Parts for an iRobot Roomba

Basic Parts

• The Roomba consists of several major parts, including the brushes, dust bin, wheels, battery and the main part of the Roomba body. The Roomba body has sensors that allow the Roomba to sense edges, such as a staircase; a bumper, so it recognizes walls and absorbs shocks; and the hardware that provides the intelligence to the robot. Roombas come with one or two virtual walls that emit a signal that tells the Roomba to stay away, acting like a real wall. A Roomba may also come with a docking station so that it can be recharged.

Replaceable Parts

• Parts that often need replacement or cleaning include the air filters that fit in the dust bin, the brushes and the beater bar. You can clean the brushes by removing the wire bale/brush retainer and carefully removing the brushes, being sure not to loose the yellow bushings on the ends of each brush. These brushes need to be cleaned frequently if you have pets because of the pet hair. Other brushes that may need cleaning are the spinner brush that spins on the right-hand side of the robot. The battery for the Roomba is replaceable as well.

Wheels and Sensors

• The Roomba uses three wheels to maneuver. Two are the main drive in the back and one senses and pivots. These wheels need to be kept clear of hair. The front wheel will pop out, which will allow you to remove tangled hair or string. The sensors are on either side of the front wheel and allow the Roomba to sense the edge of the floor. Keep these sensors clear by blowing out hair or other debris.

Other Parts

• You can purchase parts from iRobot or from other online vendors, including several that specialize in used Roomba parts.