Frequently Asked Questions

Below table refers Sept 2020 – October 2021. BL-03W and BL-05W models using WeBack Smart App.

Below table refers October 2021 – onwards. BL-01W, BL-06W and BL-08W models using TUYA Smart App.

This is largely dependent on your mix of surfaces. If your environment consists of tiles, laminate, hardwood and light, thin pile carpet, you likely require a machine up to 1 800Pa. This level of suction power is sufficient for dust and sand, light debris and pet hairs. If you have an environment that has a few rooms with carpets or a few spaces with large loose carpets, then a robot vacuum with 2 000Pa and upwards is more appropriate for more effective cleaning. Refer our suction chart for debris correlation. Thick pile or large areas of thin pile typically warrant machines with higher suction power and a central roller brush to effectively clean the carpets. 

This is the most important decision you will make as the positioning is key to achieving the best performance of your Robot vacuum cleaner. The station should be fixed securely against a wall or skirting and should have 1m of free space either side of it and at least 1,5m in front of it.  This will allow your vacuum to have clear unobstructed path toward “home”. Think of it as an aeroplane lining up the airport runway as it makes it approach and landing. You want this path to as uncomplicated as possible. The base/charging station should be placed in a central place within your home as this will allow your machine maximum coverage of your living space.

This is dependent on battery size but will typically range from 3 – 3,5hrs

No. We recommend that the docking station remains powered ON. Once the battery is fully charged, the charging light will stop flashing and will remain lit up. Your machine is then in standby mode and not will not draw significant power as only the Wi-Fi module is running.

The Weback and TUYA Smart Apps can be found in the Google Playstore and App Store for iPhone.

YES. Your nannyvac™ Robot vacuum cleaner can be operated via your remote-control unit. Connecting to the Wi-Fi will allow you to schedule and use all of the advanced functions your machine is capable of.

Download the WeBack (BL-03W and BL-05W), TUYA or Smart Life App (BL-01W, BL-06W, BL-08W, J-series) from the Google Playstore or App store for iPhone. Sign-up. It is important that you select South Africa as your location as the App defaults to USA as a region. Hold down the “Home “or “Power” button (model dependent) until it flashes and add a device by scanning the QR code(WeBack only) on the chassis of your machine. Note robot vacuums only work on 2,4Ghz networks. If you have a 5Ghz network, enable the 2,4Ghz settings so you can pair your robot vacuum.

• Make sure your phone is connected to the 2.4GHz network (turn off your phone’s Auto connect feature as it will want to connect to 5G)
• Have your Wi-Fi password ready
• Turn on location services
• Turn on Bluetooth
• Turn off VPN services if applicable

For model specific instructions, kindly refer to the APP Operation Instruction leaflet within your package.

If you still have connection failures 99% of the time its network related or settings on your router. Try powering your router on and off, then attempt again.

Contact support@nannyvac.co.za and we will schedule a time to help you telephonically.

Click on the settings icon on your dashboard. Then select schedule in the Basic Settings section. Then click on ADD and then ON and then set the hours and minutes. Then click on Repeat to set the frequency per the drop-down options. On machines using the TUYA / SmartLife App, the schedule is found under “Timer” in the settings sub menu.

Once Once rennnNote: Not all models are capable of cleaning path display and mapping

BL-01: No cleaning path display (not a Gyro-Navigation Robot)

BL-01W: No cleaning path display (not a Gyro-Navigation Robot)

BL-03W: Cleaning Path map displayed on App interface. Path not permanently saved.

BL-06W: Cleaning Path map displayed on App interface. Run history and path saved.

BL-05W: Live Map displayed on App interface. Map permanently saved.

BL-08W:  Live Map displayed on App interface. Map permanently saved along with run history.

