Robot vacuum only when house is empty
Make your robot vacuum truly smart by only running when the house is completely empty and ensuring it finishes before anyone returns. No more vacuums running underfoot or startling pets.
Use cases
Convenience benefits
- Out of the way - Vacuum runs while you're at work
- No pet stress - Pets aren't home to be scared
- Quiet home - Never hear the vacuum running
- Always clean - Come home to freshly cleaned floors
Smart scheduling
- Presence-aware - Only when truly empty
- Return estimation - Finishes before you're back
- Skip when needed - Doesn't run on work-from-home days
- Guest awareness - Skips when guests are visiting
Products needed
Essential equipment
Smart robot vacuum
Popular brands: iRobot Roomba, Roborock, Ecovacs Deebot, Shark
Must support smart home integration (WiFi, app control)
Must support smart home integration (WiFi, app control)
Presence detection
Options: Phone GPS/geofencing, Life360, smart home presence
Must track all household members accurately
Must track all household members accurately
Optional enhancements
Calendar integration
Connect to work calendars to predict return times
Self-emptying base
Vacuum can run longer cleaning cycles without manual bin emptying
💡 Cleaning time estimation
- Most robot vacuums clean 1,000 sq ft in 60-90 minutes
- Factor in return-to-dock time (5-10 minutes)
- Add buffer time for unexpected obstacles
- Consider if vacuum needs to empty mid-cycle
Basic automation setup
IF last person leaves home
AND time is after 9:00 AM (everyone should be gone for work)
AND vacuum hasn't run today
AND estimated return is more than 2 hours away
THEN wait 10 minutes (confirm everyone really left)
THEN start robot vacuum
IF anyone arrives home
AND vacuum is running
THEN send vacuum to dock immediately
Triggers
- Home mode changes to "Away" (last person left)
- OR scheduled time when typically away (backup)
Conditions
Time: After 9 AM (avoid early morning false triggers)Day: Weekdays only, or specific days of week
Already ran: Vacuum hasn't run today
Duration: Expected away time > cleaning time + buffer
Guest mode: No guests present
Actions
- Wait 10 minutes (confirm departure is real)
- Verify still in Away mode
- Start robot vacuum cleaning cycle
- Send notification: "Vacuum started cleaning"
- Mark that vacuum ran today (prevent duplicate runs)
Return protection
- When anyone enters home zone, check if vacuum is running
- If running, send vacuum to dock immediately
- Notify: "Vacuum returning to dock - you're home early"
Platform-specific examples
Home Assistant
Trigger
Zone.home person count changes to 0
Condition
Time after 9 AM, weekday, vacuum not run today
Action
Delay 10 min, verify empty, vacuum.start
Tip: Use input_boolean.vacuum_ran_today to track daily runs
SmartThings
IF
Everyone leaves (location mode Away)
AND
Time between 9 AM - 5 PM on weekdays
THEN
Wait 10 min, start robot vacuum
Note: Use iRobot or Roborock SmartThings integration
Hubitat
Trigger
Mode changes to Away
Condition
Time after 9 AM, day is weekday
Action
Wait 10 min, start vacuum via integration
Setup: Use community Roomba or Roborock driver
Apple HomeKit
When
Last person leaves home
Condition
Time is after 9:00 AM
Do
Start vacuum via Homebridge/HomePod shortcut
Note: May need Homebridge plugin for vacuum integration
Alexa
When
Location: Everyone leaves
Condition
Time between 9 AM - 5 PM
Action
Wait 10 min, start iRobot Roomba
Google Home
Starter
Everyone leaves home
Condition
Weekday, after 9 AM
Action
Start vacuum via Google Home integration
Note: Vacuum must have Google Home integration
Advanced features
Smart return estimation
Predict when to stop cleaning:
- Check calendar for meeting end times
- Track typical commute duration
- Monitor phone location distance from home
- Stop cleaning when anyone is 20 minutes away
Room-by-room scheduling
Clean different areas on different days:
- Monday/Thursday: Living room and kitchen
- Tuesday/Friday: Bedrooms and hallways
- Wednesday: Bathrooms and entryway
- Weekend: Full house deep clean if away
Completion notification
Know when cleaning is done:
- Notification when vacuum returns to dock
- Report on area cleaned and duration
- Alert if vacuum got stuck or needs attention
- Reminder if bin needs emptying
Common issues and solutions
Vacuum starts when someone's home
Problem: Presence detection falsely reported everyone away.
Solutions:
- Add 10-15 minute delay before starting
- Re-check presence status after delay
- Use multiple presence detection methods
- Add manual override button to cancel
Vacuum still running when you arrive
Problem: Came home early and vacuum is still cleaning.
Solutions:
- Add "return protection" automation to dock vacuum on arrival
- Send vacuum to dock when anyone enters home zone
- Use location-based trigger when 10-15 min away
- Voice command: "Stop the vacuum"
Vacuum runs multiple times per day
Problem: Every time someone leaves and returns, vacuum starts again.
Solutions:
- Track if vacuum already ran today (input_boolean)
- Reset "ran today" flag at midnight
- Add condition: only run if last run was > 20 hours ago
- Limit to specific time window (9 AM - 2 PM)
Doesn't run on work-from-home days
Problem: Vacuum never runs when working from home.
Solutions:
- Add manual trigger: "Run the vacuum" voice command
- Schedule specific rooms while in another part of house
- Create "WFH mode" that runs vacuum during lunch hour
- Use weekend for full-house cleaning
Best practices
Setting up smart vacuum scheduling
- Track presence for all household members
- Add 10-15 minute delay after departure
- Re-verify empty status before starting
- Create "return protection" to dock on arrival
- Track daily runs to prevent duplicates
- Include manual trigger for work-from-home days
What to avoid
- No departure buffer - Quick trips will trigger vacuum
- No return protection - Vacuum still running when you get home
- Running during sleep - Add time restrictions
- Ignoring pets - Pets may be home alone and stressed by vacuum
Related automations: