Smart homeowners often face a situation where, after months of active use, the robot vacuum cleaner stops moisturizing the cloth. Instead of evenly distributing moisture, the device leaves dry stripes or ignores the wet cleaning area altogether, a common problem that can be caused by software failures and physical clogs in the fluid supply system.
Before you disassemble a device or contact a service, you need to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. Xiaomi uses various humidification technologies in different models, from gravitational dripping to an electric pump. Understanding the way your model works is the key to successfully solving the problem. In this article, we will discuss all ways to restore normal water supply.
The situation can be critical if you're trying to clean old spots and the device is running in economy mode. The most common reason for a sharp drop in pressure is the formation of an air plug in the pipes or calcium plaque at the outlet of the tank, ignoring these factors leads to accelerated wear and tear of the pump and the appearance of an unpleasant smell.
Diagnostics of the moisture system
The first step is always visual and technical, so don't change your settings until you've made sure the physical components are working, and many users mistakenly think the software is the problem, even though it might be a simple blockage.
You need to look carefully at the water tank and the cloth compartment, if you see cracks or chips on the surface of the tank, the leakage is broken, and the pressure in the system drops, and it is worth checking the condition of the rag itself: too thick or worn out fabric can block the water out.
- 🔍 Check the integrity of the silicone tubes inside the tank for bending.
- 💧 Make sure the water in the tank is clean and does not contain sediment or mucus.
- 🔌 Inspect the electrical contacts on the tank and on the body of the robot.
It's important to distinguish between electric pumps and gravity, the first one is fed portioned by the processor, the second one is just dripping under its own weight, and if you have a pump model but no water, maybe the motor has burned or the train has gone.
📊 What type of water tank do you have?
Electric pump (humming heard)
Gravitational (just dripping)
Electronic control (regulated in the annex)
I don't know/ Combined
Setting up parameters in the Mi Home app
Often the reason for dry cleaning lies in software constraints. The interface of the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home application allows you to flexibly adjust the feed intensity. By default, after updating the firmware or resetting the settings, the robot can switch to a minimum level of savings.
Go to your device card and find your cleaning settings. There should be a slider or a choice of hydration intensity. For the Roborock or Viomi series, this option can be called "Water Flow" or "Washing Intensity."
⚠️ Attention: Setting the maximum water supply level on carpet or thin synthetic coatings can lead to their deterioration and leakage of liquid under the electronic components of the robot.
If the slider is moved to maximum, but the result does not change, try resetting the cleaning module. Sometimes the software glitch prevents the command to supply water to reach the actuator. Rebooting the robot through the power button also helps to reset the temporary controller errors.
- 📱 Open the app and select your robot vacuum cleaner.
- ⚙️ Go to the cleaning settings and find the water flow parameter.
- 🔄 Try changing the mode from "Eco" to "Standard" or "Maximum".
In some cases, it helps to re-team the device in the app. Remove the robot from the list, press the button combination to reset the Wi-Fi and add it again. This will update the configuration files and can eliminate the software conflict that blocks the flow of fluid.
Why does resetting help?
Resets bring back the factory parameters of the pump controller. Often, calibration errors accumulate during operation, which cause the robot to "think" that the tank is empty even though it's full. Reset causes the system to read again the level sensors. Removing the air traffic jams and blockages The air traffic jam is the number one enemy for the water supply systems. It forms when you add water to a nearly empty tank or use a too hot liquid. The air bubble blocks the water current, and the pump starts to work idly. To eliminate the pressure drop, the robot will need to create a pressure drop, if you can more intensively open the water out from the water pipe, and then you will help it to open it to open it up the water out. Calcium scaling from hard water eventually narrows the diameter of the outlet channels, especially in regions with high tap water hardness. ☑️ Cleaning of the supply system Pour the remaining water from the tankPurple warm water with citric acid Leave on 30 Wash with clean water and rinse with clean water: 0 / 4 Use a weak citric acid solution to clean it. Put it in the tank, let it stand. 20-30 So, if you rinse thoroughly, the acid will dissolve mineral deposits that could have clogged the nozzle, never use acetic essence or aggressive chemistry, as they can eat up rubber seals. Cleaning Method Efficiency Recommended frequency Mechanical purge Low Weekly Citric Acid Solution High Low Once every 2 months Distilled Water Prevention No Continuously Disassembling pump Maximum High As necessary After cleaning procedure be sure to run through the system clean water to remove the remaining acid residues of the reagent can damage the flooring during the next cleaning. Maintenance and replacement of consumables Even the most advanced equipment requires care. Floor cloth - this consumable material is always affected by the hard fabric, which is not replaced by the time by the carcloth, and the woolation, which is not replaced by the original fabric. The use of original accessories Xiaomi guarantees the correct degree of puffiness for optimal moisture retention. 🧺 Wash the rag after each 2-3 cleaning. 🚫 Don’t use laundry air conditioners when washing – they create a fat film. 🔄 Change the napkin every time. 2-3 month-long. ⚠️ Note: Paper wipes instead of microfibers are strictly prohibited. Paper gets soaked, crumbled and can completely block the water supply system once it enters the pipes. It is also worth checking the fine filters if they are provided by the tank design. A clogged filter creates resistance that the pump cannot overcome, resulting in a decrease in the amount of water supplied.Wash the filters under running water without using brushes to avoid damaging the mesh. If software and cleaning methods fail, the problem may be hardware. In models with electric water supply, a miniature pump is responsible for circulation. During prolonged dry operation (without water), it may overheat or fail. When you turn on wet cleaning, listen to the robot. You must hear the quiet characteristic sound of the pump motor (buzz or whisper). If there is no sound, the water is supplied, perhaps the contact has been lost or the control board has been burned. To check the robot: You need to switch on the electric contacts, but you need to use the battery directly. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to open the case, so as not to violate the warranty. 💡The absence of a running pump when the wash mode is turned on in 90% of cases indicates a malfunction of the pump itself or a break in the plume connecting it to the motherboard. Typical user errors Often users create the conditions for poor operation of the device without realizing it. For example, using hot water accelerates the wear of plastic elements in the tank and promotes more rapid sediment formation, another common mistake is adding detergents not designed for robotic systems to the water. A typical shampoo or dishwashing liquid forms a plentiful foam that disrupts the level sensors and clogs the pump. Stagnant water is the perfect medium for bacteria and mold to grow, which form mucus that clogs the channels. After each cleaning, the water residue must be drained and the tank dried in an inverted form. Can I add vinegar to the tank for disinfection? Use regular table vinegar vinegar is not recommended because of its aggressiveness to rubber. It is better to use special tablets for robotic vacuum cleaners or a weak solution of citric acid for preventive purposes. Why does the robot write that the tank is empty, although it is full? Most likely, you need to avoid the contact level of the water before the water is cleaned from the water or the odor of the old one often s. What if the water drips all the time and doesn't stop? It's a sign of a valve or an electromagnetic pump malfunctioning, probably debris or a mechanism has got stuck inside, and we need to urgently remove the tank so that the electronics don't flood, and contact the service.