BL-05W and BL-08W: The mapping process is not instantaneous as your machine learns its environment every time it runs. Run the machine multiple times daily in the start so that this process can be accelerated initially. In spaces > 100m², set the break-point cleaning function  “ON” so that the machine can resume where it left off before going back to base for charging (see instructions for breakpoint activation in FAQ #26 below). In this way, the machine will pick up the learning from the point it stopped and not start a smart clean from scratch. Only once all your areas are fully mapped, is it advisable to start setting your exclusion areas (virtual lines) and virtual areas (priority area).  On TUYA App machines, the terminology is slightly different: Virtual Area = “Area Set”, Virtual Line = “Virtual Wall” and Break Point clean = “clean to break”

BL-01, 1W, BL-03W and BL-06W: These models do not have the breakpoint clean function. You can simply close a bedroom door or two where the machine has cleaned previously. When the machine runs again and wants to move into those areas, it will not be able to and simply move on to another area. So-doing, it will reach areas of your living spaces where it could not reach previously on a full battery charge.

J01 Lidar Navigation Robot: Your machine’s principle of mapping is to start an area by running along the edge / perifery of the space and then mapping out the extremity as it runs. Once it has mapped that area it will clean the inside of that area in rows, coloums or diagonals depending on the shape of the area.

It will then move onto the next area and the next using the same principle. When the battery runs down to 20%, the machine will go back to the docking station for automatic recharge. The machine will recharge to 80% and then continue cleaning from the point it left off. This machine has breakpoint cleaning built in intrinsically when running in Smart Clean mode. Once it has covered all the areas it has access to, the grey scale map will become a multi-coloured colour map. This map is then ready for you as the user to clean up by merging areas logically and splitting them where necessary. Once this is done, the rooms can then be renamed. Once renamed, the map must be saved.

The Smart Eye is an optical sensor. It gathers co-ordinate data from features in your living spaces to build more accurate maps and routing with. It does not gather picture or image data as a camera would. This co-ordinate data, along with the positioning function and wheel rotation sensors are fed into an enhanced algorithm that result in more detailed mapping and more efficient cleaning execution.

Step 1: Add your device Add your device to WeBack and make sure your device is showed on    the home page of WeBack.

Step 2: Name your device Click the Setting button on the upper right of your device page. Name your device by your preference (nannyvac); you will be able to voice control your device by the name you input.

Step 3: Set up Google Home Use Google Home App to set Google Home smart speaker information.

Step 4: Add Home Control Action Open Home App, click the add button on-screen, select the “Set up device “and “Have something already set up?”, search for WeBack, log in to the current App Account in the new window. After the binding is successful, your device will appear in the home page.

 Step 5: Control the device Use the command “Ok, Google.” to wake up Google Home, and then directly use the command to control the device through Google Home

Yes. When relocating the docking station, make sure to use the “homing” procedure i.e. take the machine to 1m directly in front of the docking station and use the remote control or your mobile device to dock the machine.

The machine will adapt to its new positioning and create a new route plan based on this changed position (BL-03W). The knowledge of your home and cleaning patterns it has already created and stored in memory will be retained (BL-03W and BL-05W).

On BL-01 where there is no route planning, the machine will also randomly clean using the new docking station position as reference.

If you have a multi-level home and want to use the robot vacuum on both floors, it is recommended that you buy a 2^nd docking station and fix it in position on that level. Then, simply take the vacuum upstairs, perform the “homing” procedure on the new docking station. Always repeat the homing procedure every time you lift and move the machine between the two floors.

Generally, NO. The robot cleaner is small enough and moves at a speed that will not trigger internal PIRs (Passive Infrareds) in your home. In our experience it is OK to arm alarms and allow your robot vacuum to clean on a schedule without the risk of unwanted alarm activations. NOTE: Where/When it does cause an alarm activation, it may be due to the abnormally high PIR sensitivity settings which are not normal. In homes that have more sophisticated alarm systems with multiple detection technologies (curtain detectors and beams), it is advisable that the machine is not scheduled to run while the alarm system is armed. 

BL-Series machines:

NO. If the dustbin is not fitted, you will hear a distinct difference in the sound of your machine. It is critical that you DO NOT operate your machine without the dustbin and filter pack in place. Running it without may cause damage to the suction fan impellor and result in failure. NOTE: We find that leaving the lid open while you proceed to empty the dust bin, is a good habit and acts as a reminder to refit the dustbin.

J-Series machines:

These machines are equipped with a bin location sensor. The machine will voice report the bin has been removed and an Alert/notification will appear on your App interface. The machine will not be able to operate if the bin is not replaced and seated correctly into its void. The machine will confirm that the bin has been fitted correctly via voice reporting.

