Roomba Not Charging? (A Simple Fix)

Roomba might fail to charge if the charging connectors are dusty, power outlet is faulty or the battery is malfunctioning.

That’s the main reason.

Almost every online article and YouTube video guide will tell you the same. and of course, that’s true…

But in this article, I will structure this with a real experience from one of our readers Jessica who shared it with us in an email.

I will discuss how she managed to get rid of this horrible situation and what she exactly did.

Let’s dive into it…

Here’s what Jessica shared with us.

“I grabbed Roomba 694 vac from Walmart last month and was pumped AF about its performance. But then, a few days back, I ran into some weird-a** issue. My Roomba stopped charging up and I was like, “WTF, bro?”

So, I hit up the internet for some solutions. Every article and vid I came across mentioned the same damn things: dusty connectors, janky-ass power outlets, or a busted battery. Like, no doubt those could be the probs, but none of them worked!

First, I checked the connectors. Them shits were clean as a whistle. Ain’t no dirt or dust in sight. Next up, I checked the outlet. That was working like a boss. No loose wires or power surges. So, it wasn’t the outlet that was the issue.

After that, I checked on the battery. That shit was working just fine. It was holding a charge and everything.

At that point, I was bored outta my mind and hella confused. But then, like outta nowhere, I had a moment of clarity! I noticed a tiny-ass buildup of dirt and debris on the underside of the Roomba.

So, I grabbed a rag and some cleaning solution and got to work. I scrubbed away every last bit of dirt and grime from my Roomba like I was performing some kind of sacred ritual.

Once I was done cleaning, I put my Roomba back on its charging dock, praying for a miracle. And wouldn’t you know it? That miracle happened! The charging process started up smooth as butter and my Roomba’s battery started filling up with fresh new energy.

I did it, y’all! I could practically hear my Roomba thanking me for saving it from a life of battery-depleted misery.

Anyway, enough about me.

I gotta give props to you guys for opening up a platform for readers to share their experiences and opinions. That’s dope as hell, and I’d be hella grateful if you published my story on Homespoiler. Keep being awesome, my peeps!”—Jessica, New York

 

Well, let’s break down everything that you exactly need to do!

How to fix charging issue on a Roomba?

 

Note, this simple thing—’cleaning the charging ports with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol’, fixes this issue in 95% of cases,

However, if this doesn’t work for you, further troubleshooting may be necessary, such as replacing the battery or cleaning the caster wheel.

Here is the process:

♦ Use another power outlet

Check the power outlet and cable.

If you suspect that the power outlet you are using is faulty or the cable is damaged, try using a different outlet or a new power cable to charge your Roomba.

♦ Clean the charging connectors

Take a dry cloth and clean the charging connectors on your Roomba and dock.

This can help remove any dirt or debris that might be preventing the Roomba from charging.

♦ Clean the caster wheel

Caster wheel aims to keep the Roomba at the proper height and provide sufficient space under the device to sweep away dirt and dust.

If it’s dirty, it can prevent the Roomba from making a proper connection with the dock. So, clean the caster wheel with a dry cloth.

♦ Remove and then reinstall the battery

Resetting the battery often resolves the charging issue. Possibly the battery may have been dislodged from its original position.

To check this, open the back cover plate, remove the battery, and reinstall it.

♦ Factory reset your Roomba

Chances are that a software bug is causing this issue. (Remember, it’s rare)

If this is the case, a factory reset may be able to help. Thankfully, we have detailed instructions for correctly resetting a Roomba, which you can find at this link

Unfortunately, if none of the troubleshooting steps mentioned above resolve your Roomba’s charging issue, you may need to replace the battery or charging dock. Alternatively, you can visit your nearest vacuum repair shop for further assistance.

Tips for Preventing Charging Issues in the Future

“Prevention is better than cure.”

While some charging issues can be unavoidable, there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of encountering them in the future.

Here are some tips to help prevent charging problems with your Roomba:

• Clean the charging connectors regularly.
• Make sure to use a functioning power outlet.
• Keep the Roomba and dock in a dry, dust-free area.
• Make sure to use the original battery and dock for your model.

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F.A.Q.s

Q. What are some common signs that my Roomba isn’t charging?

Sometimes, your vacuum may not be charging because it is already fully charged or is currently in the midst of an internal working process.

However, there are a few signs to look out for to ensure this:

• The battery indicator is low!
• Roomba’s charging status light is not illuminated.
• Roomba throwing charging errors like 3, 5, or 8

Q. How to know if your Roomba is charging?

When the Roomba returns to the home base station, a battery icon will appear on the iRobot vacuum, and the charging light on the dock station will also illuminate. Still, it may turn off due to a power-saving feature.

Keep in mind that not all the Roomba models work similarly. In some models, the power light blinks for a few seconds after plugging in and then stops. In others, like the i3 and i7 series, their light indicators are off when charging, which is perfectly fine.

However, I’ve created a table to share the battery status indicator for every Roomba model to keep things simple and helpful.

The top of this table will have older models like the Roomba 500 or 600, while the bottom will have more recent models like the i3 and i7:

Q. The charger light on my Roomba won’t stay on- what could be causing this?

Like other electronics, Roomba provides feedback to the user when charging. If you don’t come back after a specific time, you won’t know.

This is true for the Roomba charging point, but if your charger has the energy-saving feature turned on, the light that displays everything is working will turn off after 4 seconds.

You can observe the battery status by pushing the “CLEAN” button to see if your Roomba is charging correctly. The level will show that the device is receiving power correctly.