Roombas are designed to make cleaning easy, but can they protect themselves from dangerous falls?
In this guide, we’ll explore how the Roomba detects and avoids stairs, and share important tips and tricks on how to keep your robot vacuum safe from spilling around your home, which will reduce your Roomba spills.
Do Roombas Fall Down Stairs?
Roomba robot vacuums are designed to avoid falling off cliffs or down stairs. Thanks to advanced cliff sensors, these vacuums can detect drop-offs and prevent accidents, paired with mapping technology, the sensors help ensure your Roomba stays safe as it cleans.
These cliff sensors are located on the bottom of the vacuum. They work by conveying infrared signs to gauge the distance to the floor, detecting any edges or drops. When the Roomba senses a drop-off, it automatically backs away, avoiding stairs or edges.
In the early days of Roomba, there were reports of these vacuums falling down stairs. But thanks to continuous advancements in technology, that’s no longer a concern. Today’s Roomba models use state-of-the-art sensors, and some even come with onboard cameras. As a result, you can trust that your Roomba won’t fall down the stairs.
That said, it’s as yet vital to focus on your Roomba to keep up with its exhibition. Some users have noticed that certain models can mistake dark carpets for cliffs, causing the vacuum to get stuck. Remember this to ensure your Roomba moves along as expected.
How to Stop Your Roomba from Falling Down Stairs?
The way you care for your Roomba plays a major role in how long it will last. When properly maintained, your Roomba can provide great value for the money you’ve spent. However, accidents like falling down stairs can damage important parts or even cause severe breakage if it drops from a high height. So, how can you prevent your Roomba from falling down the stairs?
Here are some simple ways to keep your Roomba safe:
- Clean the cliff sensors regularly: Roombas have sensors to detect drops, but they need to be clean to work properly.
- Use virtual walls: These barriers create invisible boundaries, preventing your Roomba from going near the stairs.
- Replace faulty sensors: If your Roomba’s cliff sensors are not working, it’s time to replace them to avoid any accidents.
- Update your Roomba’s map: Keeping the map of your home up to date ensures your Roomba avoids dangerous areas.
- Block the staircase: Placing a physical barrier can stop your Roomba from getting close to the stairs.
Clean The Cliff Sensors Regularly
iRobot recommends regular cleaning for your Roomba robot vacuum. Since Roombas work by picking up dust and dirt, buildup is inevitable. To keep your device in top condition, clean it at least once a week or bi-weekly.
One key area to clean is the cliff sensors. These sensors can become clogged with dust and debris, preventing them from detecting infrared signals properly. If the sensors are dirty, your Roomba may mistakenly fall down stairs.
To clean the cliff sensors, flip your Roomba upside down. You’ll find the sensors on both sides of the caster wheel and near the front bumper. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe away any dust or grime that has gathered.
Regularly cleaning your Roomba can help avoid common issues and extend its lifespan. Besides the cliff sensors, don’t forget to clean the charging contacts, brushes, and filter.
Use Virtual Walls
If your Roomba doesn’t have cliff sensors or you want to keep it away from stairs, the virtual wall is an excellent solution. This gadget makes an imperceptible boundary that keeps your Roomba from crossing specific areas. It ensures your robot vacuum stays inside the put-down stopping points, getting it far from places like stairs or cliffs.
The virtual wall works by sending out infrared signals that guide the Roomba on where it’s allowed to go. Using the virtual wall or halo modes, you can control which areas your Roomba avoids, ensuring it doesn’t clean unwanted spaces.
Powered by batteries, the virtual wall offers adaptability in where you place it. This makes it simple to close off areas, similar to steps, and keep your Roomba securely cleaning the spaces you need it to.
Replace Faulty Sensors
Most newer Roomba models, including the 600, 700, 800, 900, I, J, and S series, come with built-in cliff sensors. However, over time, one or more of these sensors may stop working. Replacing the faulty sensors is key to maintaining your Roomba’s performance and extending its lifespan.
If one of your Roomba’s cliff sensors is broken, there’s a high risk of it tumbling off a ledge or stairs. While replacing the entire unit is an option, fixing the sensors with a few affordable replacements is usually a better choice. The sooner you replace any faulty sensors, the better it will be for your robot vacuum.
Roomba cliff sensors are inexpensive and easy to find. Just be sure to buy the right sensors for your specific model, as they are not universally compatible.
Update Your Roomba’s Map
The latest Roomba models feature advanced imprint mapping technology, making it easy for them to map your entire home. These Roomba robot vacuums divide your home into zones and allow you to name them. You can even create no-go zones to keep the Roomba away from areas like stairs.
If you’ve just set up a new Roomba, simply send it on a cleaning mission. As it cleans, it will map out your home, and after a few runs, you’ll see a clear map in the iRobot app. From there, you can customize the map and set up restricted zones.
If you ever rearrange your furniture, you can reset the Roomba’s map and let it re-learn your home’s layout. The robot learns quickly, so you’ll have an updated map in no time.
Block The Staircase
How often have you found yourself resorting to manual methods? Like when Alexa refuses to turn on the lights, and you have to walk over to the switch to turn them on yourself? Sometimes, going manual feels more reliable, just like using a physical barrier on the staircase.
You don’t need a large barrier to keep your Roomba safe. Simple items like a rug, toy, or seam binder can do the trick. Just make sure that your Roomba detects and avoids these objects. If it doesn’t, you could risk the robot going over the barrier and tumbling down.
To be safe, use an object that your Roomba cannot get past. This way, it will stay clear of the stairs and complete its scheduled tasks while you’re away—without any risk of accidents.
Final Thoughts
Roomba robot vacuums are designed not to fall down stairs. They come equipped with cliff sensors that prevent them from tumbling over edges or steps. However, in rare cases, these sensors can malfunction or become blocked by dirt, which might lead to the Roomba accidentally falling.
It’s important to note that if your Roomba does fall down the stairs, it isn’t covered by the limited warranty. This type of incident is considered “user negligence,” so you cannot use the warranty to request a replacement. To prevent such accidents, make sure to clean your Roomba regularly. You can also use the Roomba’s virtual wall to keep it safely away from stairs or edges.