Nothing is worse than wanting coffee and having your Keurig’s descale light come on. Sometimes a standard descaling won’t be enough to turn off the light. How do you then fix a Keurig coffee maker that won’t descale?
If using the extra solution or vinegar, citric acid, and water to descale a Keurig, do not switch off the descale light; let it sit for a few hours before cleaning. When using refillable K-cups, watch out not to overfill them, and use a safety pin to clean the exit needle. There’s much more to the situation than that; to find out, continue reading.
In this article, we’ll look at some potential reasons why your Keurig descale light may be staying on and a quick fix so you can start brewing again.
Keurig Slim Rescale Not Starting
Verify that the brewer is appropriately plugged in by performing a test. If it doesn’t function, the outlet can have a problem. To ensure it operates in the same outlet, plug in another appliance.
To test whether the brewer will function, plug it into a different kitchen socket. To start the brewer, make sure the power button is down. Tap the button icon once on Keurig 2.0’s lower right corner of the screen.
After doing this test, if the brewer still won’t turn on, contact Keurig customer support so they can diagnose the issue.
Keurig Slim Rescale Not Brewing
Descale the brewer if Keurig tells them to do so but won’t brew. Try these remedies if you don’t get the descale warning, but your Keurig isn’t brewing or pumping water:
- Unplug and then replug the brewer.
- To ensure the water tank is positioned correctly, lift and reposition it.
- If the tank is correctly positioned and there is enough water in the storage tank, but it still won’t work, try cleaning the reservoir at the facility where the tank goes and the hose/valve at the bottom of the tank; perform a check and cleaning. This valve occasionally develops clogs and causes issues. Hand wash with a bar of mild soap and a soft cloth, then thoroughly rinse.
- Ensure that the top and bottom exit needles are free of the ground by cleaning them with a paper clip.
- Try tapping the bottom of the machine a few times after removing the tank and turning it upside down.
The time has come to contact Keurig Customer Service if none of these solutions work.
Other Keurig Slim Descale Problems
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Not Pulling Out Water
Water flow issues are a very typical concern with Keurig coffee makers. Try cleaning your Keurig if it isn’t producing a full cup of coffee or water or if you’re getting coffee grounds in your cup. Especially the exit needles and the k-cup holder. If you haven’t recently descaled your unit, this is a perfect moment to do so.
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Turns Off Automatically
Check the Auto ON/OFF setting and make sure the duration has not been set if your Keurig keeps turning off.
Here’s how to turn Keurig’s auto-off. There is no quick repair for a Keurig that keeps cutting off mid-brew, so you need to contact customer service.
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Not Heating
A water pump or heating element is typically to blame if a Keurig isn’t heating the water. The heating element stops off to avoid overheating if the water pump malfunctions.
Usually, a clogged water pump might be problematic. Cleaning your machine is a good idea, especially the valve on the machine and the valve at the bottom of the tank.
To get it to start operating, you can also try holding down the brew button for a short period. Your computer can sometimes be reset to resolve this problem. Contact assistance if the heating element or water pump entirely stops functioning.
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Requesting For Water When It’s Full
If the water reservoir has enough water and is appropriately positioned, but you are still experiencing “add water” problems, consider cleaning the reservoir. With a soft cloth and light soap, wash it by hand, then rinse. Discard the water after removing the water reservoir.
Additionally, ensure the valves at the machine’s tank-entry point, and the bottom of the tank are both clean. The valve can occasionally become clogged, which can lead to issues.
You can use tap or filtered water to re-fill the tank to the MAX fill line; do not use softened water. Be sure to wipe the exit needles on both sides. Then, return to the unit.
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Continue To Pump Water
Try this fix if your Keurig won’t stop pumping water:
- Unplug it.
- Take out the reservoir.
- Turn it upside down.
- Shake it a little.
- Tap the bottom a few times.
- Although it may seem absurd, it frequently offers a solution.
Instead of distilled water, use tap, purified, or bottled water. Distilled or softened water shouldn’t be used in Keurig coffee makers because it frequently results in these issues. Fill the tank with a new tap, filtered, or bottled water after thoroughly rinsing it.
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Light Not Working
It’s time to descale your coffee maker when the descale light comes on. Descaling may not have entirely eliminated buildups if the descale light remains on, so you should do the procedure again. You must contact Keurig support if the descale light persists even after you have performed the process twice.
Keurig Duo descale light remains on: To turn off the indicator light once you have finished descaling your brewer, push and hold down the 8oz and 10oz buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.
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Leaking
Clean the k-cup holder and the exit needles together. Additionally, examine whether the water tank’s bottom valve is clean and in good condition. The Keurig machine can be blocked if it leaks while preheating.
The tap method can also be used: turn the machine off, take out the water tank, tip it upside down, shake it a little, and tap the bottom a few times. Reset everything. If nothing is clogged yet the machine still leaks, the hose or valve inside the device is probably to blame, and you should contact customer service.
When a Keurig leaks water from the bottom, the issue is typically either a torn hose or seal inside the machine or a bit of string at the bottom of the water tank (near the water filter).
The Keurig machine’s o-ring can be replaced using this excellent tutorial. If it’s an o-ring, it’s simple to swap it out for a new one. If the machine’s hose or seal is the problem, you must disassemble it, which is not something I advise. If so, I recommend contacting Keurig customer service for more advice.
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The Breakers
Your new coffee maker may cause issues if you recently purchased the Keurig model and live in a home with AFCI/GFCI breakers.
For some reason, the more recent Keurig K-Cafe and K-Elite machines can malfunction in newly built residences. There is no cure for this; most consumers just return the item.
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Using Softened Water
Softened water should not be used in Keurig machines. Try to switch to bottled or tap water if you consistently end up with a messy result with coffee grounds in the cup. Keurig does not advise using distilled or softened water in its equipment.
Maintain the cleanliness of your equipment by regularly cleaning the brew head. Fill the tank with bottled or tap water, then make a few brew cycles without the k-cup to clean the equipment. This ought to make the issue go away. Cleaning frequently is also essential.
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Coffee Tastes Bad
If your Keurig coffee tastes terrible, thoroughly clean the k-cup holder, exit needles, and the area around the holder.
If Keurig coffee is bitter to the taste or burnt, or has an unpleasant aftertaste, there might be oil buildups present. This is why cleaning coffee grounds and oils from all parts that come in contact with coffee regularly is essential. Also, make sure it’s not the coffee by checking the expiration date on your K-cups. Here are some pointers for improving your home-brewed k-cup coffee.
Conclusion
Please contact Keurig Customer Service for additional assistance if none of these fixes resolve your problem or if you don’t see your particular issue listed.
Hiiii! My name is Ruth and I am an experienced chef with a passion for food and cooking. My love of baking began when I was nine, and I have since been refining my skills in the kitchen ever since.
