Roomba is a robotic vacuum cleaner. It cleans your house automatically and then returns to the Home Base for charging. But, sometimes, Roomba starts docking and undocking.
Most users, including me, faced this issue. However, I never throw my devices if they start malfunctioning. Instead, I apply different tricks and search for various solutions. Resultantly, my machines start working.
The undocking problem arises due to some error. Therefore, it is necessary to find the root cause and fix it.
In this guide, I would tell you how to troubleshoot your device. If you are eager to fix your robot instead of throwing it in the trash, follow me till the end.
Solution#1. Clear Obstacles
As you know, Roomba travels through your household. If something is obstructing the way, it faces difficulty reaching the dock.
Hence, you should remove extra objects from its path. There should be no obstacle in front of or around the Home Base.
There should be no stickers, tape, or paint at the bottom of the vacuum or at the surface of the docking station. Now, press the button and check if the issue is solved.
Solution#2. Relocate the Home Base
A wrong location of the Home Base can also cause this issue. So, you should consider relocating it. Place the docking station in a very different place.
But, keep it near a free electrical outlet. Also, make sure nothing is obstructing the pathway or hiding the dock. Check your robot’s behavior again.
Solution#3. Clean the Sensors
One of the major reasons is dirty sensors. It happens when the users do not clean their appliances regularly. Your robot needs a basic cleaning after every cycle and detailed cleaning once a week.
Otherwise, the dust traps inside small holes or blocks the sensors. So, clean all the sensors and contact points on the robot and its Home Base. You have to clean the front/rear cliff, bin, and inner, and outer sensors.
Solution#4. Power Cycle Your Roomba
A power cycle or restart refreshes your device by discharging. It does not cause any loss of data or settings. Here is a quick way;
- Press and hold the “Clean” button on your robot cleaner.
- Release it after 25 seconds. The LEDs should start spinning in white color. This means the restart process is going on.
- It may require a couple of minutes to complete the restart. A solid green indicator confirms the completion of the process.
- Now, you can check its functioning again.
Solution#5. Set a New Path
The problem can also be solved by creating a new path. This robot cleaner detects its path automatically. However, you need to create a new path in the mobile app. Here are the guiding steps;
- Open the “iRobot Home” App on your mobile device.
- Navigate to the bottom of the screen and hit the “Smart Mapping” button.
- Select “New Map” and then tap on the “Customize” button.
- Click “Start Training”. The device should follow the new map correctly.
- The docking issue will be resolved if it was related to the wrong mapping.
Solution#6. Reset the Home Base
It is another effective way to solve the matter. Try a factory reset. However, it deletes all the settings, data, and schedules. The method is very simple;
- Open the “iRobot Home” app on your smartphone.
- Connect your phone and Roomba to the same Wifi network.
- Go to “Settings” in the app. Next, click the “Remove” button and then tap “Factory reset”.
- Finally, confirm the reset by clicking your robot name.
This process will take at least 3 minutes to complete. Wait until the device comes ON. - Set up the robot as you did for the first time. Now, check its functioning.
Solution#7. Reset Your Robot Cleaner
If a basic restart does not help, try a reset. It deletes the data. Hence, you will be reprogramming the device again. Follow these steps correctly;
- Place the robot cleaner on its docking station. Connect the charger directly to the robot if it does not stay on the Home Base.
- Now, press and hold the “Clean” button for 10 seconds.
- Release the button when a blue message “r 5Y” appears on the display.
- The vacuum should turn OFF at this point giving a Beep sound.
- Once, the reset process is complete, test the device again.
Solution#8. Hard Reboot Your Roomba
If still, it keeps docking and undocking, hard reboot your robot. Here is how to do it;
- Turn over your robot to reach its bottom. Remove the side brush.
- Open the 4 screws to release the bottom cover.
- The battery is visible when the cover is detached.
- Pull up the 2 black stripes to remove the battery from your device.
- Wait for 60 seconds almost.
- Now, insert the battery again. Also, look for any signs of damage to the internal components.
- Screw the bottom cover and turn ON your machine. Watch this video by iRobot for visual guidance on removing or replacing the battery.
FAQs Regarding Roomba Robot Vacuum
Do you have further queries regarding your robot vacuum cleaner? Kindly read the following common questions.
Why my Roomba cannot navigate properly?
Insufficient light is one of the biggest causes of your Roomba cannot navigate properly. Turn ON the lights in your room or let in the daylight. Moreover, remove obstructions in the robot’s pathway. Also, clean the sensors and camera to ensure navigation.
How long a Roomba robot vacuum lasts?
Roomba robot cleaners can last as long as 5 years. However, lifespan also depends on the quality and price of the model. Proper maintenance is very important to increase the efficiency and lifespan of your appliance.
Does Roomba robot cleaner have any cons/disadvantages?
Robot cleaners do have some cons or disadvantages. The biggest con is that the Roomba vacuum cannot clean dirt on the edge of the rugs. Moreover, it does not clean your house 100% just like manual vacuums. Another reported drawback is that robot cleaners are slow to clean your house. They require much time as compared to normal vacuums.
Also review: Why does my dirt devil keep shutting off-Best Solutions
Concluding Words
I have suggested multiple solutions. If you have applied them correctly, your Roomba will stop docking and undocking. If nothing helps, you must contact the manufacturer.
