Why my Roomba won’t charge? Here are some common reasons

roomba not charging on dock
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There are a lot more people now than ever before who rely on their Roomba to keep their homes clean.

One of the benefits of having a Roomba is that it’s constantly doing the rounds to keep your floors as clean as possible. Hence, it eliminates the need for vacuuming every day, which can be quite a time-consuming process.

Moreover, the Roomba allows you to forget about it altogether once you have plugged it into a power outlet and it begins mapping out its route. Having said that, the most common problem faced by Roomba users is when the robot fails to charge.

There can be several reasons behind the issue, so we thought of coming up with an informative guide to help you out. So, read on if you are wondering, “why my Roomba won’t charge?”.

And, without further ado, let’s dive into it.

Common Reasons Why Your Roomba Won’t Charge

Most of us who use a Roomba seldom pay attention to the cleaning robots. Typically, people only find out that the Roomba has a problem when it misses one of the cleaning cycles. Another way people find out about a charging issue is when the indicator lights aren’t turned on once the Roomba is at the docking station.

After looking into the probable causes, here are some of the common reasons a Roomba won’t charge. Moreover, we have provided some solutions so that you can fix the problems by yourself.

Here’s what might be wrong with your Roomba.

Dirty Charging Contacts

According to the manufacturer, iRobot, the most common reason for charging issues is dirt accumulated on the Roomba’s charging contacts. These are the points to which your Roomba attaches to the charging dock. The company even suggests you clean these charging contacts periodically to avoid the buildup of dust and debris that can interrupt charging.

When dirt is present on the contact points, it can cause added resistance to the charging circuit, because of which the Roomba fails to charge. You can figure out this is the problem if the indicator lights on your Roomba or the charging dock are pulsating. Or, the lights may only turn on when you put pressure on certain parts of the robot.

Solution

Since this is the most common problem that users face, it’s also quite easy to get rid of it. All you need is a bit of water and a magic eraser to solve the problem.

First off, unplug the Roomba from the charging dock, and use a soaked magic eraser to clean the charging contacts on the dock. After that, don’t forget to wipe off the moisture entirely.

Next, you have to turn the Roomba upside down and clean the charging contacts on its back with the soaked magic eraser. Follow it up by drying off the charging contacts thoroughly and proceed to place the Roomba back on the dock. Alternatively, you can use a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol to clean the charging contacts.

Once clean, wait for the charging lights to turn on. Keep an eye out and check the charging status. Also, make sure to remove the dust and debris periodically from both the Roomba and charging station to avoid any charging issues.

Roomba Unable To Fully Connect To Charging Station

Another reason your Roomba might not be charging is that it’s probably unable to connect to the docking station. This may happen if the front caster wheel on your Roomba is too dirty to move appropriately. In this case, the indicator light on the charging dock often works perfectly well, even though the charging may fail.

Solution

The only thing that needs to be done for this problem is to remove the caster wheel from the Roomba and give it a good clean. If the wheel happens to be broken, you may need to replace it for the robot to function adequately.

Furthermore, the process of taking out the caster wheel is pretty easy as all you need to do is grab the wheel with your finger and pull it out. Make sure to check that the wheel is moving freely and clean any dirt or debris that might be present on it with a soft dry cloth.

It’s also common for the caster wheel to get stuck due to pet hair. So, if you have a pet, ensure to clean off the hairs properly before reinstalling the caster wheel.

If this doesn’t seem to work, try rebooting your Roomba. For a Roomba from the 500 and 600 Series, you need to press on “Clean” and then hold “Spot” and “Dock” for 10 seconds. And for a Roomba from the 700, 800, or 900 Series, you only need to press “Clean” for 10 seconds and wait for the reset tone.

Improper Battery Placement

As you may know, an iRobot Roomba typically comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The good thing is that you can take it out and reinstall it whenever necessary. But, at times, the lithium-ion batteries may get wonky, leading to the Roomba being unable to charge itself. This commonly happens with a brand new Roomba as the battery gets displaced during shipping.

