Is your Roomba making loud noise? Well, that shouldn’t scare you, as I shall be explaining different methods you can implement right now to troubleshoot the noise problem.
Just like with regular vacuum cleaners like Shark vacs, Roomba vacuum cleaners are bound to make noise. And at times, the noise could be an indicator of a problem with the vacuum cleaner. (BTW, check out my latest guide on some of the best quiet shop vacuum cleaners on the market today).
Why is My Roomba Making Loud Noise?
If you notice your Roomba vacuum cleaner becoming louder than it used to be, it could be a sign of a worn-out filter and brushes or debris build-up in the brushes or filter.
It’s highly recommended you remove the brushes and the brush end caps and do thoroughly clean and ensure that the filter is clean or changed.
Roomba Making Loud Ticking Noise
I did research and found out that many customers often complain about how their Roomba vacuum cleaners make ticking noises when charging.
Even though this is a common problem, it’s quite easy to fix.
First, ensure that you connect the charging station to another outlet in your home. At the time, changing the charging station to another socket is all it takes to fix the ticking noise.
If that doesn’t eliminate the problem, the Roomba support will tell you to slightly pull the dirt contained a little bit out during the loading process.
In some Roomba vacuum models, the noise comes from the loudspeaker. Even though it’s quite rare, you can easily fix the problem by turning off the loudspeaker.
If the ticking noise is persistent, it could also mean that the charger is broken. Click here to find the appropriate charger for your Roomba iRobot.
Roomba Making Loud Noise When Running?
If your Roomba is making loud noise when cleaning, it could be that something has blocked the suction.
You will need to clean it by getting rid of all the dirt and debris and clean the following components.
- The extractors
- The brushes
- Cleaning head
- The vacuum impeller
To find the exact culprit, you will need to remove them one by one and run the vacuum cleaner without the respective part. For instance, if you remove the cleaning head and the noise disappears, then the cleaning head is to blame.
To clean the brushes, you need to follow these steps:
- Remove the housing place of the vacuum brush
- Remove the brush from the device
- You should also remove the brush suspension
- Clean inside of the Roomba and all the dismantled parts
- Reassemble the device.
You’ll also need to clean the extractors- which is quite similar to cleaning the brushes. This process will take a few minutes of your time. Below is a guide on how to clean the extractors:
- Open the Roomba vacuum
- Remove the extractors as well as the suspension pieces on both ends
- Get rid of all the dirt and hair in extractors
- Reassemble the vacuum cleaner
How to Fix Roomba Making Loud Noise?
Get Rid of All Clutter on The Floor Prior To Cleaning
Your Roomba robot vacuum cleaner is designed to avoid any walls, cliffs or furniture during cleaning.
However, it’s not designed to avoid small clutter like curtain tassels, pair of socks, handkerchiefs etc.
When your Roomba comes into contact with such small clutter, it gets stuck or worse, it can suck the small clutter and get clogged.
Small clutters make it prone to damage.
Therefore, I would highly advise that before setting the Roomba vac to clean, ensure that you get rid of all clutters on the floor.
Ensure The Brush Frame Release Tab Is Closed
If you have the latest Roomba series, it’s important to check if it has a brush frame release tab.
Unlike the previous Roomba models, the newer series have a liftable brush frame release tab which you can lift up to access the multi-surface brushes.
If the brush release tab isn’t closed, it could touch the ground, causing your smart vacuum cleaner to produce loud screeching noises when vacuuming.
Besides from the loud screeching noises, it could also damage the vacuum cleaner. The rule of thumb is to ensure that all the parts of the vac cleaner are set up well and closed before operating your device.
Switch to the “Quiet Clean” Option
The good news is that even with a Wi-Fi-enabled Roomba vac cleaner, you can make the vacuum cleaner operate quieter simply by adjusting its cleaning preference.
New models of the Roomba vacuum cleaners are designed with new and amazing smart features, all thanks to the new iAdapt 3.0 feature.
If you’re cleaning and a toddler is in the room taking a nap, or cleaning at night when everyone in the house is asleep or simply have quiet pets, using the Quiet Clean preference is your best bet.
Not only does the quiet, clean mode operate quietly, but it also uses less power. The only downside with the quiet mode is that it takes longer than the normal mode.
Below is a simple guide on how to operate quiet mode.
- Go to your phone and open the iRobot Home App
- Go to Roomba settings
- Scan through and find the Cleaning Preferences option and click on that
- Choose the Quiet Clean option
Activate Quiet Drive Option
Do you only want to clean specific rooms in your house? Do you want your Roomba to make no noise when on its way?
Lucky for you as you can activate the Quiet Drive option to make the robot vacuum cleaner make noise when only it reaches the assigned destination.
The quiet Drive option is a convenient feature found on some of the latest Roomba series. It’s an option designed to allow you experience quiet cleaning sessions.
The best part is that activating this mode helps save more energy. This is because the robot will only turn on the cleaning mode once it reaches the specific area you want cleaned.
This is really a convenient feature, especially if you have pets or toddlers at home or have guests visiting.
Lubricate the Wheels
Besides getting stuck as a result of dirt, the Roomba wheels can get stuck as a result of a lack of lubrication.
Use dry lube because it won’t leave a mess on your floors. If you can open the device, the better, as this will give you better access to lube the wheels. If not, you can apply the lubrication through the small hole on the side of the device.
Simply locate the small hole- found on the side of the wheel case. Apply a considerable amount of the lube on the wheels.
If you’re not sure how to perform this task, I would highly recommend you to check out the below video. It’s quite helpful.
Run the Roomba Vacuum Several Times a Day
You may realize that the Roomba vacuum is relatively loud, especially if it’s new or just had the extractors replaced.
New extractors have very few gaps, and this makes it hard for dirt to pass through or results in extractors touching one another.
In this case, you may notice that your Roomba produces loud thumping noises. However, you shouldn’t worry because the extractors wear down, making your device produce less noise.
Simply run your Roomba a few times a day or alternatively set it to clean your entire house when you’re not at home.
Final thoughts on Roomba Making Loud Noise
The problem of Roomba making loud noise can, in most cases, be eliminated through cleaning. Just like with normal vacuum cleaners, lint, hair, or dirt buildup inside the device can result in irritating noise, which, when ignored, can damage the cleaner.
Above are the most recommended methods you can implement right now to make your smart Roomba iRobot quitter again.
Meet Mike O’Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.
As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.
Soundproofing isn’t something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.
Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.