NO. Neither B-series or J-series robots have a full dustbin alert and it should be checked routinely.

This is entirely up to the amount of dirt and dust in the environment.  It is best practise to check the bin every second day to gauge the rate of fill.

 We recommend that detergents are not used inside the mop tank housing. Detergent may be sprayed onto the floor areas where mopping will be take place. We consider it best practise to mix your detergent and some water in a spray bottle and spray your tile, hardwood and laminate floor areas with this prior to using the mop function. 

On the BL-01 and BL-01W: These machines do not have a detachable mop tank. The machines also do not have a mop mode on the remote control unit or the App. Simply attach the 2 x velcro magic strips to the underside of the machine in the locations per the manual. Then wet the mop pad and attach to the velcro strips on the machine. Spray your detergent and water mix onto your tiles, hardwood or laminate floors and then run your machine.

Note : None of the nannyvacTM robot vacuums are designed as WET and dry vacuums and must never run when there is standing / puddled water. 

On Weback App BL-05W machines, reposition your docking station in your smallest room, start a smart clean and close the door. Once it has cleaned that area it will return to the docking station. Now slide your machine off the docking station and switch it off. Relocate your docking station to its original (normal) position and switch your machine on again. Then perform the homing procedure. Your map will then over-ride the existing map and it will start to remap your house from scratch.              

For Tuya App machines (BL-08W only): Go into your settings menu and click the “CLEAR MAP or “RESET MAP” option. Your machine will then start remapping your home from scratch.

J01 Lidar Navigation robot: If your machine has lost a map or had a positioning error and is creating a new map, stop the machine. In your settings menu, Room Manage submenu, you can reload your saved map IF you had saved it. 

This happens when your docking station position has changed. It is important to ensure that you firmly fix the docking station to the skirting board or wall using the double-sided tape supplied with your machine. If you do not do this, your machine will  pull the docking station out of position when it reverses off to start cleaning. This then results in your map being skew as the docking station is out of its reference position. 

This applies to all models in both the B-series and J-series.

This is dependent on the number of charging cycles and frequency of use. Typically, the battery performance will drop off after 10-15 months. Replacement battery packs (2600mAh) are available as a spares stock item. If an upgraded battery pack (3000mAh and 3500mAh) is something you are interested in, kindly reach out to the nannyvac™ team on our various platforms.

.Breakpoint Cleaning – Due to additional sensors and enhanced positioning using VSLAM, the nannyvac™ BL-05W is able to resume cleaning from the point it stopped. That is, when it stops to return to the base station for recharging, it memorizes this position on the live map so that it can pick-up cleaning from this position once it is fully charged. This function is activated in your settings menu by sweeping the slider on your mobile app to the right and to the left to deactivate. It will only activate this function when the machine is in standby mode and on the docking station. Machine will acknowledge this with a “PING”. If done while the machine is running it will not activate despite the slider showing “ON”. Once properly activated the machine will run continuously with intermittent breaks for recharging. Since this is not ideal during sleeping hours, deactivate during night hours or set your machine run times via the scheduling tool in your settings menu. On TUYA App machines (BL-08W), this function is called “Clean to Break”

Virtual Lines – You can create exclusion areas (up to a maximum of 4) you do not want the robot vacuum to clean. This is done by selecting “more” on your SmartApp interface and selecting “Virtual Line”. Then, on your live map of your home, draw in the lines at the exact points you do not want the machine to go beyond. The machine will “PING” in acknowledgement of the placement or cancellation of a virtual line. This function is especially useful if you want your machine to avoid overly cluttered or complex areas or an area where you do not want any disturbance. Examples of these are 1) a child’s play area that has many loose items and toys in it, 2) an area your pet has its bed in or 3) an area where you are conducting a meeting or working from. Note that these lines cannot be drawn while the machine is in motion in a cleaning cycle. These lines can only be set when the machine is in stand-by mode and/or charging on the docking station. On TUYA APP machines (BL-08W) this function is referred to as “VIRTUAL WALL”

