OT: Best robot vacuum?

jdcyclone19

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Apr 14, 2017
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We have a roobma i3 with the automatic dirt removal system. We have it set up to run M, W, F at 9am while we are away. It has performed flawlessly and has been life changing in keeping up with our chocolate lab's hair.
 

MeowingCows

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Jun 1, 2015
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To those that own one, how often do you run it? Daily?
I run mine once, maybe twice a week on each of the floors in my loft. With the smart mapping stuff, it takes about 30-45 mins to complete each run (which goes over everything twice -- it would be faster if I set it to only go over once).
 

NWICY

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Sep 2, 2012
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We got a roomba 960 when we moved into the new house. I love how it vacuums in straight lines and it does a pretty good job almost every time. It actually shows a pretty good amount of precision which is impressive. But every once and awhile it goes into "drunken" mode and tends to bounce off of everything in site which usually means it's rollers are clogged with hair from two females in the house.

LOL at the "goes into drunk mode" Thanks for the chuckle today.
 

dahliaclone

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Mar 4, 2007
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SCNCY

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No idea really what the differences are between the i3, i4 and i7 honestly. Except price.

That link does say the i4 is good for pet hair. I know the i7 is too.

Looking at the I7, it looks like since its newer, the mapping technology may be better. But not sure.
 

Clonefan32

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Nov 19, 2008
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For those of you who have one now-- is it worth the extra couple hundred to get one with the automatic dirt disposal? How often do you have to empty the ones that don't have it?
 

MeowingCows

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No idea really what the differences are between the i3, i4 and i7 honestly. Except price.

That link does say the i4 is good for pet hair. I know the i7 is too.
The differences among most of the i series ones are just software-related, not much on the actual vacuuming capability.

Example: I believe it's the i7 that will map your home and then let you name individual rooms on the map, so that in the Roomba app your can schedule the vacuum to do individual rooms at different times. My i3 will map and show where it went, but does not let me control it room by room.

It looks like the i4 is just an i3 with a bigger battery (for reference, mine will run around an hour before needing a charge).
 

dahliaclone

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Mar 4, 2007
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The differences among most of the i series ones are just software-related, not much on the actual vacuuming capability.

Example: I believe it's the i7 that will map your home and then let you name individual rooms on the map, so that in the Roomba app your can schedule the vacuum to do individual rooms at different times. My i3 will map and show where it went, but does not let me control it room by room.

It looks like the i4 is just an i3 with a bigger battery (for reference, mine will run around an hour before needing a charge).

good info thanks! No need for us to do room by room and have spectacular mapping...just do the main floor and get as much pet hair as possible. Sounds like the i4 can do that.
 

MeowingCows

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good info thanks! No need for us to do room by room and have spectacular mapping...just do the main floor and get as much pet hair as possible. Sounds like the i4 can do that.
I would think so. I "tested" my i3 one time by having it sweep the house, then going over it right after with the big Shark vacuum I have -- the Shark bin when I vacuumed myself used to show a ton of stuff picked up (I've got a very dusty apartment). Running it over an area already cleaned by the Roomba does not pick up much more -- that little gap is fine with me since, ya know, the Roomba doesn't actually take effort to run. ;)

You may have to change your home habits a bit as a new Roomba owner. Make sure not to leave charging cables, blankets, clothes, any loose trash, etc. on the floors when you run it. Also, monitor it the first few runs going over any rugs and such to make sure it can handle them -- I pick up a couple of my kitchen rugs 'cuz it gets stuck on or pushes them around, but one large rug I can leave down and it has no issue with that one at all. If you have multiple floors, you can run it on all of them -- if the Roomba comes off the dock to start, it will return there. Otherwise, if started off of the dock, it will do its thing and return to the initial starting point when finished.

Oh, and set up the phone app -- it really is handy. It'll also alert you when something is wrong. I've been alerted that mine shut a door on its own and got trapped, that it got debris stuck in it (dryer sheet, quick pull and off it went), etc.
 

discydisc

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Jan 14, 2014
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To those that own one, how often do you run it? Daily?
During the week while we're not home, dog gets to come to work with me. Would not recommend running it while not around if animals are home...unless they figured out how to stop for poop or vomit.
 

cstrunk

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Mar 21, 2006
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Bump. Looking to hear about experiences and reviews with newer robot vacuums. Especially those with pets. I have an older bump and run vacuum but I have to clean the roller brush and dump it manually every 10 mins.

The new auto dump vacuums intrigue me, especially if there's one that excels at not getting clogged up with hair. I can deal with weekly maintenance, but cleaning it multiple times per run is a hassle. Which is why I usually just use my upright now.

I don't care about carpet performance that much. I understand that a robot vacuum is not going to compare to an upright in those situations.

Price range... Less than $600. Unless a couple hundred more is what it would take to get what I need...
 

AgronAlum

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Jul 12, 2014
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Bump. Looking to hear about experiences and reviews with newer robot vacuums. Especially those with pets. I have an older bump and run vacuum but I have to clean the roller brush and dump it manually every 10 mins.

The new auto dump vacuums intrigue me, especially if there's one that excels at not getting clogged up with hair. I can deal with weekly maintenance, but cleaning it multiple times per run is a hassle. Which is why I usually just use my upright now.

I don't care about carpet performance that much. I understand that a robot vacuum is not going to compare to an upright in those situations.

Price range... Less than $600. Unless a couple hundred more is what it would take to get what I need...

Our Shark sucks. It never finds its way back home. It’s ok for maintenance but it doesn’t replace the regular vacuum in the slightest. We still use the regular one every other day or so and pick up a ton of dog hair.
 

herbicide

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Roborock Q5. I have the older S4 version, works great; if we follow it up with a Dyson, the Dyson picks up basically nothing.
 

jaj040

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I'm still running the Roomba 650. Parts are CHEAP and it has lasted for years now. It has a NiCad battery that is 20 bucks. Does it do the best, most efficient job? No, but it keeps the real vacuum away for long enough that I'm happy.
 

SCNCY

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Bumping thread!

Looking for a new vacuum. Our Roomba I7 has died and am looking for a new one. I am interested in a vacuum/mop combo and am interested to see what people think of these models. How do they work, what kind of maintenance do you have to do, etc.

Also, looking for recommendations for brands. I'd be interested to see how other brands, like Shark, Roborock, etc. compare to Roomba. Looking to spend no more than $600-$700.
 
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MeowingCows

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There's a ton of robo-cleaner brands out there now vs. 5 years ago. I have no idea on the quality of the various (most like Chinese) brands now available on Amazon and what not.

I now have 2 roombas and have encountered some issues with each as they have aged. Far from perfect.
 
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