A Roomba i5 whose brush is not spinning is cleaning poorly even though it still drives round the room, and the cause is usually a jam in the brush or its housing, found in a minute or two. The i5 has two multi-surface rubber brushrolls in its cleaning head and a side brush on one corner. The brushrolls are driven by a small motor through a gearbox and rotate to lift dirt into the bin.
The checks in more detail
When a brushroll stops, the robot may show an error, play a voice message about a brush problem or simply leave a streak of dirt. Turn the robot over and look. Lift the brushroll frame, which is held by a clip or a small latch, and pull out both brushrolls. Hair wraps round the ends and the axles, and long hair compresses into a tight band that stops the rolls spinning. Cut it away with scissors and pull off the end caps to clear hair from the bearings.
Check the bin and the air path for a blockage, since a full or blocked bin makes the robot struggle. Spin each brushroll by hand: it should turn freely. Wipe the cleaning head cavity, where fluff gathers, and check that the gearbox end is not blocked by debris. Then check the side brush. A side brush that does not spin is jammed by hair wound under it; lift it off, cut away the hair and refit it;
a bent or worn brush should be replaced, since the bristles lose their shape. Reassemble the brushrolls the right way round: the ends are shaped differently, and a roll refitted in the wrong position will not engage the drive. Run a short cycle and watch from above. If the brush still does not spin with a clear housing, the motor or the gearbox may have failed, and iRobot support can help with the model number from the underside, I557020 for the Combo i5+.
Differential
Likely causes of “iRobot Roomba i5/i5+ brush roll will not spin”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Hair wound on the brushroll
What separates it The brush turns slowly or not at all
How to confirm Cut away the hair
- 2
Debris in the housing or bearings
What separates it The roll sticks
How to confirm Clean the housing and end caps
- 3
A jammed side brush
What separates it The side brush is still
How to confirm Remove and clear it
- 4
A brushroll in the wrong position
What separates it The drive does not engage
How to confirm Refit it correctly
- 5
A failed motor or gearbox
What separates it The housing is clear and nothing spins
How to confirm Contact iRobot
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which brush is not spinning
- Whether hair is wound on it
- Whether the robot shows an error
- The model number
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedTurn the robot over
ReversibleAnd remove the brushrolls.
Cut away the hair
ReversibleClean the end caps.
Clean the housing
ReversibleAnd the air path.
Check the side brush
ReversibleClear and refit it.
Refit correctly
ReversibleEnds in the right position.
Contact iRobot
ReversibleIf it still will not spin.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Two brushes
- The rolls lift dirt and the side brush sweeps edges.
- Hair
- It winds tight round the ends and axles.
- The housing
- Fluff builds up and stops the rolls.
- Refitting
- The ends are shaped differently.
- The drive
- A motor and gearbox turn the rolls.
- iRobot help
- Quote I557020 for the Combo i5+.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Switch the robot off before cleaning
- !Use scissors carefully near the brushes
- !Contact iRobot if the housing is clear and nothing spins
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Roomba brush not spinning?+
Hair or debris jams it.
Which brush is it?+
The brushrolls or the side brush.
Can I clean it myself?+
Yes.
How often should I clean it?+
Every week or two.
What if it still will not spin?+
The motor or gearbox may have failed.
Where is the model number?+
On the underside.