Water under your coffee machine — what to do
Author: AMT Serwis
Find out what the possible causes are. Learn how to fix a leaking coffee machine yourself, or request a free repair estimate.
Water collecting under a coffee machine is neither normal nor desirable. For one thing, nobody wants to reach for a cloth every day to mop up water escaping from the appliance. For another, the cause of the leak is often mundane and easy to eliminate — but if it is not dealt with in time, it can contribute to further faults.
Why is my coffee machine leaking?
Below is a list of the most common causes of a leaking coffee machine, along with suggestions for dealing with water appearing where it should not be. The order in which we list the possible sources is not accidental. We start with the ones you will certainly be able to handle yourself, without needing a workshop.
An overflowing drip tray
In theory, every coffee machine owner knows the drip tray has to be emptied regularly. In practice it varies. Neglecting this can leave the tray overflowing, with the excess water spilling out. It happens particularly often with machines that run an automatic rinse cycle — the amount of water used in the process is fairly significant compared with the capacity of the tray. The fix here is simple: empty the tray, wipe up the water that has escaped, and remember to empty the containers regularly from now on. Do that and the water under your machine will not come back.
A badly seated water tank
Water under the machine or near the tank may be caused by the water tank not sitting correctly. Often, in a hurry, we fill the tank and put it back without paying much attention to whether it has gone in properly. Or we are so careful that we do not push the removed parts fully home, so they never reach their proper position. If the water tank is not seated correctly, the machine will leak — so it is worth making sure the tank really is exactly where it should be.
A damaged tray or a leaking water tank
Parts such as the drip tray and the water tank are made from durable materials that resist mechanical damage. Cracking them is not easy, but it is not impossible either. Damage can occur while washing the tray or filling the tank. So if water is leaking from your machine, it is worth checking these parts for leaks too. If a cracked housing turns out to be the cause, there are two options. With minor damage you can attempt a repair and seal it. The second option — in our view the more sensible one — is to buy replacement parts. They are not expensive, and they give you far greater confidence that the leak is properly solved.
A blocked brew unit
Unwanted leaks can also be caused by a lack of regular cleaning and maintenance. Water appearing under the machine can point to a blocked brew unit, among other things. In most models today the brew unit can — and indeed should — be removed for maintenance. Cleaning it consists of rinsing it under lukewarm running water. Your machine's manual will give you exact instructions on how to remove and clean the brew unit correctly and safely.
A leaking coffee machine is worth descaling
When you look for a solution to a coffee machine problem, whatever the fault, the suggestion to try descaling comes up again and again — as if descaling were the cure for every ailment. And there is something in that. Limescale building up inside a coffee machine is one of the most common culprits behind faults and failures of every kind, and leaks are no exception. Scale spares no component, so it can also damage the valves. Running the descaling programme therefore stands a decent chance of restoring the appliance to working order. And even if it does not help, it certainly will not do any harm.
Worn seals
Since we are talking about water under the machine — that is, about the system not being sealed — we cannot skip the seals. There is no shortage of them in an automatic coffee machine: the brew unit seal, the water tank seal and the seal at the water valve, to name a few. Each of them is a consumable part that wears naturally over time, and seals can also be damaged by limescale. If a seal is the cause of the leak, the only solution is to replace it. If you are the handy type you can try doing it yourself — just remember to read the manual carefully first, and to carry out any repair work with the appliance disconnected from the mains. If you would rather have professionals do it, get in touch with our repair centre. Our technicians will take care of your machine, replace the worn parts and give it a professional clean.
A loose or damaged hose
Like seals, the hoses in a coffee machine wear out. High pressure and temperature mean the hoses inside the appliance work under considerable load, which over time leads to natural wear, loosening and leaks. Like seals, they need replacing periodically. Again, you can do it at your own risk, or send the machine to a workshop where specialists will deal with the problem and return a fully working appliance.
We hope our guidance has helped you diagnose the cause of the leak and solve the problem. If you are still seeing worrying symptoms, your machine is not working as it should, and you do not know how to go about the repair, you are welcome to take advantage of a free coffee machine repair estimate at our workshop.