House cleaning is a chore that most of us dread but simply cannot avoid. If you have children, pets or seniors at home, that’s all the more reason why your floors should be clean and hygienic.

Automation is making its presence felt in most areas of our lives. With the range of robotic vacuum cleaners available, cleaning your floors isn’t the drudgery it used to be.

iRobot, the company that manufactures a wide variety of robots for various functions was founded in 1990 at MIT. Since then, it has extended its branches through the US, the UK, and Asia. Its home-robotics products, including the iRobot vacuum cleaner series, have transformed the way we tackle home cleaning.

If you’re planning to get an iRobot vacuum cleaner, here’s what you need to know.

Buy directly from the company or from authorized dealers
Some iRobot models are available only on direct purchase from the manufacturer. When you buy from third-party retailers, you may not get the right warranties.

Check if the vacuum cleaner is right for your house
Some models work best in small environments, office spaces, and apartments. Others are suited to hardwood floors with some amount of carpeting. You also need to check whether the model can pass under your furniture easily.

Don’t stress on the battery life
Most models go through a one-hour cleaning session without needing a recharge. Unless you live in a large home with extensive floor-space, your iRobot vacuum cleaner can easily finish its job within this time. It can be a little noisy. Get one with a scheduler or timer so you don’t have to hear or see it at work.

Know the price range
iRobot vacuum cleaners with different functionalities are available at different price bands, right from under $300 to over $800. Pricing is based on features; if you want Wi-Fi-enabled control, optical and acoustic sensors, extractors, recharge-n-resume technology, carpet-boost technology, and more, they’re available at a high price. You need to analyze your needs and fix a budget accordingly.