Roombas and other robot vacuum cleaners have revolutionized the way we clean.
And we love them for it.
But they aren’t cheap, and that has people wondering if they’re worth the high price tags, especially in terms of how long they tend to last.
Roombas usually last between 4 and 6 years. The batteries may not last quite as long, but even they should last for a few hundred charges/cleaning cycles before they need to be replaced. Keeping your Roomba clean and charged and using it frequently can help extend its life.
In this article, we’ll dive a little more deeply into how long Roombas usually last and how long the batteries work before dying.
We’ll also discuss how much cleaning you can get done with a single charge and give you some tips for prolonging the life of your battery.
So let’s get to it!
How Long Do Roombas Last?
No matter which version you get, the iRobot Roomba isn’t an inexpensive little gadget.
And any time you spend hundreds of dollars on something, you want to make sure it’s going to last.
Luckily, though they have high price tags, most Roombas last for at least 4 to 6 years.
With proper care and maintenance, some users have extended their lifespan quite a bit longer.
If you buy your Roomba from a licensed retailer, you also have the option of getting one of iRobot’s Protection Plans.
These plans help protect your investment against defects, damages, accidents, and more.
There are several options to choose from, including a continuous monthly protection plan or one of the single-purchase plans.
You can purchase these for terms of up to 5 years.
Editor’s pick: 10 Easy Ways To Get Roomba To Clean The Whole House
How Long Should a Roomba Battery Last?
According to user accounts and independent research I’ve conducted, a Roomba’s battery will usually last between 200 and 400 charging cycles.
But the actual number of cycles depends on how well you take care of the Roomba and what series it is.
It seems like the newer, more advanced Roomba vacuums tend to lean towards the higher end of the spectrum.
On the other hand, the older models don’t seem to last quite as long. On average, most batteries last 18 months to 2 years.
How Long Will a Single Battery Charge Last?
Of all the different Roomba models, the 900 and s9 series hold the lengthiest charge.
iRobot breaks down its different vacuums and provides the battery life for each one here. The highlights from that breakdown are as follows:
- 900 series: Up to 2 hours
- s9 series: Up to 2 hours
- WiFi-connected e series: Up to 90 minutes
- WiFi-connected 600 series: Up to 90 minutes
- WiFi-connected 800 series: Up to 90 minutes
- 500 series: Up to an hour
- Non-WiFi-connected 600 series: Up to an hour
- 700 series: Up to an hour
- Non-WiFi-connected 800 series: Up to an hour
These times are for the different Roombas when they’re operating at peak performance. But how exactly do you keep them running at peak performance?
Tips for Extending the Life of a Roomba
There are several things you can do that’ll help you extend both the battery life and the overall life of your iRobot Roomba.
Note: These tips are for all the different Roomba models; however, most of the tips apply to any robot vacuums, whether they’re part of the Roomba family or not.
Use Your Roomba Often
This tip may seem counterproductive.
After all, the more you use something, the quicker it drains the battery, right?
Not in this case.
Because Roombas are rechargeable and use a specific type of Lithium-ion battery, they last longer when you regularly use them.
That means you should always keep your battery charged to full capacity in between uses and vacuum your floors regularly so that the battery gets used.
Hey, if that’s not a great incentive to clean your floors, we don’t know what is!
Completely Drain the Battery Occasionally
Another important thing you can do to keep your Roomba running smoothly is to deplete the battery completely every once in a while.
You don’t have to do this every single time you clean. But at least once or twice a month, you should run the Roomba until the battery is drained completely before recharging it.
Charging the battery too often when it’s only partially depleted will kill it quicker.
If you don’t have enough floors to clean to drain the battery entirely, take the Roomba next door and clean the neighbor’s house or just let it keep running over and over your floors until the battery finally dies.
Then charge it to max power once again.
Learn more: How often should you run your robot vacuum?
Keep It Out of the Heat and Sun
As with most electronics and household appliances, your Roomba shouldn’t be stored in a hot area or somewhere where the sun beats down on it all the time.
Too much exposure to sunlight or heat can drain your Roomba’s battery.
It’s also damaging to other electronic components of the Roomba, not just the battery.
As a general rule, you should keep all electronics out of the sun as much as possible.
The more tiny, intricate parts something has in it, the further away from the sun it needs to be.
Replace/Clean Components Every So Often
There are specific components on your Roomba that you should clean or replace frequently. These include:
- Bin: Clean as often as necessary.
- Filters: Clean as often as necessary; replace every 3 to 6 months.
- Brushes: Clean as often as necessary, replace every 6 months.
- Sensors: Replace every 2 years.
- Battery: Replace every 2 years.
Be sure to only use iRobot spare parts.
If you use any other parts or start tinkering with “repairs” that aren’t approved by iRobot, you could be invalidating your warranty.
So, be careful replacing and repairing things on your own.
You can tell the difference in the parts by checking out the brand name.
For example, iRobot-approved products will say iRobot Roomba Authentic Replacement Parts right there on the box, as is the case with the filters in the link.
If it doesn’t say iRobot Roomba Authentic Replacement Parts, it’s not officially sold by iRobot and could void your warranty. Check with iRobot if you have any questions.
If you’re ever in doubt about whether something is iRobot-sanctioned, visit the iRobot store on Amazon and shop from there directly.
Keep Your Brushes Clean
As we’ve already mentioned, you should replace your brushes about every 6 months. However, in between replacements, you need to keep them clean.
iRobot recommends cleaning your brushes once a week. This video on iRobot’s official Youtube page gives you step-by-step directions on how to remove your brushes for cleaning:
It’s a simple process that doesn’t take long and can extend the overall life of your Roomba.
Read also: How Often Do You Need To Empty Your Roomba? 10 Steps + Tips
Remove the Battery if You’re Not Going To Use It for Extended Periods
Finally, if you know that you won’t be using your Roomba for an extended period, such as while you’re away on vacation, charge the battery completely.
Then take it out of the Roomba and store it somewhere cool and out of the sun.
I don’t know the science behind it, but removing the battery when something isn’t going to be in use for a long time is better for an electronic device than leaving it in but unused.
Final Thoughts
Buying a Roomba can be a major investment.
But if you keep its brushes clean, use the vacuum regularly, change out old parts, and do all you can to keep it in good condition, it can last for years.
The batteries won’t last quite as long, so you may have to change them after a couple of years, but all in all, Roombas are usually worth the money.