Virtual Areas – You can draw an area which you prioritize for a once-off time or custom clean. This is done by selecting “more” on your SmartApp interface and selecting “Virtual Wall”. This area can be set when the machine is in stand-by mode, located on the docking station. Then, on your live map, draw your square or rectangular. The machine will then go to this area and clean and then stop once its done. It is then in stand-by mode and will await your next instruction (either Smart clean or return to docking station). On TUYA APP machines (BL-08W), this function is referred to as “AREA SET”

Instruction – You can command the machine to an area of your choice on the live map of your home. This is done by selecting “more” on your SmartApp interface and selecting “Instruction”. This icon looks like a “bulls eye” or “aiming sight”. Simply press this icon and select the point of the map you want the machine to go to. Your nannyvac™ will then go this area and go into standby mode while awaiting your next instruction. This function is useful if you want the machine to avoid an area where there was an accidental spill, recent mess or simply just to start cleaning in another area of your choice. This function can be activated whether in standby mode or while the machine is in motion.

Positioning – This is a useful function if you want to know where in your home your nannyvac™ is. This is done by selecting “more” on your SmartApp interface and selecting “Positioning”. The machine will “PING” in acknowledgement making it clear where it is. This function is helpful when your machine is stuck and has shut itself down to avoid damage. While you ,may be able to see the fault condition on your live map as well as the machine’s location, the pinging is useful in locating it if it has stopped under a piece of furniture ( couch, bed, etc.)

Open the top cover of the machine to access the dustbin. Grab the dustbin handle and lift it out of the bin enclosure. Open the lid by pulling on the flap. Empty the contents of the dustbin. Now turn the dustbin around to access the HEPA E11 filter. Pry this out of the recess. Once out, knock this out gently without damaging the filter. Then, remove the black porous filter pad as well and gently knock this out as with the filter. Once sufficiently clean, insert the filter pad followed by the HEPA E-11 filter. Then insert the cleaned dustbin back into the bin recess in the robot vacuum.

Do this once a week or when the machine voice reports an obstruction. Only wipe with a clean dry cloth.

Do this once a week or when the machine reports a side brush error. If machine reports a side brush error, remove the side brush and untangle whatever has caused it to be stuck. Re-insert the brush and follow the procedure as described in Q8 above.

These should be replaced when the bristles are falling out or showing significant wear. You will notice this as the machine will be less effective in sweeping in dirt and sucking it up. Remove the brush(es) and replace with the two spare units provided with your machine.

Cleaning frequency is dependent on how often your machine runs but we recommend that it is cleaned once per week and cleaned thoroughly (with a bristled hand brush) every 2nd week.

Once the main roller brush is removed, the entwined hairs on either side of the spindles should be cut using the knife tool supplied with the machine. Caution must be taken not to damage the part while doing this. Then, you can use a strong bristled brush to brush off any embedded hairs and dirt from the base of the roller brush bristles.

If these are not cleaned thoroughly at least once every two weeks, you will find that dirt is not removed from the roller brush. It will build up in the part itself and cannot be transferred into the dust bin. 

These filters should typically be replaced every 6 months.

This depends entirely on the frequency of use of the mop/wet function of your machine. Once the pads show wear, it is best to replace it as your mop cleans will be less effective with a worn mop pad.

You can reach out to the nannyvac team on Facebook and Instagram. Additionally, you can visit our webpage at www.nannyvac.co.za. You can email info@nannyvac.co.za or support@nannyvac.co.za for your spares requirements. Side brushes, filter elements, mop clothes/mop pads and replacement battery packs are held in stock locally and can be purchased individually or in a service kit format.

We also stock additional docking stations, AC leads, Hepa prefilters and body panels. Every part – whether consumable or a critical spare is stocked. If your machine fails, be assured that we are able to repair or replace the faulty part and get your machine running again. 

 We are mindful of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing and so this is currently not something we do.

Where the Alert Level is low and allows for less restrictive movement, we are open to providing this service. We are based in Cape Town’s northern suburbs and can support set-up and start-up support in person on an appointment basis only.

We are however available on info@nannyvac.co.za and support@nannyvac.co.za to field any questions and support you to get the best performance from your machine.

Additionally, we use WhatsApp calls, Skype and Zoom to connect with you for set-up, docking station placement and/or specific issues you are experiencing in your environment.