Robot vacuums are the appliance most people replace by default. When one stops, the instinct is to buy a new one, even though what failed is often a single worn part: a battery, a wheel module, a brush motor, a sensor. This guide covers the faults that apply to almost every brand and how to tell whether repairing yours makes sense.
Blue Apple repairs robot vacuums in Amsterdam. The robot vacuums page lists the brands we work with, what typical repairs cost and how to send us a request.
What usually goes wrong with robot vacuums
- Battery that drains fast or will not charge. The most common fault on a robot older than two or three years. It cleans one room instead of the whole floor, or sits on the dock and never fills.
- Wheel or drive motor fault. A robot that drives crooked, circles, stops with a wheel error or gets stuck on thresholds has hair in a wheel module or a worn drive motor.
- Navigation, lidar or sensor fault. A robot that bumps into furniture, loses its map or will not leave the dock has dirty or failing sensors, or a jammed or damaged lidar turret.
- Main brush or suction motor fault. A brush that does not turn, a grinding noise or suction that has clearly dropped.
- Does not dock, or the charging contacts are bad. Corroded or worn contacts on the robot or the dock, or a dock that has stopped supplying power.
Brands and models we look at
These are the brands we list for robot vacuums, and some of the models with their own pages, each with an estimate of what a typical repair costs.
Brands: Roborock, Dreame, Ecovacs, iRobot Roomba, Narwal, Miele, Samsung, LG, Dyson, eufy, Xiaomi Robot, MOVA, SwitchBot, Shark.
Popular models: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, Roborock Saros 20, Dreame X40 Ultra, Dreame L20 Ultra, Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone, iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, iRobot Roomba j7+.
Repair or replace?
A premium robot with a washing, drying and self-emptying dock is expensive to replace and usually worth repairing: a battery, a wheel module or a pump costs far less than a new one. A budget robot with several faults at once is where replacing starts to make sense. After the diagnosis we give you the cost and an honest opinion, and you decide.
Looking after your robot vacuum
- Cut the hair out weekly. Hair in the brush and the wheels causes most motor wear.
- Wipe the sensors and contacts. Dirt makes a healthy robot look broken.
- Replace filters and brushes on schedule. A clogged filter makes the suction motor work harder.
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.
Common questions
Which robot vacuum brands do you repair?
Roborock, Dreame, Ecovacs, iRobot Roomba, eufy and Xiaomi have their own guides: Roborock, Dreame, Ecovacs, iRobot, eufy and Xiaomi. For other brands, send a request.
Do you repair the dock as well?
Yes. The dock is part of the diagnosis: pumps, valves, drying sections and contacts can be repaired.
In short
A robot vacuum rarely needs replacing for one worn part, and the diagnosis tells you whether a repair is worth it. See the robot vacuums 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.
