Casa V/troubleshooting
From Whole Latte Love Support Library
My Machine Has No Power, Pops GFCI
- Try testing another appliance on the same outlet. Does this appliance have power?
- If Yes, we recommend having the machine serviced by a tech.
- If you’d like to get in to the machine yourself, make sure the machine is off and unplugged. Remove the upper cup warming tray and the cover for the water reservoir. Take out the water reservoir and set it to the side. The machine top is held on by six 2.5mm screws. There are two screws in the front, two screws that hold the OPV adjustment to the top, and two screws on the backside of the panel that hold it to the res plate. Once removed the top will lift off exposing the machine. The boiler will be accessible and the leads for the element will be visible coming out of the top of the boiler and they can be tested with a meter for continuity and voltage.
- Yes. Electrical testing will need to be done to check the power cord of the espresso machine. If the power cord needs to be replaced, we would recommend having the machine professionally repaired.
- No. The problem is your outlet.
There is no Water flow at all
- If the pumps runs, and no water is coming out, make sure that the water tank is seated properly into the socket on the water res support.
- Remove the water softener if you are using one. Old filters can get mucky and may need to be re-filtered, or may need to be replaced. Try running the machine without a filter.
- We can try force priming the machine. These machines are just like semi-automatics, so they do not have a magnet sensor in the water tank that would need to be activated. Take a piece of tubing and slide it over the intake for the res valve at the bottom of the water tank. If you look down inside the water tank it will be present on the right hand side. Attach the other end of the hose to either a prime ball, or a turkey baster filled with water. Plug the tank into the socket and turn the machine on, activate the pump and squeeze the prime ball or the turkey baster. If you are able to push water in you can remove the tube, fill the tank and put it back in and try running water through the machine, if the water level is not going down this could also point to either a kink in the intake hose, or a blockage is present in the machine.
- If no water is being drawn in, remove the water res and look down towards the bottom of the water res support where the socket for the water tank is. Inside the socket is where you will find a plastic shaft that runs through the center of it. This is a molded piece of the socket that when the tank is inserted the shaft pushes on a ball bearing in the valve of the water reservoir and allows water to escape the tank into the socket. If this plastic shaft is broken or bent to the side, it will not make contact and not allow water to be drawn in. Make sure the socket itself is intact, sometimes during shipping, age, or someone pushed far too hard with the tank. The socket will snap, leaving only the top if it secured to the reservoir support, giving the illusion the socket is there, so when the water tank is inserted it just rests inside the remaining, broken portion of the socket.
- Underneath the machine are 2, 3mm allen head screws that hold the res support in place. If you suspect that there my be a kink in the intake line you can remove these two screws from the bottom of the machine (one on each side towards the back of the machine under where the res support is). You will then be able to lift up the res support carefully, since the water line will still be attached to the socket. You can lift up the res support and move it around and tilt it forward to inspect the water line and make sure it isnt kinked in anyway.
- If the machine is still not taking in any water after everything is clear, you may have either a block in the system, a very seized pump, or a faulty pump.
- Press in the brew button. Can you hear the pump?
- No.
- If the pump does not come on, try to listen if you can hear a slight hum, if the pump is displaying a low frequency hum it is either under pressure due to a blockage, or the pump is faulty.
- If the pump does not activate at all it could be an issue with the brew button, a wire has come of the switch, a wire has come undone from the pump, or there is an electrical issue with the machine.
There is no water coming out when I open the water valve
- Hot water and steam both come out of the same valve in this machine. When you press on the brew button on the machine do you hear the pump come on? If you do not it could be an issue with either the pump needing to be prime, a Wire coming off he pump, a blockage, the pump switch has failed, wire may have come off the pump switch, or the pump has failed.
- If you hear the pump but it sounds like it is under pressure take off the tip of the wand, open the valve, if water flow is restored the steam tip is likely blocked up by old milk and should be cleaned.
- If you open the valve and no water flow comes out, and the pump is running, this could be the result of a block in the hydraulic system preventing water flow.
How to Diagnose Hot Water and Steam System Obstructions
There is no steam coming out when I open the steam knob
- Make sure that the steam button has been pushed down, does the light for the steam function come on? Does it ever switch off when getting to temp? If the light does not come on, or it does not switch off it could be a result of a bad steam switch, bad steam stat, bad safety stat, or a disconnected wire.
- If the light comes on and off reaching steam temp, take the tip off the wand and open the valve, if steam comes out then the issue is likely old milk blocking off the steam holes, clean the tip.
- If the steam tip is off and nothing comes out there may be a blockage in the steam pipe either from the valve to the wand, or from the valve to the boiler.
