It’s true that robot vacuum cleaners have stormed into smart homes everywhere.
Almost every smart homeowner has simplified their housecleaning tasks by using one.
Undoubtedly, they run flawlessly!
Despite their brilliant effectiveness, there can be occasional challenges when using robot vacuum cleaners!
In this article, I’ll break down the 6 most common problems with robot vacuum cleaners.
Editor’s Note: This article is written by smart home enthusiast and full-time blogger, Anthony Fried. He writes about home tech, smart homes, and smart gadgets to help others make informed decisions when it comes to building a smart home. Explore his latest blog articles at smarthousewizard.com for valuable guidance.
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item using an affiliate link I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Affiliates do not influence my recommendations. Read my disclosures for more information.
Table of Contents
Problem 1: Robot vacuums get stuck in tight spaces
The robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with intelligent sensors. However, their ability to smoothly navigate tight spaces is limited.
So, don’t be surprised if you find your favorite robot vacuum cleaner getting stuck under the couch.
Fortunately, getting rid of obstacles can easily resolve this problem.
Missing spots while cleaning the room is another common issue with robot vacs, even if it’s mapped properly.
A solution to this problem would be investing in a much better mapping robot vacuum.
Problem 2: Robot vacuums don’t feature powerful suction
Typically, an average robot vacuum cleaner has 1500 to 3000 Pa suction power.
Put simply, good suction power allows robot vacs to clean carpets and pick up pet hair easily.
The problem with robot vacuum cleaners is that they don’t have adequate suction power.
Because of this, your robot vacuum will often struggle with picking up stubborn pet hair, especially on carpets.
Problem 3: Robot vacuums run out of charge quickly
Most robot vacuum cleaners have a low battery life.
Before they can even complete the cleaning, robot vacs run out of their battery juice.
And, they would return to their docking base in the middle of cleaning.
The good thing, however, is that they would come back to where they left off and resume cleaning!
Besides, it’s worth noting that their battery lasts 2-5 years before a battery replacement becomes necessary.
Problem 4: Robot vacuums require weekly maintenance
Robotic vacuums might be automatic, but they often require maintenance to run flawlessly.
But it all depends on its cleaning sessions – how often you run it.
So if you run it daily for deep cleaning your every floor, it would require a proper cleanup!
It means you’ll need to clean its brushes, sensors, and filters covered with dust.
Untangling the trapped hair around its brushes and wheels is a real headache – an experience only pet owners would understand!
If you’ve got the routine down, it’s a 10-minute cleaning job!
Problem 5: Robot vacuums have Wi-Fi and app problems
Robotic vacuums work with the Wi-Fi connection, and they come with their smart apps.
Unlike regular vacuums, robot vacuum cleaners allow you to run them using the smart app.
But you can’t ignore the problems that come with using the smart app.
Sometimes, it won’t connect to the Wi-Fi successfully. Other times, the servers will be down.
Besides, you will need a good Wi-Fi connection with excellent signals.
Usually, these issues are easy to fix if you know how to troubleshoot them.
Problem 6: Robot vacuums can be expensive
Depending on the model, robot vacuums can be super expensive.
Though some models are cheap, the premium and high-end robot vacuums work amazingly better.
Remember that a premium price means better performance.
The price range for robot vacuums tends to be a tad higher compared to regular vacuums.
Despite being on the higher end of the price, it remains a preferred choice for many smart homeowners.
Recommended robot vacuums
Editor’s Note: I’ve personally owned the Deebot N79S, and although it was nice, it does suffer from a couple of these problems. I currently have the Roomba (iRobot) i3 and it is much better and I recommend it. I also reviewed the SwitchBot K10+ robot vacuum and it is worth checking out. Here are some other popular robot vacuums:
Final Thoughts
In the end, robot vacuum cleaners are a great addition to smart homes. Cleaning becomes a whole lot easier with these robot vacs. But, they’ve got their limitations. Still, when you weigh the hassle they save by doing your housekeeping for you, it’s totally worth it.
