use. Read this Owner’s Manual carefully for
important use and safety information. This guide contains safety statements under
warning and caution symbols. Please pay special attention to these boxes and follow
any instructions given. WARNING statements alert you to such dangers as fire, electri

cal shock, burns and personal injury. CAUTION statements alert you to such dangers
as personal injury and/or property damage.

PAHTSANDFEATÜRES

It is important to know your vacuum cleaner’s parts and features to assure its proper and safe
use. Review these before using your cleaner.

Item

Dust Bag
Headlight Bulb
Exhaust Filter
Motor Safety Filter

Quick Release
Upper Cord Hook

Power Cord

Part No.

In U.S.

20-50690
20-5248
20-86889
20-86884

Part No.

In Canada

20-50690C

20-5248C
20-86889C
20-86884C

Exhaust
Filter Cover
Release

Bag Cover
Release

Bag Cover-

Handle -

On/On
Switch

Dirt Sensor
(Some
Models)

Performance
Indicator
(Some
Models)

Agitator

On/Off

Selector

Lower
Cord Hooks

Crevice fo
Tool

Telescoping

Wand

Dusting
Brush

Combination
Brush

Handle
Release

Pedal —

Model/Serlat

Numbers

Furniture
Guard"

Ready-to~Use
Swivel Hose Headlight

^-StretoA Hose

Agitator

(Underneath)

Handle

^ Release

Pedal

Nosxle

Base

Agistor Overload

Reset Button

EXTENSION HOSE KITS

SOME MODELS

Extension Hose

■k

SOME MODELS

Adaptor

Handi-Mate^'* Jr.

~ 11

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

A

Before assembling vacuum, check the
PACKING LIST on the cover of the separate
Repair Parts List. Use this list to verify that
you have received all the components of
your new Kenmore vacuum.

WARNING

Electrical Shock Hazard
Do not plug into the elechical supply

unSI the assembly is complete. Failure
to do so could result in electrical shock
or injury.

Remove the
tape located
below the dust
cover/filter cover
on the motor
case.

Position the handle as shown in the illustra

tion below.

Slide the handle into the opening at the top

of the vacuum.

Attach stretch hose
end to nozzle as
shown.

HANDLE ASSEMBLY

Insert the screw so it passes through the

handle into the vacuum.

Remove the screw located just below the

top edge of the back of the vacuum.

Begin to tighten the screw with your fingers,
it may be necessary to adjust the handle

slightly.

Using a
screwdriver,
tighten the
screw.

A

CAUTION

Do not overtighten.

Overtightening could strip the screw
holes.

Do not operate the cleaner without the

screw in place.

Lock the cord into
piace by forcing it
into the locking
notch on the body
of the quick
release upper cord
hook as shown.
This helps keep
the power cord out
from under the
vacuum cleaner
agitator.

Wrap the power cord around the upper and
lower cord hooks and lock the power cord
plug onto the power cord.

Quick Rchaso
Upper Cord

Hook

Power
Cord

Power

Cord -

CORD ASSEMBLY

Make sure the quick release upper cord
hook is in the upright position. Remove the

wire tie from the power cord.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO START

1. Turn the
quick release
upper cord
hook to either
side and
down to
release the
power cord.

2. Release the power cord plug from the
power cord and pull the cord off the quick
release upper cord hook. Check to be sure

the power cord is stiH locked into the lock in
the quick release upper cord hook,

3. Check to see if the cleaner has bag

installed. See DUST BAG CHANGING.

Note: To reduce the risk of electric shock,
this vacuum cleaner has a polarized plug,
one blade is wider than the

Lower

Cord

Hooks

other. This plug will tit in a polarized outlet
only one way. if the plug does not fit futiy in

the outlet, reverse the plug, if it still does not
fit, contact a qualified technician to install
the proper outlet. Do not change the plug in
any way.

4. Plug the polarized power cord into a 120
Volt outlet located near the floor.

A

WARNING

Personal Injury and Product Damage
Hazard

• DO NOT plug in if switch is in the ON
position. Personal injury or damage
could result.

• DO NOT use outlets above counters.
Damage from cord to items in surround
ing area could occur.

RELEASING THE HANDLE

Release the handle by pressing down on

the handle release pedal with your foot and

pulling back and down on the handle with

your hand.
Note; The agitator will not rotate if the vacu

um cleaner is in the upright position.

OWOff swrrcH

HANDLE MOUNTED

SOME MODELS

To start the vacuum cleaner, slide the
On/Off switch from the OFF position to the
ON position. To stop the vacuum cleaner,
slide the On/Off switch to the OFF position.

Note: This switch operates the suction
motor only. For the agitator to rotate, the
agitator On/Off selector must be in the ON
position and the handle must be released

from the upright position.

