Meet Roomba - Frequently Asked Questions About The Vacuuming Robot
Posted February 8th, 2010
A year ago I bought a my mother a Roomba Discovery for Christmas. After seeing a Roomba video on the Internet, I thought it looked like a fun gadget my mother would enjoy. I was skeptical at first. I was sure it would get stuck on the area rug. I figured it would pick up most small dust and dirt particles on the floor, but assumed it would leave lots of dog hair behind. And I really didn’t think the battery would last very long.
Much to my surprise, I discovered that the little Roomba robot was much more than a gadget to play around with. It actually did serious vacuuming! My mother hasn’t pulled out her “real” vacuum in months. Roomba cleans the floor dog hair and all then finds its way back to the charging station all by itself. The whole process is completely automatic. Mom didn’t have to change batteries (it charges itself), steer it around the room (it drives itself), bend down to turn it on (remote control), or do anything more than empty the dust in every week or so! After seeing her enjoy her Roomba so much, I immediately bought one or myself.
When I bought my mom her Roomba, I knew very little about it. I took a gamble and it worked out for me. But I know that other people are probably curious about how it works, just as I was. To satisfy your curiosity, I have compiled a list of frequently asked Roomba questions and answered them the best that I can.
Q. Does Roomba really clean well?
A. Yes, it cleans just like a traditional vacuum. It has spinning brushes and powerful suction.
Q. Will Roomba get stuck?
A. No. Roomba will wander around the room. When it encounters into an object or piece of furniture, Roomba will clean around it and then wander away. Since it can spin 360 degrees and change direction easily, it can always find its way around your room.
Q. What surfaces does Roomba clean?
A. Roomba can clean most floor surfaces, including carpeting, hardwood floors, tile floors, and vinyl. It will automatically transition between floor types.
Q. What floor surfaces can’t Roomba clean?
A. Roomba is not recommended for shag carpet or rugs with tassels.
Q. What will I have to do to make it work?
A. The easiest way to use the Roomba is pick up the remote control and press “clean.” Roomba will start itself up and clean the whole room. If you prefer, you can use the remote to “drive” your Roomba around the room.
Q. How long does the battery last?
A. The battery will last about an hour between chargings, which is usually more than enough time needed to clean a room.
Q. It is noisy?
A. It does make noise, but is quieter than most traditional vacuums.
Q. How often should I empty the dustbin?
A. It holds quite a bit of dirt. Of course, how often you empty it depends on how dirty the floor is. For most people, the dustbin should be emptied after every 3 cleanings.
Q. Can it find the charger by itself?
A. Yes! That’s one of the most fun parts to watch! It will return to the charger when you tell it to stop cleaning. If you don’t tell it to stop, it will return when the battery is getting low.
Q. Will it hurt my dog or cat?
A. Absolutely not. If your dog or cat bumps Roomba with its nose, the Roomba will turn around and run away. It’s fun to watch animals’ reaction to the Roomba! I have an English Bulldog that follows it around the room and barks at it. My mother has a Border Collie runs into the kitchen when Roomba is working (chicken!).
Q. Will it fall down the stairs?
A. Nope. It has a stair sensor. When it comes to a step, it will clean along it, then head in another direction?
Q. What do the virtual walls do?
A. A virtual wall is a sensor that you can place anywhere you want. It is used to set the Roomba’s limitations. For example, if you only want it to clean your living room, you would place the virtual wall sensor by the living room entrance. Roomba will not cross a virtual wall and wander into the next room. if you choose not to use the virtual walls, Roomba will wader around the entire house.
Q. What if Roomba finds a really dirty spot?
A. A little blue dirt sensor light will go on. Roomba will go around and around the dirty spot until it’s clean.
Q. Does it clean very close to the walls?
A. Yes, it will go right up to the edges. It will also wander under furniture and in tight spaces that you would miss with a traditional vacuum.
Q. When did Roomba amaze you the most?
A. We had a Christmas tree in our house that lost most of its needles. The needles were stuck in the thick carpeting. When we removed the tree and sent Roomba loose to clean it, I was amazed to see that it picked up every last needle!
Q. Does Roomba pick up pet hair?
A. We have two dogs. It picks up pet hair beautifully.
Q. What do I have to do to maintain the Roomba?
A. You have to empty the bin when it’s full. The directions say you should remove and clean the brushes after every three uses, but we only do it after every 15 uses or so.
Q. Does Roomba travel in straight lines?
A. Not usually. Roomba travels in 4 patterns so that it can get every area of the room.
1. Spiraling: It spirals around the room.
2. Wall-following: If it finds a wall or piece of furniture, it follows the edge.
3. Room crossing: It travels in straight lines across the room.
4. Dirt Detection: When it senses a dirty area, it spins around and thoroughly cleans the area.
Q. What if there are wires on the floor?
A. Wires should be elevated off the floor or tucked away. You could also use virtual walls to keep Roomba away from cords.
Q. How long will it take the Roomba Discovery battery to charge?
A. About 3 hours.
Q. Can I set the Roomba to go on at a particular day and time?
A. You would need Roomba Scheduler Remote Control for that. It is sold separately. I didn’t want to pay the extra $50 for scheduler. For me, it’s easier to just pick up the regular remote and click the “clean” button. The scheduler would require me to program set times and dates– that’s too complicated and too much like work for me!
Q. How much does Roomba cost?
A. The price varies depending on where you buy it. At the time I’m writing this, the best price I can find for Roomba Discovery online is $249.95. Sometimes you can find refurbished ones in retail stores for a little less.
Q. Where can I buy Roomba?
A. This Web Page ( bulldoggadgets.com/roomba.html ) has a link to a well-known, national Roomba dealer. If you’re thinking about buying Roomba, you might want to check them out. They sell brand new Roombas, complete with warranty at one of the best prices on the Internet.
Q. What if I still have questions?
A. If you still have questions about Roomba, you can send me your questions. My e-mail address is on my website ( bulldoggadgets.com ) I’m not a Roomba technical support specialist, but as a satisfied user I can tell you what I know about Roomba.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tim W. is a Roomba fanatic and a gadget collector! See Tim’s favorite gadgets at: bulldoggadgets.com bulldoggadgets.com
Looking to purchase Roomba (brand new, with warranty and satisfaction guarantee) at the lowest prices on the Internet? Check out: bulldoggadgets.com/roomba.html bulldoggadgets.com/roomba.html
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