Your Roomba battery is powered by a rechargeable 3.5Ah NiMH battery. When fully charged, the battery can run for up to 2 hours before needing to recharge.
Roomba batteries are designed to last. But over time, your Roomba battery may start to exhibit signs of aging.
Signs of a dying Roomba battery
If you see your Roomba showing these signs, you know it’s time you got your friend a brand new battery.
- It’s not sticking to the schedule anymore or it simply forgets the schedule
- It starts cleaning but goes dead after a few minutes even after showing that it’s fully charged
- It’s unable to dock all the time
- It does not hold a charge
- The power light fails to go on
- Your robot is constantly delivering mediocre results
- Your Roomba is still underperforming even after you reset it over and over again
Replacing your Roomba battery
If you notice that your Roomba vacuum overall performance is reduced, it means that you need to replace its battery. The battery may not always be the issue, but in most cases when it comes to performance, it usually is.
To replace a Roomba battery here is how to go about it:
Step 1:
Arm yourself with a screwdriver.
Step 2:
Turn your bot on its back. You’ll see four screws. Unscrew them to remove the cover and then remove the battery.
Step 3:
Grab your new battery and install it.
Step 4:
Reassembly everything and then charge your Roomba.
That’s it.
If your Roomba continues to exhibit problems, then it means the problem could be with its software.
How to extend your Roomba’s battery life
It is recommended that you replace your Roomba battery once every 1 or 2 years. However, how often you change your battery depends on how well you maintain your bot and how often you use it.
So if you use your bot every day, ensure that you perform regular maintenance. And if you want to extend your bot’s battery life, here are some helpful tips:
· Charge your Roomba even when it’s not in use
Don’t charge your Roomba only when you want to use it. Charge it even when it’s not in use. Believe it or not, doing this can extend your Roomba’s battery life.
Also, use your Roomba regularly as this can also help increase its lifespan.
· Clean your Roomba regularly
Performing routine maintenance can keep your Roomba running at optimum levels. Basic cleaning like removing dust from the filters and emptying the dustbin after each cleaning cycle can keep your Roomba in good shape.
If you allow dirt and dust to accumulate inside your Roomba, this can cause it to overheat, malfunction or under-perform. When the filters become clogged with dirt and debris, for example, your Roomba may start to suffer.
Clogged filters may force a Roomba to use more energy to get its job done. You may find your Roomba taking longer than usual to clean your house or constantly needing to charge during a cleaning cycle.
This could be due to some mechanical or software issue. But the only way you can establish this is by cleaning your Roomba first, making sure it’s free of dirt and debris.
· Don’t leave the battery in when you are out
If you are planning a trip, ensure that you remove the batteries before you leave. Especially if you know you are not going to be around for a couple of days.
Leaving the battery inside might lead to problems like overheating or leaking. It may also result in an explosion. The last thing you want is your beautiful home catching fire because of something as small as a Roomba battery.
· Keep your Roomba in a cool dry place
When your Roomba detects that it’s running out of power, it goes back to the Home Base to charge. To do this, your Roomba has to communicate with your Home Base. And they both do this using infrared signals.
So the Home Base cannot be situated near heat or some object that can interfere with these signals. So llace it in an area where there are no objects blocking it.
Summary
- Always keep the battery charged even when your Roomba is not in use. This can help extend its battery life.
- Place the Home Base on a flat surface where there are no obstructions. This makes it easier for your Roomba to make it back to the Home Base.
- If you realize your Roomba is not holding a charge, reset it first to see if that solves the problem. If not, then it means you need to get a new battery.
- Clean your Roomba after each cleaning cycle to prevent dirt buildup which may affect its performance and shorten the battery’s lifespan.
- Don’t leave the battery inside your Roomba if you plan on not being home for a couple of days. This can help prevent leaking and overheating.
- Buy batteries that are compatible with your Roomba model, preferably from the manufacturer or a trusted vendor.
- Use your Roomba regularly to help increase its battery life.
- Always reset your Roomba once you replace the battery. But charge it before you start the reset process.
Conclusion
Roomba batteries can last a long time with proper care. You may you even get more than two of years of service from them as long as you constantly keep them in top condition.
If the batteries start dying, this may affect the performance of your Roomba. So keep a lookout for signs that may indicate that your batteries need to be replaced. If you are not sure what signs to look out for, these are the major red flags.
- Battery not holding a charge
- Battery dying a few minutes after charging for hours
- Poor performance even after resetting and cleaning your Roomba
If you notice these three signs, this is a clear indication that the batteries are worn out and you need to get new ones.