OT: Roomba problem

[sherry7]

This is off-topic, but I know a lot of you on the Budget Board have Roomba's. Mine is just over a year old (out of warranty), and I've been having a problem for the last few days.

When I start the Roomba, it will run for 2 or 3 minutes and then stop. When I hit the button to make it go again, it says "please remove and clean Roomba's brushes". (The brushes ARE clean.) When I push the button again it will run for a couple more minutes, and the same thing happens again.

Any clue as to what could be wrong? Thanks.

 

[mtquinn]

Hi. We have a few Roombas and, inevitably, they all do that.

The Roombas have an alert that beeps when it stops. Depending on how many beeps sound, that indicates what's wrong. For instance, mine would do what yours did, run and then stop, beep five times and tell me to clean the brushes.

We contacted IRobot and they talked us through how to clean it properly. If you think you have cleaned it, you haven't. You have to practically disassemble the thing. Hair and dirt will impede the brushes and make the Roomba think you haven't cleaned it.

Run your Roomba and listen for the "uh-oh" sound, then count how many times it beeps after the "uh-oh." Then call IRobot with your situation. Be sure to have your serial number with you. It's located under the dust bin. IRobot will tell you how to clean the Roomba, and of course try to sell you something. Try cleaning it really thoroughly. Make sure those yellow end-caps on each brush are actually ON tightly. Make sure the brushes are snapped into place and not jiggling around. Do you hear a thumping when it runs? That indicates either dirt or brushes/yellow endcaps that are not in properly.

It's a process, fixing it. Be patient. Good luck!

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Mine does it all the time. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats so no surprise! Like PP says you basically have to take things completely apart to fully clean them. Go to the support section if irobot.com and you can find the diagrams for taking the brushes apart to clean them.

 

[Halle]

Mine does it all the time. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats so no surprise! Like PP says you basically have to take things completely apart to fully clean them. Go to the support section if irobot.com and you can find the diagrams for taking the brushes apart to clean them.

Does it do a job? I have two long hair cats and a Dyson.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Does it do a job? I have two long hair cats and a Dyson.

I use my Roomba for the hard tile and wood floors mostly. Just run it every other day to pick up all the hair and crumbs. I also have 3 kids! For the carpet we usually use the regular vacuum. The carpet runs the Roomba battery down faster. I have never used a Dyson so I can't compare to that. It does the job very well on my hard floors.

 

[starwood]

You may also need a program update. Call them. If you need an update they will send you something to connect to the usb on it. It will update the software and then you send the thing back to them.

 

[sherry7]

Thanks for the info everyone. I had already cleaned the brushes, wheel, etc very well, so that's why I couldn't figure out why it keeps shutting off.

Weirdly enough, after several days of having this problem, I started it last night and it ran a full cycle. Darned if I can figure it out, because I did absolutely nothing to it. Hopefully it won't do it again. If it does, I think I'll do the program update that Starwood mentioned.

I'm thinking the problem might be my bearings (those tiny little yellow things at the ends of the brushes). They're getting very hard to take off, and I assume that would make the brushes harder to turn as well.

 

[onyx8]

I have had the same issue and it is indeed the yellow bearings. You have to remove them and clean out all the gunk under there. Then the Roomba will run properly.

 

[sherry7]

I have had the same issue and it is indeed the yellow bearings. You have to remove them and clean out all the gunk under there. Then the Roomba will run properly.

Yep, I clean the gunk (cat hair) out of them each time we use it. But they're still hard to take off regardless. I suppose they're getting worn out and need replaced.

I like my Roomba in a way, but I don't think I'd buy another one. We have 3 long haired cats, and I probably spend more time cleaning the brushes than the time it would take me to run the regular vacuum cleaner.