Exact model-family answer directory
iRobot Roomba i5/i5+ troubleshooting
iRobot Roomba i5/i5+ (i5, i5+): what the Roomba i5 is; the brushes; hair and wear; navigation; docking; stuck under furniture, and a fix for each symptom below.
- What the Roomba i5 isThe Roomba i5 is a robot vacuum with navigation and app control. The i5+ adds a Clean Base self-emptying dock, and iRobot now sells the lineup as the Combo i5+. A plain i5 empties into its onboard bin.
Confirm the model first
Which units this covers, and how to tell yours is one of them
- Model numbers and patterns
- i5, i5+
Published specification
What is true of this model and changes how you fix it
- Type — ROBOT vacuumA ROBOT vacuum with navigation and app control — symptoms are navigation, docking and brushes. The i5+ adds a Clean Base self-empty dock; the plain i5 empties its onboard bin.
- Docking & (on +) self-empty'Won't dock/charge' is dirty contacts, a moved/unplugged dock, or blocked clearance. On the i5+, 'won't empty' is a full Clean Base bag or clogged path.
- Brushes, wheels & sensorsTwo rubber brushrolls, side brush, wheels and sensors — clear hair and wipe sensors if it gets stuck, circles or misses areas.
- The brushesTwo multi-surface rubber brushrolls roll in the head, with a side brush that sweeps edges towards the head. These are the parts that pick up dirt, so a jammed or worn brush leaves floors dirty.
- Hair and wearHair winds round the brushrolls and the side brush and also collects in the wheel wells. Cleaning them every week or two in a hairy home keeps them turning.
- NavigationThe robot maps and cleans in rows, and its wheels and sensors need to be clean for it to travel properly. A robot that gets stuck, circles or misses areas has a hair-bound wheel or a dirty sensor.
- DockingA robot that will not dock or charge has dirty contacts, a moved or unplugged dock or blocked clearance. On the i5+, a robot that will not empty has a full Clean Base bag or a clogged path.
- Stuck under furnitureA robot wedges under low furniture that is just tall enough to enter and too low to leave. Keep-out zones or a barrier solve it.
- Finding the model numberThe model number is on the underside; iRobot lists the real model as I557020 for the Combo i5+.
- Cleaning scheduleEmpty the bin after every run, clean the filter weekly and clear the brushrolls every week or two. A robot that runs daily on a hairy floor needs the brushes cleaned more often.
- The Clean BaseThe i5+ empties into a bag in the Clean Base. A full bag stops it emptying, so replace the bag when the robot says it is full or the bag looks tight.
Where these figures were read. irobot.com/en_US/roomba-combo-i5plus-self-emptying-robot-vacuum-and-mop/I557020.html (real model I557020, current lineup sells this as 'Combo i5+'; no separate vacuum-only i5 page found live) (robot vacuum; Clean Base on +)
Manufacturer support for this product line. IRobot Support — Roomba support. Official Roomba setup, error, mapping, cleaning and repair support.
Also read for this model. iRobot Support — iRobot support.
Exact questions
Questions that only have an answer for the iRobot Roomba i5/i5+
My Roomba i5 gets stuck under the same furniture.+
Robots wedge under low furniture that is just tall enough to enter but too low to exit. Use the app's keep-out zones (where supported) or a physical barrier to block that spot, or add small risers to the furniture. Also clear hair from the wheels and brushes, since a hair-bound wheel makes it lose traction and strand itself. Wiping the cliff sensors underneath helps if it also stops near thresholds or dark floors.
My Roomba i5 gets stuck under the same furniture. Why?+
The gap is tall enough to enter but too low to leave.
Why will it not charge?+
Dirty contacts or a moved dock.
Why will the brush not spin?+
Hair, debris or a worn part.
Where is the model number?+
On the underside.