Why isn’t my Roomba charging? It’s understandable that it’s a little bothersome. So, is it time to toss out the expensive machine and invest your hard-earned cash in a replacement? Relax; the answer is simpler than you might imagine. To address the issue, you must first determine why your iRobot is not charging.
What’s the deal with your Roomba not charging? The most common cause of your Roomba not charging is filthy charging contacts. To charge the Roomba, both the robot’s charging contacts and the Home Base must make a clean connection. To fix the problem, wipe the charging contacts using a dry cloth.
While the preceding method works the majority of the time, there are times when a Roomba will not charge. In this post, we’ll go through how to fix the problem of why my Roomba isn’t charging. Your beloved Roomba should be up and running as it should be by the end of this article. Let’s get this started.
Table of Contents
Why is my Roomba not charging?
Roomba will not charge if its contact points are dirty or not in contact; this is caused by excessive dirt, dust, or gunk deposited on the charging points and caster wheel. Additionally, it might be caused by a broken power outlet, an incorrectly positioned battery, or system issues. It is possible that this is due to a temperature miscalculation in some circumstances.
If Your Roomba Won’t Charge, What should you do?
To begin, you must first determine your Roomba series. Why?
Because Only the Roomba 500, 600, 700, and 800 are compatible with the following solution.
If you recently purchased a new robot that has yet to be activated, the problem could have occurred during shipment. Check to see if the battery has shifted; if it has, just remove the battery and replace it in its proper location.
The Home Base is required for charging; put it in and check the light on that device until it begins to flash once every 4 seconds, or until it shines solidly for 4 seconds and then goes out.
What if The Light isn’t Turned On?
Then try charging your Roomba in a separate outlet while simultaneously testing the charger or Home Baseline cord for damage. If the current Home Base still won’t switch on, try a different one.
Home Base Light is Turned on, But Robot Still Not Charging
Quickly clean the device.
Make sure there’s no debris or dirt inside since this might cause a thick layer of dust to form on both the Home Base and the Roomba’s charging contacts.
If you find it, use a soft dry cloth to wipe it away from the charging contacts. I recommend lightly cleaning it with the melamine foam sponge.
If none are identified, Roomba should be removed from the Home Base. After that, flip it over and detach it from the caster wheel. Check the caster wheel for any built-up debris, as the robot will be unable to reach the charging contacts if there is too much dirt within. Once the debris has been discovered, perform the maintenance!
Roomba Not Charging – 9 Ways To Fix It
1. Clean charging contact points
Contact points are little metal strips that run down the length of your device. Two are positioned on the bottom of your Roomba, and two more are located on the bottom of its docking station.
These metal strips are in charge of charging your Roomba and connecting it to its Home Base.
Essentially, it is a conductor of electrical charges.
Thus, if dirt, dust, or muck has gathered on it, electricity will not flow.
Having said that, cleaning both the contact points on your Roomba and its Home Base will ensure proper charging.
To clean, just wipe away any dirt that has accumulated on it.
Warning: Before cleaning the Home Base’s contact points, disconnect it. This will keep you safe from electric shocks as you clean.
2. Clean the caster wheel
The caster wheel is a tiny, non-powered wheel located at the unit’s front.
Its purpose is to maintain the Roomba’s proper elevation. Additionally, should provide ample room beneath the unit to sweep away dirt and dust.
Due to its front location, the caster wheel catches dirt while your Roomba cleans.
Once the debris accumulates, it pushes the wheel further away from its housing, forcing it to rise higher.
If the caster wheel is pushed higher, the Roomba’s contact points will not reach the Home Base’s contact points. As a result, the device will be unable to charge.
To repair, just clean the debris from the caster wheel.
Here’s how you can clean it:
- Pull the wheel gently to remove it from its case.
- Remove the debris stuck on the wheel. Wipe it using a clean, damp cloth, if needed.
- Reinstall the wheel back to its case. You should hear a “click” sound once it’s correctly placed.
Tip: Manually spin the wheel. If it is hardly moving, there is still some debris attached to it. Ensure that any dust that has accumulated on it is removed.
3. Replug the unit into a different outlet
In rare circumstances, if your Roomba is hooked into a malfunctioning power outlet, it will not charge.
“How will I determine whether a power outlet is faulty?”
If you have an outlet tester, you may test your outlet to determine whether it is powered.
