Roomba, a robot vacuum cleaner, is an autonomous cleaning device that makes your life easy and saves your time and effort by doing the cleaning chores for you. But you might be wondering, how loud is a Roomba? After all, what ease a Roomba would give if its noise couldn’t let you sleep or watch tv?
Noise level is measured in decibels and denoted as dB. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a national public health agency of the United States, a sound level of up to 85 dB is considered safe for human ears if not exposed for a longer time period. Getting exposed to noise levels higher than 85 dB can cause hearing loss and other diseases.
The noise level can be measured through this NIOSH Sound Level Meter app developed by the National Institute of Occupational Security and Health.
See the following table to better understand which activity makes how much sound.
After getting familiar with the noise level standards, now let’s talk about how loud is a Roomba.
The noise level of Roomba vacuum cleaners ranges from 54 dB to 70 dB. This value is way lower than other conventional upright vacuum cleaners that reach a sound level of up to 80 dB. The following table compares the noise level of different Roomba models while running on hard floors, on carpets, and while self-emptying.
| Roomba Model | Noise Level (dB) on Hardwood floor | Noise Level (dB) on Carpets | Noise Level (dB) while self emptying dirt bin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 series | 76 | 72 | N/A |
| 500 series | 71 | 68 | N/A |
| 600 series | 71 | 67 | N/A |
| 700 series | 70 | 66 | N/A |
| 800 series | 71 | 66 | N/A |
| 900 series | 70 | 67 | N/A |
| i4 | 62 | 61 | N/A |
| i7+ | 53 | 51 | 74 |
| j7+ | 55 | 48 | 76 |
| s9+ | 54 | 50 | 70 |
So, is a Roomba loud? The Roomba i7+ and the Roomba s9+ both are the quietest models both on hard floors – vinyl planks, tile, marble, concrete – and carpets. S9+ is even quieter while self-emptying the dirt bin on the Homebase. This self-emptying process doesn’t take more than 2-3 minutes. So, it is not that much of a problem.
Not all Roombas are loud. Only the older models with obsolete technology make more noise. The newer models are more sophisticated and have advanced technology, so they make less noise.
Why Do Roombas Make Noise?
Now you might be wondering why my Roomba is making a loud noise. Its loudness depends on the following factors:
Roomba Model
How loud is a Roomba depends on its size and model. Older models, the 400 series for example, are louder as compared to the latest models like the ‘s’ and ‘j’ series. The reason for this is obvious. As technology is evolving, machines and robots are becoming more sophisticated. They are becoming more powerful and better than their ancestors. The same is true for robot vacuums. Newer models are installed with more efficient parts that require less power and make less noise.
How Old Is Your Roomba?
Older Roomba models will make more noise as compared to newer ones. If your Roomba is ten years old, expect it to be louder. Roombas, and all other electronic devices for that matter, deplete as they age. Replacing the old parts with time is mandatory. This will keep it up to date and will result in less noise.
If the obsolete parts are not replaced, they will start to rattle and make noise while moving.
Type Of Surface
Another factor behind the loud noise is the surface it is cleaning on. A Roomba will be louder when cleaning on hard surfaces – tiles, luxury vinyl floors, marble, or hardwood – as compared to carpets and rugs. Since carpets and rugs absorb some of the noise, hence allowing quiet cleaning.
If your Roomba is cleaning in an empty room or near bare walls, expect it to be louder than normal. There is no issue with your robot vacuum. Empty rooms, cornered spaces, and bare walls make an echo that increases the noise level.
How Well Roomba Is Maintained?
The noise level of a Roomba also depends on how well it is maintained. A robot vacuum cleaner picks up dust, fluff, and pet hair that get stuck in its brush, bearings, and wheels. Clogged-up brush and wheels will definitely make your Roomba louder. To keep it quieter and live longer, you should clean it thoroughly at least once a week. This includes cleaning brush, bearings, wheels, filter, and dirt bin. Oiling or greasing the wheels once or twice a year will make it run smoothly with less noise.
So keeping your Roomba clean is essential. Because no matter how sophisticated and sealed pack your robot vacuum is, the grime that it picks will somehow find its way into your Roomba and will wreak havoc if not cleaned on time.
A Roomba not maintained well will not only become louder but its performance will also reduce and the battery charging time will increase.
Which Noise Requires Attention?
There are some situations where you should be concerned about the noise your Roomba is making. When it starts to become louder than normal, or when it starts to make unusual noises, there is a problem you need to attend to. These louder-than-usual and abnormal noises should not be ignored as these are the indicators of something bad going on inside your Roomba that needs to be fixed immediately.
Some advanced Roombas alert you on the mobile application if they have any internal problems. But most of the time a Roomba will make different noises to seek attention. Following are some abnormal noises, their meanings, and how to fix them.
Roomba Is Making Grinding Noise
If your Roomba is making a grinding noise, this means the brush is tangled with debris and hair. This debris is causing traction between the brushes. If you hear this grinding sound, you should stop the vacuum immediately and clean the brushes thoroughly. You should remove all the hair, debris, and fluff from the brush, its axles, brush bearings, and wheels as well.
If you ignore this grinding noise, the brush of your Roomba will wear out because of the friction and the battery will also get depleted quickly.
Roomba Is Making Clicking Noise
If your Roomba is making a clicking noise whenever it is running, it might be because of the wrong assembly of the extractors or the cleaning head.
One way to find out is by removing the extractors and running the vacuum. If the clicking noise is gone this means the root cause for that noise is extractors. Assemble the extractors according to the guidelines provided by iRobot.
Roomba Is Making Squeaky Noise
If your Roomba is making some annoying squeaky noise, there might be some debris or fluff trapped in the side brush.
Roomba Is Making Ticking Noise While Charging
Many users complain about Roomba, mostly 800 series, making a ticking noise while charging. There can be different reasons for this ticking noise.
- There might be an issue with the charging outlet. Consider changing the charging outlet and checking again if the noise is gone.
- This ticking noise can also be caused due to dirt bin not being properly fitted. Take out the dirt bin and fix it again.
- If the noise still persists, there might be a problem with the battery or the Roomba itself. You should contact iRobot customer support as a final resort.
Is A Roomba Worth The Noise?
Since Roombas noise range from 54 dB to 70 dB, it is in the same range of noise level for a normal conversation. And this noise level is way lower than other conventional upright vacuum cleaners that are up to 80 dB louder. And there is always a way to make Roomba quieter.
So, a Roomba is definitely worth the purchase. If you are concerned about sleeping kids or watching tv during the cleaning session, you can schedule your Roomba to do the cleaning at a convenient time when a little noise is not an issue.