Roombas were the first robot vacuums most people owned, and many of them are still running years later. That is also why so many arrive with the same worn parts: the battery, the wheels, the brushes and the sensors under the body. A lot of those are repairable, and a lot of faults turn out to be dirt.
Blue Apple looks at iRobot Roomba vacuums at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam. The iRobot Roomba repair page shows what a typical repair costs per model; the final price is confirmed in writing after the diagnosis.
What usually goes wrong with iRobot Roomba vacuums
Wipe the cliff sensors on the underside and the charging contacts on the robot and the dock, clean the brushes and the wheels and empty the bin before you assume anything is broken. If the fault stays, these are the usual ones.
- Battery that no longer lasts. A Roomba that stops after a few minutes, or sits on the dock and does not charge, has a tired battery. It is the most common fault on older models.
- Wheel module faults. A wheel that spins freely, a robot that circles, or an error about the wheels is usually hair in the module or a worn drive.
- Cliff sensor and bumper faults. A Roomba that refuses to move, thinks it is on a drop, or stops when nothing is in the way has dirty or failing sensors under the body or a stuck bumper.
- Brush motors and bearings. Brushes that no longer turn, a grinding sound or a brush that squeals are worn bearings or motors.
- Dock and charging contacts. A robot that will not dock or charge can have corroded contacts, or, on a self-emptying model, a Clean Base that has stopped emptying the bin.
The iRobot models we repair
Every model below has its own page, with an estimate of what a typical repair costs.
Roomba j9+, Roomba j7+, Roomba Combo j7+, Roomba Combo 405, Roomba Mini, Roomba i7+, Roomba s9+, Roomba e5, Roomba 600-serie.
Repair or replace?
A Roomba with a worn battery or wheel module is usually a sensible repair, and many i7+, s9+ and j-series models are worth keeping. A very old 600-series with several faults at once is closer to the point where replacing makes sense. We tell you honestly after the diagnosis.
Looking after your Roomba
- Clean the underside sensors monthly. A cloth is enough; dirty cliff sensors cause "stuck" robots.
- Remove hair from the brushes and wheels. It is the main cause of motor wear.
- Do not run the battery flat and leave it. A Roomba left uncharged for months is the one with a dead battery.
How a repair works at Blue Apple
The prices for these devices are estimates until we have seen them. Send a request with the model and what is wrong, and we tell you what a repair is likely to cost and how to get the device to us. The final price is confirmed in writing after the diagnosis, before any work starts. You can use the custom repair form, or call 020 239 11 93.
Questions about iRobot repair
Can the battery in a Roomba be replaced?
Yes, it is the most common repair we are asked about, and we tell you the cost after the diagnosis.
Do you repair the Combo and Mini models?
Yes, together with the j9+, j7+, i7+, s9+, e5 and 600 series, all on the iRobot page.
In short
Battery, wheels, sensors, brushes and contacts are what we most often repair on a Roomba, and the diagnosis tells you whether it pays. See the iRobot Roomba repair page for the models and repairs, or send us a request. You will find us at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam, and you can call 020 239 11 93 with a question first.