If this does not work, try plugging your Roomba Home Base onto a different outlet. If the outlet is operational, the Home Base’s indication light should illuminate.
“I’ve verified that the outlet is operational. Why isn’t my Roomba charging?”
This is most likely because the machine is receiving insufficient power from that particular power source. Perhaps there are some electrical problems with it.
Either relocate the device to a new power outlet or resolve the unit’s electrical problem.
Note: You may relocate the Home Base without difficulty as long as you wait for your Roomba unit to complete its cleaning cycle first. If you move the Home Base while Roomba cleans, it will have a difficult time docking.
4. Remove the battery pull tab
Have you recently purchased a Roomba unit?
Then you may have overlooked removing the yellow pull tab from the battery.
On the majority of brand-new devices, the battery has yellow pull tabs. Manufacturers include it to prevent gadgets from turning on by themselves, particularly while shipment.
This tab prevents the battery contact points from being accessed.
Therefore, if you have not yet deleted it… Then, obviously, your device will not charge.
If this is the first time you’ve used a Roomba, here’s how to remove the pull tab:
- Flip the Roomba unit upside down.
- Look for the yellow pull tab hanging.
- Then simply pull it off.
Once removed, your unit should have no problem while charging.
5. Reposition the battery
“I’ve removed the pull tab already. But my brand new Roomba still doesn’t work!”
Then, during delivery, the battery may have been shifted from its original location.
As you may be aware, batteries must make total contact with their contact points in order to function properly.
As a result, ensure that the battery position of your Roomba is correct.
To inspect and adjust the Roomba battery, follow these steps:
- Flip the Roomba unit upside down.
- Unscrew the screws on its base.
- Remove the base cover.
- Check if the battery is properly positioned.
- Place back the cover.
- And put the screws back in.
Note: If you have a Roomba 700 series or upper, you just have to unscrew the battery compartment.
6. Reboot the Roomba unit
It might be the unit itself if the contact points and power source are not to blame.
Your Roomba may have problems with its software, but it should be able to fix them. These are computer problems that make systems give out the wrong results.
In simple terms, software bugs can make your Roomba not work or crash, so they need to be fixed.
In this case, if you notice that its indicator light is on, but the unit itself is not charging, it could be because of a software bug.
“What do I do? Should I call for a replacement?”
Not yet.
Without a doubt, software defects may be an annoyance. However, it is readily rectified by doing a hard reset or reboot.
Restarting a Roomba is simple. It would, however, depend on the series you’re using.
How to reboot Roomba based on its series:
- For the s and I Series: For 20 seconds, press and hold the “Clean” button. Wait for the light ring to turn off before releasing. This should take approximately 1.5 minutes.
- For the 700, 800, and Series: For ten seconds, press and hold the “Clean” button. Wait until you hear a reboot tone before releasing.
Note: Rebooting the Roomba will reset the program and remove any temporary data. However, it will not destroy your schedule information or intelligent mapping.
7. Reset the Roomba battery
Occasionally, it is not your Roomba software that requires a reset. However, your Roomba’s battery.
Similar to software, resetting the battery restores its system to its default state. Permitting it to enhance its performance and work more effectively.
If you notice your Roomba’s battery drains quickly, you may wish to reset it as well.
You may purchase a replacement if desired. However, you will save money by resetting its battery. Not to mention that it extends the battery life.
“How do I reset my Roomba battery?”
Resetting a battery is often referred to as deep charging or 16-hour resetting. As you’d need to maintain a 16-hour rest period for your unit.
To reset a Roomba 600 series battery:
- Remove the battery from its case.
- Press and hold the “Clean” button for 5-15 seconds.
- Put the battery back in.
- And charge it for 16 hours straight until the green indicator light turns on.
To reset a Roomba 700 series battery:
- Pug in the Roomba unit.
- Press and hold the “Clean” button until the blue text “r 5 t” is displayed.
- Let the unit turn itself off, and wait for the reset tone.
- And charge it for 16 hours straight.
Tip: Charge your Roomba straight from the power source for optimal performance. You may utilize the cord that is included with the Home Base.
8. Factory reset the unit
If resetting the unit’s software or battery does not resolve the issue, it is time to factory reset the device.
Unlike restarting, factory resetting wipes your device’s memory and specific settings.
