Post by Barry JarrettPost by bigIPpimpHello all. I have an espresso machine plumbed in at home. Can someone
recommend a descaling solution and basic procedure for cleaning the
machine? Thanks
scalekleen.
take it apart.
I guess the first question is why?
If the machine is working OK and very importantly you have adequate
water softening ie. polyphosphate cartridge (that isn't depleted) then
you won't need to descale that often.
I have done my Bezzera 40-P a few times.
1. Take off covers.
2. Find drain tap for boiler (they should all have one) and allow boiler
to drain into drip tray (I presume your's is plumbed to drain)
3. Use 1 - 2 teaspons/litre of water of citric acid.
4. Disconnect water source and put inlet hose into container with citric
acid.
5. Turn machine on fill boiler and leave for about 45 minutes.
Periodically flush water through the group.
6. Drain boiler.
7. Hook back up to water source and allow to fill.
8. Drain and fill boiler a few times.
Finished!
It sounds a bit complext but it is just common sense really.
I accept the other comment which is to take it apart. If it is badly
scaled to the point where the performance is poor it may need taking
apart. Sometimes though it is just the heat exchanger (if the machine
has one, lots of prosumer models it is just a loop of pipe through the
boiler) then take that out and descale separately. On my Bezzera, it
takes next to no time to take out the heat exchanger which is a 20mm
pipe about 245mm long!
Have fun now!
Grant