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Roomba

Roomba

How does Roomba know where to clean? Do I have to program it?

There’s nothing to program. Roomba’s sensors figure out the size and shape of your room, and continually readjusts its cleaning pattern until it has covered your whole floor, multiple times.

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Will Roomba clean as well as I do?

Roomba is a robot, so it uses a different cleaning method than you would. Its compact size enables it to reach under furniture and other hard-to-reach places. Plus because Roomba works at the press of a button, you can use it more frequently to help you maintain a cleaner home—all week long.

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How does it work and how does it know where it is going?

Roomba is a multi purpose, multi surface vacuuming robot. It automatically adjusts itself to suit the surface it is cleaning, be it carpet or hard floor … press a button and Roomba does the rest. It sizes up your room and automatically calculates the time required to clean it - and then does just that, sensing finding and eliminating dirt and debris. Roomba's Dirt Detect feature automatically provides more intense cleaning focusing on dirtier areas.

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What powers Roomba?

Roomba is powered by a NiMH (Nickel-metal-hydride) Rechargeable Battery.

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How many square feet will a Roomba cover on one charge?

Roomba Discovery Series cleans an estimate of about 1000 square feet on a single charge, depending on floor surface and other factors

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What is spot cleaning?

SPOT Cleaning is a cycle that provides focused cleaning in an area up to 3' in diameter. It is perfect for cleaning up dry spills and other messes, or for high traffic areas. Spot Cleaning takes 1-2 minutes. The SPOT Cleaning cycle is available on both models we sell.

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Does Roomba clean corners and along walls?

Yes. Roomba's spinning, edge-cleaning Side Brush cleans next to walls and other tough-to-reach places.

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Will Roomba clean under beds and couches?

If your bed or furniture is 4" or more off the floor, Roomba will happily clean underneath.

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Can it pick up pet hair? Will it startle my pet?

Roomba is great for keeping up pet hair; its counter-rotating brushes actually pull the hair out of rugs and off your hard floor. Everyone’s pet is different, but most tend to react with curiousity at first, then soon after get used to it. Say goodbye to pet-hair tumbleweeds.

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What is the Roomba home base?

The Self-Charging Home Base, which only comes with the 530 and 560 series, recharges a Roomba APS Battery in about three hours with the APS Fast Charge (included). Roomba uses a sophisticated IR tracking mechanism to drive back to the Home Base at the end of a cleaning cycle or when the Roomba battery is running low.

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What is the virtual wall?

The Virtual Wall is an accessory which is placed in doorway openings and other areas you don't want Roomba to venture, keeping Roomba cleaning where you want it. When adjusted properly, it "blocks" Roomba from entering the restricted area. Roomba cleans right where you want it to clean! The Virtual Wall emits a harmless, invisible, infrared beam up to 13 feet long that Roomba regards as a barrier and will not cross. The beam is keyhole shaped and can be as many as 3 feet wide (at the farthest point from the Virtual Wall Unit). The Virtual Wall can be placed in a doorway to confine Roomba to one room, or it can be used to close off a large open area so Roomba only cleans the area that is soiled. Each Roomba model comes with at least one Virtual Wall.

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How do I change Roomba's filter?

Remove the dust bin from Roomba. Next, pull lightly on the yellow portion of the dust bin. Roomba's filter will slide right out and can be cleaned or changed.

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What maintenance does Roomba require?

Roomba requires very little maintenance, but there are a few things you can do to keep Roomba running at peak performance. After each use, you should:

  • Empty Roomba's Particle Bin. Please see owners manual for details.
  • Check to make sure the Air Filter (attached to the Filter Door on the underside of Roomba's Particle Bin) is in good shape and isn't punctured. If it is, then replace the Air Filter.
  • After every 10 floor cleanings*: Remove and clean the two Main Brushes. Make sure to clean the ends of the Main Cleaning Brushes (the Brush axles) as hair and other debris can tend to build up there that can damage Roomba if left to accumulate. Reinstall the Brushes when finished.
  • Verify that there is nothing wound around the Spinning Side Brush. If there is, remove it. If you need to, you can remove the Side Brush. Verify that there is no debris on the Wheels or their axles that prevents them from turning normally.
  • Check for any dirt or fuzz obstructing the Cliff Sensors (the four openings located underneath Roomba, on the bottom edge of the Front Bumper).
  • If you have a pet or long hair in your home, you may need to remove hair and other debris from Roomba more frequently, with a special emphasis on the Main Cleaning Brushes. Remove and clean the Main Brushes (including their ends, or axles) every five floor cleanings to prevent build-up of hair, which can degrade cleaning performance. The Main Brush axles cannot be fully cleaned without removing the Brushes from Roomba.
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What is the difference between the 530 and 560 models?

The 560 series has a scheduler built in and also has devices called lighthouses. The lighthouses are placed at the exits of the rooms you want cleaned. After cleaning the first room Roomba will find the next lighthouse and then clean that room. 2 lighthouses are provided as standard with the 560 model.

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What do the lights on the homebase tell me?

There are two lights on the Home Base. One is the power light, the other is charge light. Green Power Light. The power light on Roomba Home Base tells you that the Home Base is plugged in and operating properly. This light must be on in order for Roomba to charge. Green Charge Light. The charge light on the Roomba Home Base tells you that Roomba is successfully docked on the Roomba Home Base. If the charge light is not on, Roomba is not making complete contact with the Home Base, and will not charge.

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