How much electricity does a robot vacuum use?

With the value of the UK’s robot vacuum market predicted to grow to £1.4 billion by 2030, it’s fair to say that these cutting-edge automated home cleaners are becoming a staple of households around the country.

But how much electricity does a robot vacuum use? And how does this compare to a regular vacuum cleaner? Read on to find out, as well as acquire some top tips for reducing power consumption and making your robot vacuum cleaner as energy efficient as possible.

Robot vacuum electricity usage

On average, robot vacuums use around 60 to 100 watts per hour when cleaning, compared to 500 to 1,500 watts per hour for a typical upright vacuum cleaner. This means that the average robot vacuum requires five to 25 times less energy to operate than a standard upright vacuum cleaner.

However, there are several factors to consider when making this comparison, as manual upright vacuum cleaners and robot vacuum cleaners operate differently.

Firstly, it’s important to think about the regularity of use of each type of vacuum cleaner – upright vacuums are designed to be used less often but provide a more intensive, heavy-duty clean when they are. Robot vacuum cleaners, in contrast, are most efficient when cleaning floors on a regular basis to prevent the build-up of dust and dirt. With that in mind, while robot vacuum cleaners are cheaper per hour to run, they may need to be used more often and for longer than upright vacuums.

The next consideration is the battery capacity of a robot vacuum cleaner, which influences the amount of power required to run the device effectively. A bigger battery capacity means more time charging and more electricity used.

This also applies to the size and power of the device itself, as larger, more powerful motors require more electricity to run, in order to effectively carry out more thorough cleans.

In addition to the inherent factors of battery capacity, power and size, many robot vacuum cleaners also have adjustable efficiency settings. Standard and eco settings conserve energy while still providing a quality clean, whereas max settings sacrifice a higher electricity usage for a more intensive and effective clean.

Ways to reduce robot vacuum cleaner power consumption 

With these considerations in mind, there are a number of ways you can reduce your robot vacuum cleaner’s power consumption and make it more efficient.

Reducing clean time 

Reducing the cleaning time of your robot vacuum cleaner is a straightforward way to conserve energy. While robot vacuum cleaners are designed to operate at maximum cleaning efficiency when running once per week, reducing either the number of cycles or the time of each cycle is a power-saving solution that will decrease electricity usage. As tempting as it can be to overuse these useful cleaning companions, they don’t need to be on every day!

Cleaning and/or replacing filters

Robot vacuum cleaners, like their upright counterparts, contain a filter that can become clogged with dirt and dust over time. This is completely normal, so it’s important to be vigilant with cleaning. Filters should be cleaned every one to two months, and the process is very straightforward: simply remove the filter, wash it with warm water, leave it to air dry, and then replace it in the vacuum.

Less frequently, filters will need replacing to maintain optimum cleaning and energy efficiency. This varies from model to model, but it is usually recommended to replace filters every six to 12 months.

Utilising energy-saving modes

Most robot vacuum cleaners have multiple cleaning modes with varying power settings. The high-power modes, often called max or turbo, increase the suction power and brush speed, but consume more energy. To reduce electricity usage, instead opt for energy-saving modes like eco, quiet or power-saving.

FAQs

Does a robot vacuum use a lot of electricity?

Robot vacuum cleaners use, on average, 60 to 100 watts of electricity per hour. This is roughly five to 25 times less electricity than a traditional upright hoover.

Are robot vacuums energy efficient?

If used at the optimum frequency and for the optimum amount of time, robot vacuum cleaners can be highly energy efficient. You can make them as energy efficient as possible by cleaning and replacing filters regularly and utilising energy-saving modes.

Are robot vacuums expensive to run?

As they use less electricity than upright vacuum cleaners, robot vacuums are often less expensive to run, as long as they are used correctly and optimised for energy efficiency.

Should I leave my robot vacuum plugged in all the time?

You should only charge your robot vacuum until the battery is full. Regularly allowing the battery to overcharge can result in overheating, damage, and electricity waste. Individual robot vacuum models have their own charging recommendations, which you can read about in the instruction manual.

So there you have it, Hoover’s guide to robot vacuum electricity use. From usage figures and comparisons to how to optimise your robot vacuum cleaner’s power consumption, this guide gives you everything you need to know about robot vacuum running costs.

To browse the extensive range of state-of-the-art robot vacuum cleaners at Hoover, visit our dedicated robot vacuums page. We stock robot vacuum cleaners, two-in-one vacuum cleaners and mops, and even self-empty models.