This involves the mapping of your house and a cleaning routine.
That is, it resets your machine to its factory settings.
Tip: If you’re certain you want to factory reset your device, make a backup beforehand.
There are two methods for factory resetting your Roomba. Either via the iRobot Home app or directly from the device.
To factory reset Roomba using the iRobot Home App, follow these steps:
- Go to iRobot Home App.
- Proceed to “Settings.”
- Select “Remove/Factory Reset.”
- And then click on the robot name of your unit.
To do a factory reset via the Roomba unit itself, it is necessary to consider the series of your unit.
How to factory reset a Roomba is determined by its series:
For the a and I series
All three buttons “Home,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” should be pressed simultaneously. Continue holding it until the white color appears in the light ring.
For the j-series
Remove the dustbin from the unit first. Then, for 7 seconds, press and hold the “Clean” button. Once you hear the reset tone, release. After that, complete the operation by clicking the “Clean” button one more.
In the e-series
All three buttons “Home,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” should be pressed simultaneously. Maintain it for around 20 seconds. After that, release.
For the 900 series
All three buttons “Dock,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” should be pressed simultaneously. Maintain this position until all of the button indicator lights illuminate.
For Wi-Fi-enabled 600 and 800 series
All three buttons “Dock,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” should be pressed simultaneously. Maintain this position until you hear a beep tone.
For Roomba combo
Locate the “Reset” button by opening the unit’s lid. For ten seconds, press and hold the reset button.
9. Move the unit to any other room
Although this is extremely unusual, your Roomba unit will not charge if the environment is excessively hot or cold.
As with any electronic device, you should keep your Roomba unit and Home Base at a room-temperature region of your home.
If the motor is subjected to an abnormally high or low temperature, it may be unable to perform effectively.
When this occurs, your Roomba will display an error code on the display until the issue is fixed.
The only answer is to relocate your unit to a cooler room.
Note: Allow at least an hour before charging it back to its Home Base.
Is it possible to change the battery in a Roomba?
You certainly can!
On the market today, there are a plethora of Roomba battery replacement alternatives. However, not all batteries are created equal; in fact, some may shorten the life of your robot.
One thing is certain: if properly cared for, the original battery can last for many cycles before needing to be replaced.
Below is a collection of battery maintenance ideas that will help you understand how to increase battery life and ensure that your Roomba always performs at its best:
- Only use iRobot batteries.
- Use Roomba regularly – because the robot is powered by a rechargeable battery, it will provide more cleaning cycles if it is used frequently.
- Keep Roomba plugged in while not in use – if you don’t have a Home Base, you can plug Roomba into a charger to keep it charged all the time.
- Roomba should be charged and stored in a cold, dry location.
- Always clean the device to avoid clogging it with hair or debris.
- If you notice that your Roomba is working harder than usual, check it right away. Allow it to rest if you don’t want the battery to run out.
How long will a Roomba battery last?
You should purchase a suitable battery for your Roomba robot if you want to increase its lifespan.
Based on my personal experience, I recommend the genstattu.com iRobot Roomba replacement battery since it performs above and beyond my expectations. I bought this product a few months ago, and guess what? It lasted about two hours the first time I used it.
However, now that the dust has settled, it lasts a little over an hour, which is the same as the time my old battery lasted. Also, check to see if the air filter has been cleaned.
The battery in a Roomba can survive for hundreds of cleaning cycles if used properly. Remember to remove the battery pull tab before charging your robot. I recommend charging it overnight after purchasing the Roomba.
The charging time is usually at least 2 hours.
Faqs
What is the best way to tell if my Roomba is charging?
To check the charging status, look at the LED indication on the CLEAN button.
- The battery is completely depleted when it is solid red.
- Charging is in progress, as shown by the flashing amber.
- Green indicates that the charging process is complete.
- The 16-hour charging option is also indicated by a rapidly pulsing amber light.
How do you tell when your Roomba’s battery needs to be replaced?
- The battery drains abnormally quickly, like within minutes of normal use.
- After leaving the dock, the Roomba can only operate for 15 to 20 minutes.
- The power light doesn’t even flash.
- The performance of the Roomba is unaffected by a soft or hard restart.
When the Roomba is charging, does the base light stay on?
To save energy, the Roomba base light flashes for around four seconds before turning off altogether.
