Introduction
The iRobot Roomba 981 robot vacuum is designed to seamlessly navigate and clean an entire level of your home, offering powerful suction and intelligent mapping capabilities. This manual provides essential information for setting up, operating, and maintaining your Roomba 981.
Setup
Unboxing and Initial Charge
Upon unboxing your Roomba 981, ensure all components are present: the robot vacuum, Home Base charging station, line cord, Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier, filter, and side brush.
Figure 1: iRobot Roomba 981 Robot Vacuum and companion iRobot HOME App.
Place the Home Base charging station against a wall in an open, uncluttered area. Connect the line cord to the Home Base and plug it into a power outlet. Ensure there are no obstacles for at least 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) to either side of the Home Base and 4 feet (1.2 meters) in front of it.
Figure 2: Roomba 981 automatically recharges at its Home Base. Ensure the Home Base is placed in an open area.
Place your Roomba onto the Home Base, ensuring the metal charging contacts on the robot align with those on the Home Base. The battery indicator will pulse amber while charging. Allow at least 3 hours for the initial full charge.
Connecting to the iRobot HOME App
Download the iRobot HOME App from your device's app store. Follow the in-app instructions to connect your Roomba to your Wi-Fi network and complete the setup process. The app allows for personalized schedules, cleaning preferences, and monitoring.
Video 1: Roomba 981 vSLAM Technology. This video demonstrates the robot's navigation capabilities.
Operating Your Roomba 981
Cleaning Modes
Your Roomba 981 offers various cleaning modes accessible via the iRobot HOME App or by pressing the "CLEAN" button on the robot.
- Clean All: Press the CLEAN button once to start a cleaning cycle for your entire home.
- Spot Clean: Place the Roomba on a specific dirty area and press the SPOT Clean button (target icon) on the robot. It will clean in a spiral pattern.
- Scheduled Cleaning: Use the iRobot HOME App to set daily or weekly cleaning schedules.
Intelligent Navigation and Power Boost
The Roomba 981 uses vSLAM navigation technology to create an accurate map of your home, cleaning in neat, efficient rows. It actively captures thousands of precise measurements each millisecond to optimize coverage.
Figure 3: The Roomba 981 cleaning an entire level of a home, navigating room to room.
The Power Boost Technology automatically increases cleaning power on carpets where it's needed most, ensuring thorough dirt and pet hair pickup.
Figure 4: The Roomba 981 automatically increases cleaning power when it detects carpets.
Voice Control
The Roomba 981 is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa. You can start, stop, or send your robot back to its Home Base using voice commands.
Example commands:
- "Alexa, ask Roomba to start cleaning."
- "Hey Google, tell Roomba to go home."
Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial for optimal performance of your Roomba 981.
Emptying the Dust Bin
The dust bin should be emptied after each cleaning cycle, especially if you have pets.
- Press the bin release tab on the back of the robot and pull the bin out.
- Open the bin door and empty debris into a trash can.
- Tap the bin against the trash can to dislodge any trapped debris.
Video 2: Demonstrating how to empty the dust bin and clean the brushes of the Roomba 981.
Cleaning the Filter
The filter should be cleaned weekly (more often if you have pets).
- Remove the filter from the dust bin.
- Tap the filter against a trash can to remove debris. Do not wash the filter.
- Reinsert the clean filter into the bin.
Cleaning the Brushes
The Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes should be cleaned regularly to prevent hair tangles and maintain cleaning efficiency.
- Pinch the brush frame release tabs, lift the frame, and remove any obstacles.
- Remove the brushes from the robot.
- Remove any hair or debris from the brushes and brush caps.
- Reinstall the brushes and close the brush frame.
Figure 5: The unique Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes are designed to prevent tangles with pet hair.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues and Solutions
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Roomba not charging | Poor contact with Home Base, dirty charging contacts. | Ensure Roomba is properly seated on Home Base. Clean charging contacts on both robot and Home Base with a dry cloth. |
| Roomba gets stuck frequently | Cluttered environment, tangled brushes, dirty cliff sensors. | Clear obstacles from the cleaning area. Clean brushes and cliff sensors. |
| Poor cleaning performance | Full dust bin, dirty filter, worn brushes. | Empty dust bin. Clean or replace filter. Clean or replace brushes. |
For more detailed troubleshooting, refer to the iRobot HOME App or the official iRobot support website.
Specifications
- Brand: iRobot
- Model Name: iRobot Roomba 981 Robot Vacuum
- Special Feature: Smart, Wi-Fi Connected Mapping, Works with Alexa, Power Boost Technology
- Color: Black
- Product Dimensions: 13.9"L x 13.9"W x 3.58"H
- Item Weight: 7.44 pounds
- Included Components: Robot Vacuum, Battery, Docking Station, Line Cord, Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier, Filter, Side Brush, Warranty Card
- Filter Type: Disk
- Power Source: Battery Powered (1 Lithium Ion battery included)
- Control Method: Voice, App
- Compatible Devices: Amazon Echo
- Item Model Number: R981020
- UPC: 885155025234
Warranty and Support
For warranty information and customer support, please refer to the official iRobot website or the Warranty PDF document included with your product.
Additional Tips
- For optimal performance, keep your home tidy and free of loose cables or small objects that could tangle the robot.
- The Roomba 981 can be linked with a Braava jet m6 robot for a deeper level clean, where the Braava jet m6 automatically starts mopping once the Roomba finishes vacuuming.
- Ensure your Wi-Fi network is stable for seamless app and voice control functionality.
Figure 6: Roomba 981 and Braava jet m6 robots can work together for a comprehensive cleaning routine.
