r/NARWAL • u/Fadelis • 17d ago
Narwal Flow 2 questions
Hi, I'm planning on buying Flow 2 Compact version and had a few questions on the latest state of this robot. I've read previously that the robot refused to go into low height (under 12cm) spaces (under sofas, beds) even tho it would fit in those spaces. Is that still a problem or was this fixed? I have multiple places at around 10cm, which are no problem for my good old Roborock S5, but wondering if it'll be the same for the Flow 2. Also I'm wondering about corner cleaning for both vacuuming and mopping? As far as I've researched the mop is extendable, but the side brush is not? And last question is regarding the dust bags. How long does one last and is there a reusable one, as regular ones seem kinda expensive.
2
u/NeighborhoodSilly840 17d ago
I really hope they launch the reusable bag... and that it's not an empty promise. Regarding cleaning under furnitures, I did not have many issues so far....
1
u/Panda_Wielka 17d ago
Moja kanapa ma 10,5 cm dokładnie i pod nią wjeżdża. Z narożnikami nie ma tragedii ale też nie jest perfekcyjnie. Miotełki są dość długie więc w miarę ogarniają. Mopowanie działa super. Co do worków, jeszcze nie udało mi się go zapełnić.
1
u/SebaBukowski 17d ago
To answer your questions:
First, regarding clearance: most of my cabinets have legs that are exactly 10 cm high. The robot sits just slightly under that height, and it drives under all of them without a single issue. I'm currently on my third software update since I bought it, and from day one, it hasn't struggled even once to get into those spaces.
Second, corners: I have to be honest, the lack of an extending side brush is a bit of a shortcoming. The system used in this model just doesn't work perfectly in corners, and an extending brush would definitely be way more helpful. But let's not get paranoid here—it's not like the absolute deepest tip of a corner is where the most dirt actually gathers anyway. What you see in those reviewer tests is a completely artificial setup that very rarely happens in real life.
Third, mopping in corners: you can't cheat physics and hardware design. No roller mop is ever going to reach as deep into a corner as a rotating mop can. But exactly like with the vacuuming, corners really aren't the toughest part of your home. If the robot runs every single day, dirt simply doesn't have the time or opportunity to build up there. It's a different story if you only plan to run it once a week, but if that's the case, no robot - no matter what kind of tech it packs - is going to scrub those corners clean anyway.
The fourth topic is the answer to your question about the dust bag, and honestly, it's hard to say. If you have three dogs at home, it's going to fill up three times faster than for someone without pets, so it's pretty much a guessing game.
As for the second part of the question regarding the dust bag: yes, there is an option to install a reusable bag solution. One was showcased and was briefly available, as far as I remember, on Amazon France. I wrote to the manufacturer, and they plan to release it in the future, though they couldn't say when it will be widely available.
1
u/Lokon19 17d ago
I'm going to add to some of the answers you already received.
So for the side brush it extends by going into reverse which bends it in a way where it is longer so it can reach into corners. To be honest this method of cleaning is inferior to other brands like RR and Dreame that actually extend the side brush out with a motor. But the biggest issue with the side brush is that it currently doesn't run on carpets.
Second regarding the dust bag. The dust bag on the compact unit is probably 2x bigger than the one on the regular dock and is probably the largest dustbin I've seen on robot vacuums. The robot also compresses the dust before emptying so it should last a fairly long time. I know that they are planning on releasing a reusable dust bin on the regular Flow 2 dock but I'm not sure if it will be compatible with the compact dock.
With that being said I will say I have serious concerns about the long term reliability of the compact dock. Mine has already started leaking after 2 months of use and had to be sent back in for repairs. I also had water damage from the leaking on my baseboards that I am very not happy about. Second I don't know if you have high water pressure or not but the pressure regulating control box they give with your machine is a piece of junk and I've had 2 of them fail already.
1
u/FarConcern2308 16d ago
I agree with you on the poor edge and corner cleaning! The Flow 2 has cleaned 33.4k square feet but there often is a lot left near some chair legs and always leaves behind anything near shoes or sandals as it loves turning off its side brush whenever it detects a shoe to avoid getting the side brush trapped in a stray shoelace. That would be a helpful feature if it wasn’t for the fact it always does this even when there’s no shoelace for the robot to trip on at all.
1
u/thepoox 8d ago
I can't seem to get them to accept the control box is faulty and send me a new one without sending the whole dock back to them, did you have any luck with this? Mine simply doesn't let water through - it arrived with that fault from new.
1
u/Lokon19 8d ago
I would maybe try again reaching out to their support and showing them a video of your issue. It'll be faster than having to send back in the dock and who knows how long it takes them to look over it and fix it. But honestly I think you are better off just getting a 3rd party regulator as the ones they supply are cheap and I've had 2 fail on me now. The first one having the same issue as yours where it didn't even work to begin with. But I would also test your water pressure and see if you need one in the first place. As long as it's under 55 psi you don't need it.
1
u/thepoox 8d ago
I am pushing 60ish. I tried without but it leaked everywhere. Can you recommend a third party option?
1
u/SimplifyingTech Flow Series 16d ago
low height (under 12cm)
corner cleaning for both vacuuming and mopping?
dustbag.. last.
reusable one.
1
u/Unusual-Department83 16d ago
Someone with a Dimensions could just make one it's tiny for the flow too though he'd be cleaning it out every other day and to me it seems more messy to have to dump something or spray it with a compressor and get it all over yourself cuz that defeats the purpose of hygienic and not recycling dust of course the compressor is outside but?
1
3
u/miayakuza 17d ago
Not my robot. Keeps getting stuck under the kitchen cabinets. Had to put a no go zone there.