When purchasing a technological device, we all want it to not only work at fullest potential but also run as long as possible. To any machine or gadget, battery is like the heart of the whole system.
If the battery is underperforming and deteriorating frequently, the function overall will be affected.
Today, let’s talk about Roomba battery replacement here!
There are actually lots of questions related to Roomba battery. When it comes to vacuum cleaning machine, Roomba is always one of the popular names on the market. But, of course, everyone is curious about Roomba battery before and after replacement.
Continue reading for more info…
Table of Contents
How Long Does a Roomba Battery Last Before Replacement?
Most consumers say that Roomba battery can work at optimal function well in 2 years; after that, it will slowly show signs of deterioration and eventually stop operating. However, please keep in mind that the lifespan of your Roomba battery heavily depends on the way you use and maintain the machine.
iRobot informs that Roomba battery is a composition of 12 NiMH batteries strung together to form a large nickel-based battery. Based on my research, it can last about 400 charges and work up to 2 hours
In fact, some users have checked and stated that their Roomba battery still running well even after 2 years, while some complained that their Roomba battery wouldn’t last for 6 months to a year after the purchase. They end up replacing a brand-new battery or, much worse, sending the whole Roomba to the trash.
Not many realize that good maintenance can extend the lifespan of your Roomba battery.
How Do I Know If My Roomba Battery Needs Replacing?
You’ll know it’s the right time to replace your Roomba battery if the robot vacuum shows these obvious signs:
1. The battery doesn’t hold its charge
Many often encounter this problem when you try charging your Roomba for hours or almost a day but then find out the battery not charging at all. When I left my first Roomba on charge overnight, it couldn’t even last 10 minutes during operation.
Charging your battery for 12 hours becomes useless when it can’t hold a charge.
Don’t quickly replace the battery just because it fails to charge. My advice is that you can try doing a drain-charge cycle and see if it can revive the battery. To do this simple process, you need to remove your Roomba battery from the device for about 10 minutes and then reinstalling it.
Turn on the robot vacuum and let it perform a cleaning task to drain the battery completely. Then, you should charge it non-stop in 3 days non-stop so that it can hold on to its charge for a longer time. In case your battery still doesn’t retain a charge after the drain-charge cycle, it’s time to replace it.
2. The Roomba is too old
Everything has a lifecycle limit, even ourselves. So, if your Roomba is over 3 years old, be prepared for its different problems. The unit’s function will be deteriorated due to its aging, not your maintenance.
The operation time of an old Roomba battery will be reduced, plus, more and more issues related to charging and docking appear more and more. Of course maintenance helps remain your device in a good state for a long time. Nonetheless, you can’t do anything else but replacing the battery once it reaches old age.
So, is your Roomba battery too old to run properly?
Read more: Roomba not connecting to WiFi
3. The unit performs poorly even after the reset
Sometimes you need to reset your Roomba to help revive the stubborn battery.
Do you know how to reset Roomba robovac? Actually it’s a simple process and you can check out my guide of resetting Roomba here. In case you want to reset just the battery, then try it on the 500, 600, and 700 series.
After resetting your Roomba, it’s supposed to perform well or even better in normal circumstances. But, if you find no improvement in the performance of the robot vacuum, then definitely Roomba battery has some issues. In this case, the best way for your unit to function properly is battery replacement.
4. The power light doesn’t display
One of the clearest signs telling your Roomba is ready for use is when you spot its power light. It will appear in a green solid color if the device is fully charged. Meanwhile, a pulsing amber color will be on display when the battery is charging. The device is completely drained if it has a red solid color, and flashing red means the battery nearly runs out.
When the power light doesn’t come on, the reason may lie in the battery.
As I said earlier, before replacing the battery to a new one, you need to perform the maintenance first to figure out the real cause of the problem. The common way is to remove your Roomba battery, clean it with a dry towel and then place it back into position.
If the power light still doesn’t show after doing so, it seems that there are some problems with the battery and the only you can do now is replacement. So, make sure to constantly check this light to know the status of the device.
5. The running time & performance reduces
Normally, Roomba in a good working state is estimated to run up to 2 hours. However, the running time can change depending on different matters, such as your home’s layout, floor types, size, and pets. Roomba battery in normal condition can serve you for approximately 2 hours.
There are some cases where you find your robot stop running after a few minutes.
Trust me – it’s super annoying when seeing the robovac dead half-way before finishing its cleaning task. I have experienced this problem before and honestly I don’t want to encounter the same thing for the second time. These issues are the result of poor maintenance.
Even after proper maintenance, the performance is still poor.
Back then when encountering any issue with my Roomba, I tended to give it a little maintenance and then everything was normal. For the device to work well, simply take out the battery and use a dry towel or brush to remove the debris from the contact surfaces and charging dock.
Yet, like I said, there are times the performance is still poor even when you follow the recommended maintenance guide.
Debris and dust can cause strain on the unit and effect Roomba’s general performance negatively. If it shows not improvement after you empty and clean the whole vacuum, then you need to consider getting a new battery.
How to Extend My Roomba Battery’s Lifespan?
The first thing you must do is to…
1. Routinely clean Roomba brushes
When the robot vacuum is cleaning, brushes are the part picking up dirt. If too much dirt and debris get stuck in the brushes, Roomba’s performance will be effected for sure. The system will overwork and gradually deplete the battery as well as motor.
To extend the lifespan of your Roomba battery, you must clean the brushes in 2 phases: once a week and once a month.
Read more: Why Roomba brush is not spinning?
2. Clean the filter
You should clean the filter once or twice a month. But, iRobot advises their users to replace filters rather than to wash them. The manufacturer comes with extra filters in the package for any purchase with recent Roomba series.
All you need to do is to take out the filter. Next, tap it a few times to remove all the dust and bring it to wash and dry. In case you change to a new one, don’t quickly throw away the old filter because you can use it essentially some time.
Without a clean filter, the performance of your Roomba battery will also be effected.
So, make sure to give the filter a routine cleanup for the machine to operate at its best.
3. Stay away from hot places
Don’t leave your Roomba in extremely hot conditions, like heating vents or direct sunlight, because high temperature can deteriorate the battery.
The Bottom Line
Roomba battery replacement is necessary at a certain time. But before that, my article here can help you extend the lifespan of the battery so that you can save some of your budget.
By giving Roomba the routine cleaning, the operation will become smoother and more vibrant. Frequently using the machine is also a good way to help the battery last longer. Once it’s depleted, you must replace it immediately.
For all Roomba users, I hope you find the information here helpful.
Please comment below if you have any question about Roomba battery replacement.
I bought a new battery for my Roomba Discovery 410 model and charged it up and it ran for almost one hour and a half. The red light came on and now it will not recharge I even brought a new charger and that did nothing. Do you have and idea what would cause this issue.
Hi Harold,
Did you try cleaning the charging ports with a soft cloth and some rubbing alcohol to remove dust, hair, or gunk accumulation? You may also have to reinstall or replace your battery or charging dock or even reset the Roomba to factory settings.
Sincere
In a hot climate , should the battery be stored in the fridge if unused for 6 months
Hi Gayleen,
The answer is no. While cold environments help maintain battery life, refrigerators and freezers are not safe to put batteries in. The moist environment will cause condensation on the batteries. This in turn will lead to rust or other damage.
Sincere
I just bought a new battery and charged it. The red light for battery keeps coming on. What is the problem.?
Flashing red indicates a problem with battery charging. Either the charger is bad, or the charging circuit in your Roomba is bad.
Sincere