Our above-referenced vacuum wasn’t producing as much vacuum and we found that its filter was clogging faster. I figured portions of its cyclone, where air moves upward its path to ultimately reach the motor’s impellers and debris falls downward to the collection canister, had become blocked. While taking apart the cyclone, I published my journey here:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Dyson+DC17+Cyclone+Cleaning/168779

After reassembling the cyclone and putting it back in the DC17 the vacuum cleaner is running like its brand-new again.