Can A Roomba Get Wet?

When your Roomba is busy working away it can be easy for it to accidentally come into contact with water or liquids that are present on the floor, but can a Roomba get wet? Whether it’s a small amount of water or a much larger puddle, what should you do if your Roomba gets wet?

Water damage can cause your Roomba to become ineffective as it is only designed to clean dry flooring like any traditional vacuums. The filter is not designed to withstand wet and dirty conditions which is why you need to clean up any food or spills from your floor if you plan to let your Roomba loose in that room.

Can a Roomba Get Wet?

If you are the owner of an animal or pet that is prone to shedding then your Roomba is probably a well-loved investment that your household benefits from on a daily occurrence.

The Roomba has become a staple piece of cleaning equipment for thousands of homes, but the chances of yours coming into contact with liquid is higher than you might realize, but can a Roomba get wet?

Automatic robot hoovers have no way to detect if there are liquids present and therefore they will run straight through any food, liquids, or mess that is on the floor which can lead to unrepairable damage when left untreated.

Wet Roomba Symptoms and Faults

So can a Roomba get wet, and what should you do if yours has accidentally gotten into contact with liquid? If you suspect your robot vacuum has come into contact with water then you may notice some of the following signs.

The most common and obvious fault is with the movements your Roomba is or is not making.

  • You may spot a constant repetitive clockwise circle movement.
  • Limited directional actions
  • A complete lack of activity

can a roomba get wet

If your Roomba is suddenly unable to power on or has a sudden and unexplainable lack of suction then this could also be related to internal water damage. The battery may have been affected too if it struggles to hold a charge or simply refuses to charge and dock.

Most of the time when water or liquid enters your Roomba it will affect the equipment’s motherboard which will have a knock-on effect on the motors and sensors that are needed to power your Roomba.

The sensors stop your Roomba from running into obstacles such as furniture in your home and without these the movements will be affected and perform poorly.

Water damage can also cause the wheels and motor to become defective as well as cause damage to the internal dust filter.

How To Fix A Wet Roomba

Now we know the telltale signs that your Roomba has come into contact with liquid, is there any way to fix the problem yourself?

Usually, you can diagnose the specific fault with your Roomba by running a series of tests at home that are relatively simple to do and shouldn’t take you too long.

If your Roomba has gotten wet then you should act immediately to prevent any rust or deterioration to the internal materials which will not be fixable and will require a replacement.

  1. Remove the battery and leave it to air dry for a few days if possible.
  2. Take your Roomba apart and wipe it down with a motor cleaner before using compressed air to fully dry the parts.
  3. If your Roomba came into contact with a large amount of liquid then you may want to leave all your parts in a bag of rice for 4-5 hours to soak away any remaining liquid.

If you have tried these steps and had no results, or think your Roomba came into contact with a liquid more than a few hours prior then there are a few other methods you can try to fix the problematic fault and regain use of your Roomba.

You can run the built-in tests on your Roomba to diagnose the cause of your faults, but if these come back inconclusive then you can manually check the sensors and motors to see if there is voltage coming from your motherboard.

You can also check your motherboard for any visual damage such as rust which will confirm you need a replacement motherboard as this will have an effect on the sensors and motors too.

If your motor and wheels are no longer working then you may want to perform a manual advanced built-in test or fix the wheels yourself.

Finally, the filter and battery are also common areas for water damage as the dirt present on the filter will turn into a mud-like substance and clog up your

Roomba so it can no longer provide enough suction to clean your floors. You can purchase replacement filters which will create an instant improvement to the performance.

How To Keep Your Roomba In The Best Condition

Accidents happen from time to time. and it is often unavoidable for a Roomba to come into contact with some liquid if you have a busy household.

There are a few maintenance tips you can follow to maintain the peak performance of your Roomba and get the best value for money in this prime piece of cleaning technology.

After every cleaning cycle, you should empty the dust bin to prevent clogging and remove the two inner filters that are essential for catching dust which is highly important in any allergy sufferer’s household.

The easiest way to clean them is by knocking them against your trash can to knock out the dust.

Once a month your Roomba will benefit from a detox which will involve a screwdriver and some compressed air but this is a fantastic way to maximize your Roomba’s life and prevent overheating, loss of suction, and clean away any collected dirt.

Remove the four outer screws that hold your cover in place which will be marked with arrows.

You will notice your Roomba will collect dirt and debris amongst its parts which can start to have a negative impact on its performance over time. Use your compressed air to blast away any dust build-up and your Roomba will thank you in the long run.

FAQs

white robot vacuum cleaner on area rug

What to do if my Roomba got wet?

If your Roomba comes into contact with water then act fast to separate the parts and leave them to dry. You can also use compressed air to blow away any moisture.

Why is my Roomba making a noise?

Roomba’s can make a new noise for many reasons including jammed wheels, brush faults, extractor issues, or even a broken head module.

Are Roombas noisy?

At its loudest performance, your Roomba can be as loud as a standard in-home washing machine, but generally, they run no louder than a standard vacuum.

Why is my Roomba beeping?

The Roomba is designed to beep and alert you of a problem or fault that needs your assistance. It could mean it is stuck, the sensors are dirty, the wheels can’t move or the brushes are not able to turn.

Conclusion

The Roomba is a welcome addition to many homes and relieves the stress of sweeping the floors after a busy day by quietly driving around to clean up any mess that has been made.

The likelihood of it coming into contact with liquids is quite high which is why you need to make sure the space your Roomba is cleaning has no liquids or food debris present as these are guaranteed to cause havoc with the internet mechanisms of your Roomba.

So can a Roomba get wet- no, but there are ways you can prevent liquid from causing permanent damage to your Roomba if you act fast enough to clean the internal parts.