Robotic Vacuums

Do robo-vacs really work?

If you hate to vacuum, Roomba might be the right model for you. The iRobot Roomba is a robot vacuum that navigates by itself to clean carpets and floors. Several models are available, and prices vary depending on the base unit and the included accessories. All Roomba vacuums, even the most basic versions, share a few common features. They propel themselves around a room, sucking dirt and debris into a bagless bin that needs to be emptied periodically. They also transition automatically between bare floor and carpet. Roombas avoid falling down stairs by turning around when they sense drop-offs. Some Roomba vacs come with virtual walls that can be set up to prevent Roomba vacs from getting into -- or leaving -- a certain area.

The iRobot Roomba 400 Vacuum Cleaning Robot (*Est. $130) is limited to the set of basic features and includes a standard battery and charger combination that takes seven hours to recharge completely. The Roomba 410 (*Est. $150) has the standard charger but adds one virtual wall and a dirt sensor designed to improve vacuuming efficiency. The Roomba 416 (*Est. $200) adds a second virtual wall and a more efficient three-hour charging system. All Roomba vacuums in the 400 series can clean about two rooms before needing to be recharged.

The iRobot Roomba 500 series addresses several common user complaints, including inefficient room coverage, lackluster edge and corner cleaning, and tangling with blind pulls and power cords. All robotic vacuums in the 500 series -- including the Roomba 510 (*Est. $250) and the Roomba 530 (*Est. $330) -- have dirt sensors, a spot cleaning mode, anti-tangle technology and a fast three-hour charger. The 530 is the least expensive Roomba that automatically returns to a self-charging base when it's finished cleaning or when battery power gets low. The 560 (*Est. $380) adds on-board scheduling, meaning it can be programmed to clean automatically at a pre-set time. The Roomba 570 (*Est. $400) includes a remote control called the Wireless Command Center that's also available separately (*est. $50) and works with any 500-series Roomba. The Roomba 580 (*Est. $ 500) includes a bonus pack with an extra faceplate, a virtual wall and some replacement brushes and filters.

The latest Roomba is the 610 Professional Series (*Est. $550). It adds a heavy-duty charging base plus accessories like a "high capacity sweeper bin" to the basic Roomba 580 design. Reviewers say it's not a significant improvement over the 500 series performance-wise.

The Roomba does fairly well in expert and user reviews, but ratings aren't generally higher for the more expensive versions than for basic models. Most experts say the Roomba tends to miss edges and corners and doesn't take the place of a decent upright or canister vacuum. Overall user ratings are good -- an average of four out of five on Amazon.com, but owners tend to either love the Roomba or hate it, depending in part on how long they've had it and how they feel about the maintenance required. While most users say they don't mind the chore of emptying the bin when it gets full, a few say that by the time they clean the Roomba's brushes and untangle any threads or pet hairs, they might as well have vacuumed themselves. Another issue is longevity. New users posting to Amazon.com are often enthusiastic about the Roomba's novelty, while those who have owned it longer are more likely to have experienced problems with broken side brushes, low battery capacity or ineffective dirt sensors.