Fix: Roomba Not Suctioning

Roomba is a series of autonomous robotic vacuum cleaners sold by iRobot. It’s an automatic plus precision vacuum cleaner robot that detects dirt or dust on the floor and spins the brush with the powerful suction capacity to clean the surface. Though iRobot is a well-known brand for making robotic vacuum cleaners in a bunch of models, plenty of users aren’t happy with its cleaning performance. It seems that iRobot Roomba Not Suctioning dirt or dust properly.

Now, if you’re also using any of the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaners for your home or office purposes and simply cleaning the dirt or dust particles from the Roomba by emptying the bin tray then you should go through this full guide to know the actual process of doing so. Additionally, the chances are also high that somehow the Roomba cleaning brush isn’t spinning properly. Well, the brush may not rotate smoothly whenever dust particles get stuck.

Sometimes issues with the ball-bearings on the multi-surface brushes may also trouble you a lot. As a user, if you can’t clean the filter and the bin of the vacuum cleaner, it may become less efficient and won’t gonna pick up all dirt or dust in one sweep or so. Otherwise, any physical damage to the brush motor or the brush itself may also happen which needs to be repaired or replaced depending on the warranty status. Now, without further ado, let’s get in.

What are the Possible Reasons?

No matter whether you’re using the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner in your home or office, if the surface gets too much dirty within a short period of time and you prefer to clean the floor multiple times in a full day for years then the chances are high that the brush or motor is now depreciated enough to work efficiently and precisely. Whereas pet hair, tiny food particles, other dust particles, etc may quickly fill the bin without your knowledge.

As a result, the vacuum cleaner won’t be able to pick up new or extra dirt/dust inside the bin & starts re-depositing the additional hair or dust on the floor again. So, you might not get a fully cleaned surface in a single usage in most cases. This specific drawback or issue can happen with your Roomba cleaner whenever you use it multiple times in a full day or even frequently to clean your surface area. It’s known as the ‘Floor Conditioning Process’.

Most of the Roomba series cleaners do have a 3-stage advanced cleaning system and low profile high-efficiency filters to collect more dust particles that we can’t even see with bare eyes sometimes. With such technology and a cleaning process, the Roomba vacuum cleaner is able to reach difficult areas where traditional vacuum cleaners, floor cleaning mops, or even brooms won’t be able to reach. Still, the slow cleaning process may frustrate some users.

Well, you should keep in mind that when the iRobot Roomba cleaner is no longer picking up large amounts of hair, dirt, or dust particles from the floor, it may take additional minutes or hours to bring the floors to a new ‘baseline of clean’. Once it’s done, the clumping process should stop automatically.

It may also be possible that the full bin sensors aren’t working properly which is quite common among the users. Make sure that placing the static guard on the carpets may come in handy while cleaning with the Roomba in the area where the problem occurs. But Do Not Spray or Mist Static Guard or put water directly on or near your robot cleaner.

Fix: Roomba Not Suctioning

Here we’ve mentioned some useful methods to properly clean the brush and bin then do the genuine maintenance of the cleaner so that your Roomba cleaner can attract dirt or dust efficiently. Now, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it.

1. Clean Rubber Brushes and Vacuum Path

If you want optimal performance with your Roomba cleaner then you should clean rubber brushes and the vacuum path properly on a regular basis depending on your usage pattern. With regular and easy maintenance, you’ll be able to get better cleaning. To do so:

• Open the brush frame > Release tab by pushing on the green tab on the right side of the multi-surface brushes.

• Remove the brushes from the robot.
• Now, clear any hair or debris that has wrapped around the surface of the brushes. Sometimes the debris or hair can stuck around the square and hex pegs at the ends.
• Remove the bearings by pushing up from underneath them > Clear away any stuck hair or debris.

• Re-install the bearings on the multi-surface brushes and you’ll hear a ‘click’ sound when the bearing is properly installed on the brush.
• Next, ensure the vacuum path is clear enough to work it accurately.

• Make sure to properly match the shape of the multi-surface brush pegs with the square and hex shapes on the cleaning head module.
• Finally, close the brush frame and the brush frame release tab.

2. Clean Bin and Filter

If you’re new to the iRobot Roomba cleaner family or don’t know how to clean the filter properly then do not worry. You can follow the steps below to clean the bin and filter depending on your Roomba model.

• Just push the release button on the top/side of your Roomba cleaner.
• Slide the bin out to open it gently. There should be no hurry in doing so to avoid physical damage by you.

• If there is any hair or debris visible on the bin then make sure to clean it using any brush.
• Once done, now, you can just press the yellow lever to open the bin door.

• Dump any visible dist/dust/debris into the trash to clean it.
• Make sure to use a brush to clean the bin from the inside properly.

Now, the second and most important part is to clean the filter from the bin. You can follow the steps below to do the same.

• Locate the big blue filter after cleaning the dirt or dust particle.
• Next, grip the two yellow tabs on either side of the filter by using your fingers.
• Then squeeze and pull out the filter gently.

• Make sure to gently clean the visible dust/dirt/debris from the filter without damaging it.
• Just knock the dust off by repeatedly tapping the filter or shaking the filter from the outside.
  • You can also try using a cloth or paper towel or air blower or a brush to clean the filter properly.
• Once done, make sure to gently re-insert the filter into the bin again.

Please Note: Filters are not designed to be washed with water or any form of contact with liquid items. So, using too much water or keeping it wet will damage the filter quickly. So, avoid cleaning the filter with water or liquid items and also make sure not to use the Roomba cleaner on the wet surface area while cleaning the floor.

• After reinstalling the filter inside the bin, you’ll need to properly re-insert the bin back into the bin slot by pushing and sliding it gently.
• You’re good to go. Enjoy!

3. Reset Your iRobot Roomba Series Cleaner

Sometimes performing the factory reset on your Roomba vacuum cleaner manually may also help the device to work properly. If the above methods didn’t work for you then make sure to reset the cleaner by following this full-depth guide. Just keep in mind that your Roomba model may have a slightly different reset process that you can find depending on the specific series and model. Otherwise, the rest of the process or workarounds will be the same.

These three methods will definitely help your Roomba cleaner to sweep the floor and clean the surface more accurately in the first attempt than in the previous condition. However, if your floor surface area is getting dirty quite frequently then you may need to run the clean multiple times and clean the bin or brush periodically.

Still Roomba Cleaner Not Suctioning Precisely?

If none of the methods worked for you and the problem is still bothering you a lot then make sure to visit the iRobot Store – Parts and Accessories or visit an authorized retailer to get it repaired. Otherwise, you can also replace the filter of the Roomba cleaner by purchasing the necessary items from the official store. If under warranty, you should contact iRobot Customer Care for further assistance on it.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For additional queries, you can comment below.