Roombas are handy little devices that clean your floors so you don’t have to. Of course, these robot vacuums can only work well when they are charged and ready to go. In fact, the most frustrating part of using one is trying to turn it on and realizing that it doesn’t have enough battery power left to vacuum your home or it is completely dead. That leaves many people asking the question: how do I know if my Roomba is charging?
Most Roombas have some sort of indicator that can answer this question. Of course, with so many different robot vacuum types available, not all Roombas have the same charging indicators. There could also be a variety of issues preventing it from charging when it’s supposed to. To ensure that you know what to look for in both of these areas, the following information can help.
Roombas all include rechargeable batteries Trusted Source Other Rechargeable Batteries Discuss the general characteristics of rechargeable batteries. courses.lumenlearning.com that last up to 2 hours when fully charged and should remain functional for up to 400 charges before needing replacement. When taken care of, this battery will always be ready to do the job of running your vacuum when needed. Part of this is learning how to know if your Roomba is charging.
One of the best ways to tell if your Roomba is charging is by getting to know what the indicator lights mean. Every Roomba has one, even the best robot vacuums under 200 dollars, though the lights can vary in color, pulse speed, and when they come on, depending on the model you’ve purchased. The following table tells you what lights to expect with the Roomba you’ve purchased.
| Model | Partially charged | Charging | Charge pulsation time | Fully charged | No battery | Low battery | Software update |
| Roomba 500 series | Amber | Amber | Every 4 sec | Green | Amber | Red | None |
| Roomba 600 series | Amber | Amber | Every 4 sec | Green | Amber | Red | None |
| Roomba 700 series | None | Amber | 60 sec total | Green | Red | Red | None |
| Roomba 800 series | None | Amber | 60 sec total | Green | Red | Red | None |
| Roomba 900 series | None | Amber | 60 sec total | Green | Red | Red | None |
| Roomba i3/i3+ | None | Blinking white | No | White | Red | Amber | White |
| Roomba i7/i7+ | None | Blinking white | Every 4 sec | White | Red | Amber | White |
| Roomba j7/j7+ | None | Blinking white | Every 4 sec | White/Blue | Red | Amber | White |
Solid lights usually mean that the Roomba is fully charged or in need of one. If the light is pulsing this usually means that the Roomba is currently charging, though the pulsing option varies from machine to machine. For instance, the Roomba 500 and 600 series, as well as the i7/i7+ and j7/j7+ blink every 4 seconds when charging. The colors of the lights aren’t identical, though, with the earlier models having amber lights while the later models have white ones. The Roomba 700, 800, and 900 series all include lights that stay on for 60 seconds during charging before turning off to conserve energy.
Most of the best robot mops and vacuums have some sort of beeping sound to indicate certain issues with the device. This is often accompanied by a voice that informs you of what the issue is. Even without the voice, you can determine what’s wrong with your Roomba by the number of beeps. For instance, a single beep means that the battery isn’t connected. Between 2 and 5 beeps signal a charging error. More beeps can also tell you that the battery is too cold, warm, or hot or that it can’t connect to the battery. Be sure to check your model’s manual to determine the issue your Roomba is having.
Sometimes there can be overlapping light signals can be a bit confusing until you can determine what they mean. One such overlap happens if the battery is low at the same time that it is charging. When this happens, it is best to leave the device to charge until the indicator lights right themselves. For older models, this likely won’t be an issue, though, since they are designed to flash for only one purpose at a time.
If you’ve sent your Roomba to charge but it isn’t doing so, there are a few ways you can correct this issue. Let’s take a look at the options for this.
One possible issue is the connection between the Roomba and the outlet. If the Roomba isn’t charging, try plugging another device into the outlet to see if it works. You can also move the Roomba to a different outlet.
The battery position is another possible issue, especially with machines that have been shipped to you. All that jostling from the manufacturer to your door can cause shifting in the various parts, including the battery. To remedy this issue, open the machine’s battery compartment, adjust the battery’s position, and close it up again. Then try to charge it to see if this works.
Aside from the original Roomba model, all of them include a docking station Trusted Source Roomba Navigation Roomba navigation uses sensors to pick up environmental data and alter the vacuum’s actions. Learn how Roomba navigation calculates room size and avoids stairs. electronics.howstuffworks.com , which is where it will go when it needs to charge. The docking station emits an infrared signal that connects with the Roomba, so the vacuum knows where to go when the battery is low. The issue arises when the docking station connection points get dirty, preventing the proper connection with the vacuum. Clean the docking station with alcohol to remedy this issue.
The contact points on the Roomba can also get dirty, preventing it from connecting properly with the docking station. Wiping these with a microfiber cloth or some alcohol can remove any dirt or debris. Then you can try to charge it again.
Though this isn’t as common, sometimes your Roomba can include faulty batteries. If you’ve had your Roomba for a while, the batteries may also be worn out. Either way, replacing the batteries with new ones is a must. Then you can charge your Roomba again.
Though the dock makes it easy for the Roomba to move into position and charge itself when needed, it is possible to do some dock-free charging if necessary. All you need to do is manually connect the Roomba to an outlet, which then charges the battery. Then you can get a new docking station if needed. You can also try another vacuum type, like the best Shark vacuum, which doesn’t need docking stations, though they do require manual use to get your vacuuming done.
When you first receive your Roomba, it’s best to unpack it and set up the docking station. Then, pull the battery tab and place the Roomba on the docking station to charge overnight. This is the only time that it will take this long to charge the battery on this machine. After this, even when the Roomba is used until the battery is almost drained, it should take only about 2 hours to charge it from then on.
This does depend on the battery’s condition, though, so frequent, long-term use may extend the charging time slightly.
As we mentioned above, the Roomba’s battery can run for up to 2 hours when it is fully charged, so it should be able to clean most, if not all, of the floors in your home during that time. They also have a lifespan of 400 charges or about 2 years with regular vacuuming, though this depends on how frequently you clean, the size of your home, and whether you have any pets that need cleaning up after.
Life can be busy, which is why so many of us are looking for ways to take some of our daily chores off of our plates. Having a Roomba is one of the top contenders for making our lives easier since these little devices take care of one of our most hated tasks. They work on their own, with little supervision once you have them up and running.
Of course, when your Roomba isn’t doing its job, you have to take the time to figure out why. Luckily, if you’re asking how do I know if my Roomba is charging, you now have a few ways to figure out the answer on your own, using the handy tips we’ve described here.
