I have an iRobot named Hazel whom I like very much. I’ve learned a few things about Hazel. She prefers to work with me rather than alone. On occasion, I have had to leave while she is cleaning and invariably she gets stuck, sucks up something that isn’t good for her or just runs out of energy. So, when I return it generally takes some time to get the kinks worked out and get her back on track. Hazel has three main parts: the home base, where she gets her energy and dumps her trash; the app on my phone that keeps me informed of what is going on and finally Hazel herself the 13-inch x 3-inch cylinder that navigates around our home gathering up anything in her way.

Last week I got a message on the app which told me Hazel’s home base needed my attention. That was new but I knew better than to ignore it. So, while Hazel was working, I unplugged the home base and took it into the kitchen for inspection. I cleaned it, polished the metal plates where Hazel connects, changed the dirt bag and then got busy and didn’t get the base plugged back in.

Without the home base, Hazel lost her way and wandered from her cleaning area which was the front room, dining room and kitchen. The app told me Hazel was stuck so I went looking. She was nowhere to be seen. Now, my house is not large, and Hazel is not that small. When I realized she wasn’t in her designated location I made a walkthrough in the bedrooms, hall and bathrooms. Nothing. Where did she go? I went back to the main area and searched closely, still nothing. Then back into the bedrooms, checked under the beds…I was beginning to panic a little. What was going on? Finally, I noticed the rug in the main bathroom had been disturbed and sure enough that led me to Hazel. She had worked her way under the sink cabinet and got jammed in the far corner. She was in trouble. I had to get down on all fours and do a little stretching to pull her out.

I realized that home base was important! Without it Hazel lost her direction, had no place to return to in order to charge her battery and get rid of the dirt she had collected. I immediately plugged in the home base, set Hazel on it so she could connect and hit the “empty bin” button. She dumped the dirt and started charging. 

When home is functioning Life is Good!