Solution

It’s actually quite easy to put the battery back into its place. All you need for this process is a Phillips head screwdriver. First, use it to remove the side brush and move on to remove the five screws that hold the bottom plate of a Roomba.

On removing the cover, you will be able to see the Roomba battery compartment. Now, pull back the tab above the battery to release it and then gently set the Roomba battery back in its place. You will be able to hear a snap when it’s properly in place.

The next step is to secure the bottom cover and screw it in place before making the Roomba face right side up. Then, attach your Roomba to the charging dock and wait for the battery indicator to appear on its display.

Along with this, we recommend restarting the Roomba by pressing the “Clean” button.

Roomba Battery Requires Replacement

Like any other rechargeable battery, the one in your Roomba has limited battery life. So, when it’s over, you will need to order a replacement battery for the Roomba to function correctly. Typically, the Roomba has a battery capacity that lasts for more than 400 charges. However, the actual life of a battery would depend on factors like the frequency of use, the total area covered by the Roomba, and its age.

On top of that, a common reason for a faulty battery is an insufficient power supply. That said, if the battery faces too much pressure or resistance, it may get worn out easily. Also, remember while buying a new Roomba that it’s essential to let it charge overnight after removing the yellow pull tab to ensure its health.

Solution

Now, coming to replacing the battery, it’s similar to the process of fixing a wonky battery. The only difference is that this time you will put a replacement battery in place of the original one. However, it would help to ensure that the new battery is authentic and certified by iRobot before purchasing it.

After replacing the battery, perform a hard reset or factory reset. The process may vary based on the model of your Roomba, but it’s usually done by pressing the “Clean” button to turn on the device. And, then you must simultaneously press the “Spot” and “Home” or “Dock” buttons for performing the reset.

But, we recommend using the Roomba application on your smartphone to make things more convenient. All you need to do is open the app, navigate to “Settings”, and press on “Factory Reset.” Whenever resetting the device, pressing the “Clock” button should show 12 hours, and the “Home” button should flash the green light.

Always remember to let the Roomba charge overnight when you replace the battery. And, clean the Roomba periodically to maintain battery health as it tends to pick up dust and debris from each cleaning session.

Other Instances When A Roomba Robot May Need A New Battery

At times, your Roomba might still be charging, but the battery health might be too poor for the robot to go through even a single cleaning cycle. This is a typical tell-tale sign of a Roomba that requires a new battery.

Other signs include a Roomba that stops midway within 15-20 minutes of leaving the charging dock and an unresponsive power light. Additionally, a damaged battery may take away your ability to reset the Roomba, and the only solution would be to replace it.

Moreover, Roombas are designed to be intelligent. So, your Roomba may display an error code, or there might be a flashing red light to indicate faults in the device. If you’re unsure about the cause, try checking out the manual of your Roomba or referring to the iRobot website for further help.

Faulty Charging Dock

Though not typical, another problem that might arise in a Roomba is a faulty charging dock. This can be in the form of damaged contact points, or the dock might be unable to detect any power.

Here, you can try connecting the dock to a different power outlet and see if the problem persists. You may also clean the charging ports as they occasionally become clogged with dust and debris.

However, if these troubleshooting methods don’t seem to work, you may need to get a new charging dock for the Roomba robot. For a Roomba that is still within the warranty period, contact iRobot customer care, and you may get a replacement.

Final Words

That’s everything we had to share and some possible reasons why your Roomba isn’t charging. We have tested several solutions for everyday problems, but other unique issues might arise.

Hence, if you are unable to troubleshoot your Roomba with our suggestions, do try contacting iRobot for possible solutions. Also, go through the user manual as it often has easy hacks regarding battery-related errors.

Furthermore, the filter and brushes of a Roomba need to be changed after a certain number of cleaning cycles for optimum performance. So, follow the instructions down to a T to improve the health of your Roomba to prevent similar issues. With that, we have come to the end of this guide.