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Robot vacuums make cleaning easy and convenient. In fact, one of the chief reasons that consumers have been shown to purchase robot vacuum cleaners is their ability to clean without human intervention(source).

But it is crucial to know about the product before purchase. Stats have shown that one of the major drivers that favour the adoption of automatic vacuum cleaners for use in homes is increased customer awareness. This implies that knowledge about robot vacuum cleaners helps consumers to make the right choices about them.

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Features to Look out for in Choosing the Best Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home

There are different types and models of robot vacuum cleaners. In purchasing a robot vacuum cleaner that would adequately cater to your needs, there are a number of features you should know and look out for.

1. Navigation and obstacle avoidance

There are different types of robot vacuums that utilize different technologies. They use different technologies to navigate your home. There are 3 major types of navigation systems: LiDAR, sensor and camera-based navigation.

The LiDAR-based (Light Detection and Ranging)  uses lasers. These lasers are able to scan the entire layout of your home to a high degree of precision and efficiency. It works by sending out laser beams from a sensor. These beams then bounce off the room surfaces and then return to the sensor which translates the time it takes to return into distance that is used for mapping the layout. LiDAR based robot vacuums provide the best form of navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Camera-based navigation systems make use of cameras that are built into the vacuum to navigate their way. They make use of these images to create a map of your entire house. They also provide good navigation and help in obstacle avoidance.

The sensor-based system uses different types of sensors to identify and avoid obstacles. There are cliff sensors, which ensure that your vacuum cleaner does not fall off an edge of a stair or  table. Obstacle sensors send infrared signals which bounce off surfaces and reflect back to the sensor, to recognize obstacles. Other sensors involved in obstacle avoidance include the wall and wheel sensors.

2. Filters

Filtration is important to remove allergens from your home. HEPA filtration is the gold standard for trapping more than 99% of allergens. If you want to buy an automatic vacuum ensure that it has an excellent filtration system. Most robot vacuums come with HEPA filtration so you can rest assured about filtration when you want to buy an automatic vacuum.

3. Mopping

One of the functional features that you should consider when buying a robot vacuum cleaner is mopping. Mopping helps to remove dirt, and dust at once. This type of smart vacuum cleaners are considered the 3-in-1 robot vacuum cleaners (sweep, suck, and mop). They are very effective at cleaning. Some other robot vacuum cleaners take it a step further by adding hot air drying to the mopping feature which ensures the floor is dry as the automatic vacuum cleaner cleans.

4. Suction Power

When it comes to robot vacuum cleaners, the suction power is what determines their strength and efficiency. Suction power is measured in Pascals (PA) and the higher it is, the higher the volume of dirt that can be collected. If you have hard floors and tiles, you would need lesser suction power, and most robot vacuum models with suction power from 3000 to 5000 Pa would cater for your needs. However, if you have plush carpets, then you would need a robot vacuum cleaner with greater suction power.

5. Auto Emptying

Auto emptying smart vacuums make the work easier. They further reduce the need for human effort, and that’s one of the main advantages smart vacuums offer. Remember one of the most popular reasons users have purchased robot vacuum cleaners is the convenience and reduced need of human intervention. When a robot vacuum cleaner can detect when its storage is full and then empty itself, it makes cleaning much convenient for you.

6. Maintenance

Any robot vacuum cleaner you choose should have low maintenance. Even though you have to do routine maintenance activities like unclogging brushes, rollers, and cleaning of filters, maintenance is not a tedious process.

7. Pricing

Another factor to consider when choosing your robot vacuum cleaner is the price. Cheap models start from about $100 upwards, but might not have the functionality of the higher end robot vacuums. Premium vacuums can extend from $600 and above $1000 and usually come with more features like better navigation, mapping technology, mopping, reduced noise, higher suction power and better connectivity.

8. Connectivity

One of the major factors that have promoted the robot vacuum cleaner market is the availability of internet facilities and 5G (source). Hence, in purchasing a smart vacuum, this should be a major consideration. A good robot vacuum should seamlessly integrate with other devices at home and allow excellent connectivity from anywhere in the world. This way you can operate your automatic vacuum wherever you are.

71% of smart vacuum cleaners reported satisfaction with their product up to a level that would make them buy the product again, according to Statista. The convenience and functionality they bring is incomparable, and it is obvious that robot vacuums are taking over the vacuuming market in the near future. You should get on board and be part of those leading the way into that future.