SELECTION

To select a pile height setting:

Turn off cleaner. Select a pile height setting
by tilting the cleaner back until front wheels
are lifted slightly off the floor.

Slide the adjustment lever to the correct set
ting.

There are four (4) pile height settings on the
vacuum. Use the LOW setting for most car
pets and bare floor cleaning (with agitator
OFF), and the HIGH setting for very long
pile carpets like shag carpel, scatter rugs,
etc. Use the other settings as needed for
carpet heights in-between.

AND S

Height

Atÿusiment

Laver

A

CAUTION

Do not allow vacuum cleaner to remain
in one spot for any length of time when

the agitator is turning. Damage to car
pet may occur.

AGITATOR ON/Oñ= SELECTOR

OFF Position: Step on the back half of the

pedal to turn off the agitator for use on bare

floors.

tn the OFF position, the agitator does not
rotate. This setting should be used for
cleaning hardwood and tile floors.

Note: The light will remain on when vacu
uming with the agitator in the OFF Position,
provided the vacuum is not fully upright.

ON Position: Step on the front half of the
pedal to turn on the agitator for use on car

peting.

In the ON position, the agitator will turn.
When carpets are being cleaned the selec
tor should be in this position.

Attention: Refer to your carpet manufactur
ers cleaning recommendations. Some more
delicate carpets may require that they be
vacuumed with the agitator turned off, to
prevent carpet damage.

A

WARNING

Personal Injury Hazard
DO NOT place hands or feet under

neath the unit when changing tiie
Agitator On/Off Selector to the On
position. The agitator begins to

revolve rapidly.

ATTACHMENTS

Cre Wee

Tool

Telescoping
Wand

Dusting
Brush

Combination
Brush

Identify each of the attachments shown

above.

Stretch
Hose

Hose

Collar

TO USE ATTACHMENTS:

Remove the lower end of the stretch hose
from the cleaner by grasping the hose col
lar, twisting and pulling straight out The

attachments can now be added to the hose.

NOTE: The motor protector may open when
using attachments or when cleaning new
carpet, due to reduced airflow by the attach
ments themselves or by new carpet fuzz fill
ing the bag quickly. See the

TROUBLESHOOTING section.

A

WARNING

Efectrical Shock And Personal Injury
Hazard

Disconnect electrical supply before
servicing or cle£mfng the unit. Failure
to do so could result in electrical shock
or personal injury from cleaner sud
denly starting.

Note: The agitator will not rotate if the hose

has been removed from the nozzle.

The attached
hose swivels to
make cleaning
easier in every
direction.

Remove the
hose from the
hose clip by
pulling straight
out.

Swive/-^^

TELESCOPING WAND WITH
SUCTION CONTROL SLIDE

SOME MODELS

To achieve maximum reach
with the attachments, add the
crevice tool to the end of the
wand by inserting and
twisting slightly.

SueOon
Control

Slides

Telescoping

Wand. '

Crevice,
Tool

■ rlUllU

Remove the crevice too! from its storage
position in the wand. Turn the locking ring to
the UNLOCK position.

Extend the wand to its full length. Turn the
locking ring to the LOCK position. Attach the
extension wand onto the open end of the
hose.

Lower
Wand

Crwice
Tool

TslBscoping

Wand

Remove the

telescoping
wand from
its storage
position.

SucOon
Control Slide

When using the dusting brush or the com-(
bination brush, they may be attached
directly to the wand or placed on the end of
the crevice tool.

Dusting Brush
(Some Models)

I— Comblnmtlan

Brush (Soma
ModMs)

Crevlca Tool

U

Brush

Wand

TO OPERATE SUCTION CON

TROL SLIDE

Telescoping Wand

When using attachments for cleaning
draperies, small rugs with tow pile and other
delicate items, twist the suction control slide
to the open position. This lever is located on

the telescoping wand, close to the hose.
This will reduce suction for ease of cleaning.

Align the tabs on the extension wand with
the “J” slots in the hose. Push the wand into
the hose and twist to the right to lock.

Note: Return
suction control
slide to the closed
position for
normal cleaning.

A

CAUTION

When using attachments, be careful not
to overextend the stretch hose when
reaching. Trying to reach beyond the
hose stretch capability could cause the
cleaner to tip over.

Suction
Control
Slide

TO STORE ATTACHMENTS

Remove dusting brush or combination
brush. Snap into appropriate storage loca*

tion.

Remove crevice tool from the wand by twist
ing. Lay aside.

Remove the extension wand from the hose.

Twist the wand to the ieft and puli from the
hose end.

'Lower

^nd

Unlock ^

.a» ' ^

r^lYand

Locking
Ring 1

Unlock the wand by turning the wand lock
ing ring to the UNLOCK position.

Stide the lower wand into the upper wand.
Turn the wand locking ring to the LOCK
position.

