FAQS: COFFEE MACHINE DESCALER

HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD YOU DESCALE A COFFEE MACHINE?

This will depend on the hardness of the water where you live. For most, from our daily use of water at home, we will have a good idea if we are in a harder or soft water area, but if not, the local water utility company will be able to advise on this. For many appliances types the water hardness level should be set from new. Follow the steps within your instruction manual on how to complete this. This will decide the frequency the appliance indicates a descale is needed.

For appliance without this functionality its recommended the appliance is descaled monthly in hard water areas. Many appliances will give an early indication a descale is needed before preventing the appliance from functioning if left too long to avoid damage.

SETTING UP THE APPLIANCE BASED ON THE WATER HARDNESS OF THE AREA YOU LIVE IN

Many appliances require the water hardness to be programmed into the machine during its initial set up. This will decide the frequency a descale is required. Many coffee machines are supplied with a hard water test strip to measure the hardness of the water in your local area. Follow the steps within your instruction manual on how to complete these steps if your appliance has this function.

DOES HAVING A WATER FILTER NOT REMOVE THE NEED TO DESCALE?

Filters can reduce the frequency a descale is required. But it is still recommended to run a descaling program even if your appliance has an integrated water filter. When running the descale through your appliance, always ensure the filter is removed beforehand.

CAN I NOT USE VINEGAR TO DESCALE MY APPLIANCE?

It’s not recommended to use vinegar or bicarbonate of soda to descale any appliance. They can transfer taste and door to your appliance and the coffee you make. Also they can, over time, damage other internal parts of the machine. Using a product designed for this task is always preferable.

 IS DESCALER SAFE TO USE ON APPLIANCES THAT PRODUCE DRINKS?

Yes, products designed for use on coffee machines such as these tablets are safe to use. As when using any chemical products always make sure the appliance is rinsed through at the end of their descaling program. For coffee machines with automatic descaling programs, this will often be the last step of the routine.

IS A COFFEE MACHINE NOT HEATING PROPERLY A SIGN SCALE HAS DAMAGED THE APPLIANCE?

If your coffee machine seems not to be heating drinks to the temperature it did before, it could be an indication damage has been caused through a lack of descaling. It is worth running a descaling program to see if this resolves the problem. It may be the case that, if this has been caught late, a descaling program will no longer resolve this issue. Check your user manual to make sure you have it set correctly for the temperature you require. For all faults such as this it’s a good idea to contact the manufacturer for advice.

DOES DESCALING ALSO CLEAN?

To some extent descaling will also clean the appliance. However, it’s recommended to run cleaning programs more frequently with products that target the specific cleaning requirements of coffee machines.

 I HAVE DESCALED BUT THE WATER IS COMING THROUGH CLOUDY OR WITH PARTICLES

If you haven’t descaled your appliance regularly it could require multiple flushes of clean water to clear the deposits the descaler has removed. Keep doing this until the water runs clear again. It’s worth noting that water passing thorough an appliance, even after a thorough clean and descale can sometimes appear to have more particles in the water than if taken straight from a tap or filtered water source.

CAN I ADD MORE DESCALER FOR A MORE POWERFUL DESCALE?

Always follow the instructions of the descaling product. The given dose shouldn’t be exceeded. If you feel you require a more powerful descale run the program twice rather increasing the dosage.

IS COFFEE STRUGGLING TO DISPENSE A SIGN OF LIMESCALE BUILD UP?

Yes, if your coffee machine is dribbling or spluttering coffee it could be a sign limescale build up is causing an issue. Firstly make sure there is a good supply of water and if the coffee machine has a water container that it is firmly mounted in place. If the appliance is connected to a water supply check to make sure its connected properly and free from anything that may impede the flow of water. A common issue is the dispensing nozzle has become blocked with residue or hasn’t been replaced properly. Check your instruction manual on how to clean and replace this part of the appliance. If all of this seems to be Ok the issue could be due to scale build up. Run a descaling program. If this doesn’t help the machine could need an inspection from a reputable appliance engineer. Running regular descaling cycles helps to significantly reduce the likelihood of this happening.