How to Diagnose Hot Water and Steam System Obstructions
Not Steaming and no Hot Water through group
- Is there flow from the group head? If not it could be a result of a block in the group or the brew solenoid valve.
- If there is flow but the machine is not heating then it could be the result of bad thermostats, tripped or bad high limit switch, a bad element, or a lead has come off of the element terminal.
Resetting the High Limit Switch
I Have No Water Flow At All From The Group
- When you press the brew button does the pump activate? If it does not then it could be either a bad brew switch, bad pump, or a wire has come off.
- If the pump is making a low hum it could be that the pump needs to be prime, there is a blockage present in the system, or the pump has failed.
- If the pump sounds as if it is under pressure open the steam/hot water valve, does water come out just fine? This is likely a result of a stuck or blocked brew solenoid.
Steam Pressure is Low
- If you have activated the steam function and have allowed the machine adequate time to heat up completely but the steam pressure is low, remove the tip from the steam valve, inspect it, it may be blocked by old milk which will restrict the amount of steam that is able to come out the end of the wand.
- If you have allowed the machine to heat fully and the steam pressure is low, this could be a result of a failed steam stat which will not allow the machine to heat to its set steam temperature causing the pressure to be reduced.
My brew pressure is low
- If brew pressure seems low you can try running a time test, timing how long it takes for the brew to to fill up to 6 ounces of water. If this function takes longer than 30 seconds, there is likely a fault.
- What will cause low brew pressure is either build up in the hydraulic system, a failing pump, or the screen is mostly clogged from heavy coffee build up due to lack of maintenance.
My machine is leaking
1. Is coffee coming up and over the portafilter?
- Replace the group gasket.
2. Is it steaming from above the machine through the vents on top?
- If there is steaming coming out of the top of the machine, the top of the machine should be removed to determine where the leak is coming from. This will likely be a result of a loose or damaged fitting.
3. Is the leak coming from around the nut where the steam or hot water wand attaches?
- There is an o-ring in there. You can try to tighten the nut first. If that doesn’t stop the leak, take it off, and check on the o-ring that sits in there. The o-ring should be placed at the bottom of the nut resting in a channel on the inside of the nut. This will either be a rubber o-ring or teflon ring. It may either be worn or damaged and will require replacement.
4. Is it dripping or leaking out of the tip of the steam wand?
- Yes. It should leak or drip a little bit after use, and when the machine is first started up. This is normal, and due to condensation in the pipe. It should subside after a few minutes of non use.
- Yes.
- The valve has a shaft that runs through it and on the end of this shaft is a teflon tap. If there is debris present in the valve, it will cause this teflon tap to not properly seat and will let water past it. The teflon tap may also be worn out from age or being over tightened and no longer is able to properly seal, allowing water to get past it.
5. Is the leak coming from between the steam tip and the wand?
- There is a rubber o ring or teflon gasket in between them that may need to be replaced.
6. Is the leak coming from the boiler itself?
- Is it leaking from where a valve screws in to the boiler?
- Remove the valve, and clean any remnants of sealant. You can use teflon tape, Permabond, or loctite to reseal the valve back into the boiler.
- f the brew boiler is leaking, the brew boiler sits on top of and attaches to the group head, there is a gasket that sits between them. If water is present coming from this location between the boiler and the group than either the bolts need to be tightened, or the gasket is bad and requires replacement.
7. I cannot find the source of the leak.
- Run the machine to allow it to heat. Some leaks may only be apparent under heat and pressure.
- You can open the machine and send us any photos or videos, so we can determine if we can find the source of the leak.
- Send the machine in for service.
8. Is the leak coming from the bottom of the machine?
- Inspect the plastic reservoir valve socket. If it is cracked, it will need to be replaced.
Portafilter is too tight on brand new machine
- As long as water is not leaking around the portafilter from the group head, this is totally normal. Over time, the portafilter will wear in to a normal 6 o’clock position. It could take about a month or two. As long as it is making a good seal, then it is fine. In another year or so, the gasket will need to be replaced again, and may still be a little off center in the beginning.
My coffee tastes bitter or sour
Typically, issues with crema or the flavor of the shot do not indicate a malfunction of the machine. Instead, this indicates that an adjustment needs to be made in the brewing process or that different beans need to be used.
- Here is some helpful advice on Tamping: Tamping Tips
- Making adjustments to the grind is going to have the biggest impact on the coffee extraction. If it is too coarse, the coffee is going to come through too fast, and not extract long enough. How to Grind For Espresso
- If the grind is too fine, it is going to extract for too long, results in really bitter shots. How to Grind For Espresso
- It is important to use fresh beans, typically beans roasted within the past two weeks are best. Light and medium roasts are best for espresso brewing and richer crema.