Roombas are fantastic robot vacuum cleaners with good battery life. Many people wonder how long does it take for Roomba to charge the battery fully?
If you’re about to purchase a new Roomba, it is good to know about all the aspects of the robot vacuum, including the battery life and how long it takes to charge the battery fully.
This becomes particularly important when a single charge cannot fully clean your entire house.
How Long Does Roomba Take To Charge?
Generally, Roombas take at least 2 hours to charge from zero to 100 percent fully. Depending on other factors like the age of the battery, number of charging cycles completed, and type of wall outlet, the time may vary slightly.
Not every Roomba robot vacuums have the same battery capacity. For example, the Roomba i7 comes with 1800 mAh Li-ion battery, whereas the Roomba i8 comes with a 2210 mAh Li-ion battery.
Also, specific models of Roomba come with a battery capacity as high as 3000 to 3200 mAh.
It’s a no-brainer that the 1800 mAh battery charges faster than a 3000 mAh battery. So the Roomba i7 should charge much faster clean when compared with Roomba i8.
When you unbox a Roomba, it will only have a 30 to 50 percent charge.
Before using the Roomba for the first time, it is advised that you charge the battery for at least 12 hours. This way, you can ensure the battery stays healthy and retains its capacity much longer.
Roomba Battery Capacity
Below is the battery capacity of popular Roomba models.
- Roomba® i1 Lithium ion 1800 mAH (Li-ion)
- Roomba® i3 Lithium ion 1800 mAH (Li-ion)
- Roomba® i6 Lithium ion 1800 mAH (Li-ion)
- Roomba® i7 Lithium ion 1800 mAH (Li-ion)
- Roomba® e Series Lithium ion 1800 mAH (Li-ion)
- Roomba® i8 Lithium ion 2210 mAH (Li-ion)
- Roomba® i4 Lithium ion 2210 mAH (Li-ion)
- Roomba® 600/800/960 Lithium Ion 1800 mAh (Li-Ion)
What Is Roomba’s Battery Life?
A Roomba battery at full capacity can do 2 hours of cleaning. As the battery ages, its capacity drops, reducing the total cleaning hours.
Roomba battery with a good capacity can clean up to 2000 ft.² in a single session without needing to charge it.
To maintain maximum capacity, you should take good care of the battery
As per the official documentation, the original Roomba battery should last at least 2 to 3 years before it needs to be replaced.
For maximum battery lifespan, you should only use the official Roomba battery. Although third-party batteries are cheaper than the original one, the original batteries last longer and come with a warranty.
Whether you use Roomba without connecting to WiFi or connecting to Wi-Fi does not affect the battery life, and it has negligible impact.
How To Know If Roomba Is Fully Charged?
The easiest way to know if your Roomba is fully charged is to look at the charging indicator LED. The LED should turn green or white if the battery is fully charged.
The LED indicator should turn green when fully charged for Roomba models such as the 600, 700, 800, and 900 series.
On the other hand, the Roomba model, such as the i, e, and j series’ LED indicators will turn white when fully charged.
If you use one of the newer models of Roomba, you need to press the CLEAN button once to know the battery status.
Find the detailed guide on knowing if your Roomba battery is charging.
How To Maximize Roomba Battery Life?
Are you concerned about your Roomba’s battery life? If yes, below are some of the tips to maximize the Roomba battery life:
- Do not charge Roomba out of direct sunlight. Ensure the docking station is not placed directly under the sunlight and that it charges at room temperature.
- Only use the original Roomba battery compatible with your Roomba robot vacuum.
- Keep the Roomba home base always connected to the wall outlet.
- If you do not use your Rooba for a few weeks, place it in ship mode and try to operate it in a cool environment.
- Ensure you fully charge the battery to 100% at least once every 4 to 6 months for the best performance.
- Put your Roomba in idle mode when not in use for a prolonged period.
My Roomba Charges Slowly
Under ideal conditions, Roomba is supposed to charge fully in about two hours. But due to various factors, the charging time may take longer.
If your Roomba takes more than 2 to 3 hours to fully charge, below are some tips you should try.
Underneath the Roomba and on the Home station, you will find two contact points through which Roomba charge. If the contact points are covered with dust, it will make Roomba not charge or takes too long.
Gently clean the contact points with a microfiber cleaning cloth and see if that fixes the problem.
You are also recommended to check the wall outlet, battery charging cycle, and battery capacity to ensure everything is okay.
If your Roomba does not charge at all, check how to fix it.
Is it OK to leave Roomba plugged in all the time?
Yes. iRobot recommends leaving Rooma Home Base, or Clean Base plugged in all the time for the best battery performance and life. This way, the Roomba can charge when required without any difficulties.
If you do not use Roomba for many weeks or months, you may unplug the docking station. Also, do not forget to remove the battery from the robot vacuum before keeping it idle for a prolonged period.
How Long Does It Take Roomba to Charge the First Time?
Right after you unbox the Roomba, the manufacturer recommends you charge it for 12 hours straight before using it for the first time.
Charging for 12 hours for the first time helps to improve the battery’s health and ensures the battery is sufficiently charged for the first use.
What’s Next?
Roomba robot vacuums with optimum battery capacity should take no more than two hours to charge fully. Once fully charged, it should run for about two hours continuously or clean 2,000 sq. ft.
Before you leave, see how to use Roomba to clean multiple floors and useful Alexa Roomba commands to control the robot vacuum with voice.