EXTENSION HOSE

SOME MODELS

Some models include an extra hose which
connects to the stretch hose on the vacuum
for a longer cleaning reach.

Unit Hose

fjm,

Insert the two tabs on the end of the

extension hose into the two “J” shaped slots
on the unit hose and twist to connect.

All attachments and the telescoping wand
can be attached to the open end of the
hose.

Tn

Extension Hose

UJJ

FLOOR BRUSH AND WAND:

SOME MODELS

Some models have an extra brush and wand
for cleaning bare floors. Twist one end of the
adaptor into the floor brush and the other
end into the straight wand. Connect the
straight wand to the telescopic wand and
then to the vacuum hose or extension hose.

Place the crevice tool down into the com
pressed wand. Snap^into the appropriate
storage location. '

Reinsert the hose fully into the opening on

the lower body from which it was removed.

Press firmly to assure connection.

A

A

WARNING

Personal Injury Hazard
The agitator may begin rotating when

the hose is inserted. Ensure that the
agitator is clear of all hands, feet,
objects, etc.

CAUTION

DO NOT puN the vacuum cleaner
around the room by the hose. Property

damage could result.

F/oor Brush •

-J-

Wend

A

CAUTION

When using the regular hose or vwth
the extension hose attached, the
cleaner should be on a solid surface
on the same level or below the level of
the user’s feet. DO NOT use the hoses

when the cleaner is above the level of
the user’s feet.

Adeptor -J

3(ro(Ei

10

CLEANING AREA

ATTACHMENT

DUSTING BRUSH
CREVICE TOOL

COMBINATION BRUSH
Handi-Mate* Jr.

'Always dean attachments before using on fabrics.

Furniture*

X

X
X

X

VACUUMING TIPS

Carpet edges

Guide either side or
the front of the noz
zle along a base

board. The pivoting

brushes heip

Pivoting
BrushBS

St^rs

Put handle in full upright position. Agitator
stops rotating. Use the crevice tool or fabric
brush. Set the On/Off sv^ritch to ON and
move the Agitator On/Off selector to the
OFF position.

remove dirt at car

pet edges.

Between

Cushions* Drapes*

X

X

X

For best clean

ing results, keep
the airflow pas
sage clear.

Occasionally,
check each of
the areas indi
cated for clogs.

Unplug the
cleaner from the
outlet before
checking.

Stairs

X
X

X

Waiis

X

A

WARNING

Personal Injury Hazard
Use care if vacuum cleaner is placed

on stairs. If it falls, personal injury or
property damage could result.

11

f»ERFOBMANCE/S^ETY FEATURES

MOTOR PROTECTION
SYSTEM

Motor Protector

This vacuum has a motor protector by-pass
valve which automatically opens to provide
cooling air to the suction motor when a clog

prevents the normal flow of air to the motor.

If the by-pass valve opens to prevent motor
overheating and possible damage to the
vacuum, you will notice a change of sound

as air rushes through the valve opening.
To correct problem; See the TROUBLE

SHOOTING chart.

NOTE; The motor

protector may open

when using

attachments or when

cleaning new carpet,

due to reduced airflow

by the attachments

themselves or by new

carpet fuzz filling the

bag quickly. See the
TROUBLESHOOTING

section. •

Note: Do not block motor protector. Thermal Protector

This vacuum has a thermal protector which

automatically trips to protect the vacuum
from overheating. If a clog prevents the

normal flow of air to the motor, the thermal

protector turns the motor off automatically to
allow the motor to cool in order to prevent

possible damage to the vacuum. During this
time the headlight remains on.

To correct problem; If this occurs, turn the
vacuum off and unplug the power cord from
the outlet to allow the vacuum to cool and
the thermal protector to reset. Check for

and remove clogs, if necessary. Also check
and replace any clogged filters. Wait
approximately thirty (30) minutes and plug

the vacuum in and turn back on to see if the

motor protector has reset. The motor

protector will not reset if the vacuum is not
turned off even if the vacuum has cooled

down.

Motor

Protector

AGITATOR OVERLOAD

PROTECTOR

The agitator has
built-in protection
against motor
damage should the
agitator jam. If the
agitator slows down
or stops, the agitator
overload protector
shuts off the agitator.
The suction motor
will continue to run.

Agitator Ovortoad

Rasot Button

To correct problem: Turn off and unplug
vacuum, remove obstruction, then press

reset button.

To reset: Push in the agitator overload

protector button.

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

SOME MODELS

When the unit is running with normal air
flow, the tight on the performance indicator is
off. The light comes on whenever the airflow
becomes blocked, if that occurs, check the
disposable dust bag, motor safety fitter and
other possible clog locations shown in

CLOG REMOVAL.

To correct
problem: See

the

TROUBLE
SHOOTING
chart.

NOTE; The

light may also
come on
when using
attachments,
due to
reduced
airflow

through the
attachment.

12