I enjoy a Hoover Wind tunnel, and when I turn it on the house smells similar to rot. What is cause this? I need to vacume, but cant because I am afraid of that...

I need to vacume, but cant because I am afraid of that sickening odor that smells like rotten something. Do you infer if I change the filter surrounded by the vac it will cause the odor to walk away?
Its a bagless vacume with a hepa filter.
Answers:    Change the filter and check the drive belt to the brush. Sometimes down gets entangled and burns when the belt is turning.