Your Nespresso is leaking water or coffee? Your water is leaking in the capsule container or from the top? You found a pool of water under your leaking Nespresso? The source of the leak and the solutions span from performing a descaling of the Nespresso to the replacement of the water pump or a seal.
To find the cause of your leaking Nespresso, hoses, seals, etc. have to be inspected. Follow our troubleshooting guide to identify the source of the leak and repair a Nespresso leaking.
Once your leak is fixed check our recipes for delicious homemade coffee based drinks!
Why is a Nespresso Leaking
You noticed water dripping from the capsule holder or a pool of water underneath your Nespresso (Magimix, Krups, etc.)… you can be confident you have a leak. Its not the end of your coffee machine! Read on to know what to do when your Nespresso is leaking.
The water tank is cracked or damaged
The plastic water tank can be damaged through time, maybe it fell or it was struck against a hard surface. This is the first and most obvious source of a leaking Nespresso. Inspect it, and if you find a crack, replace it.
While at it, check that the valve at the bottom of the tank is working. Fill the tank of water and let it sit in the sink for a few minutes: if water is leaking from the bottom you need to change the valve.
The capsule holder is dirty
Lime, coffee residues, etc. can cause a build up of dirt on the piercing plate. The capsules not being pierced correctly lead to over pressure in the water circuit. This can cause a Nespresso to leak. Easy to fix this problem, clean the capsule holder thoroughly. If you find lime deposits, descale your Nespresso.
Check the compatibility of your coffee capsules
It might be that the refillable pods or third party coffee capsules you are using are not a perfect fit for your Nespresso. Find a couple of regular Nespresso capsules and check if the Nespresso is still leaking while using them.
Some seals are damaged
When the Nespresso is leaking from the top it could be that the seals of the nozzle or the water dispenser are damaged and need to be replaced.
If your Nespresso is leaking under the machine: check the seal of the water tank, change it for a new one if it is damaged. The leak could also come from the heating element: see below how to check it.
The nozzle also has a seal that may wear out: change for new one if needed.
Piping system leaks
A pump sends the water under pressure in the piping system of the Nespresso. The pipes are under significant pressure and can leak at the joints in the long run. Lime build up in the pipes increases the pressure and can cause leakage. If you have a leaking Nespresso, consider performing a descaling.
The cause of a Nespresso leaking under the machine can be a defective pipe: visually check the water circuit and replace damaged pipes.
The boiler is damaged
A Nespresso leaking may be due to lime buildup in the boiler. If descaling of the Nespresso is not performed regularly this can lead to cracking of the boiler. Check the integrity visually. Read on to test the continuity of the boiler.
The nozzle is scaled up
A leaking Nespresso machine may have a scaled nozzle: descale your machine. If the leak at the nozzle continues, it must be replaced.
How to repair a leaking Nespresso
You checked all the causes from the previous paragraphs, but still: my Nespresso is leaking. Here are two other solutions to stop a Nespresso leak .
Test the boiler of the Nespresso
Perform a continuity test on the boiler of the Nespresso. Make sure the Nespresso (Krups, Magimix, etc.) is unplugged. With a multi-meter in ohmmeter mode:
- disconnect the boilers electrical connectors;
- connect the multi-meter to the connectors of the boiler or thermoblock;
- if the multi-meter emits a beep or displays 0 or more, the thermoblock is OK;
- if there are no beeps and nothing on the display, the boiler is faulty and should be changed.
Descaling your Nespresso
Many leaks come from a lack of descaling of the Nespresso. Descale regularly to keep your Nespresso machine in good conditions and extend its life. Here is the descaling procedure for your Nespresso (Magimix, Krups, etc.):
- Empty the water tank and capsules holder.
- In the water tank, mix 3/4 water with 1/4 descaling product.
- Put a container under the nozzle and start the coffee maker.
- Hold down simultaneously for 3 to 4 seconds the “large cup” and “small cup” buttons.
- Push the “large cup” button and let the water flow in the container.
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 twice.
- Clean the machine by running a clear water cycle twice: fill tank with water and press “large cup”.
- Exit descaling: push the “large cup” and “small cup” buttons for 3 or 4 seconds.
Read our detailed guide on when and why you should descale your Nespresso.
I’ve tried everything, but still my Nespresso is leaking
We gave you the most common causes of a Nespresso leaking. If the problem is not solved:
- check that your Nespresso (Krups, Magimix, etc.) does not have a water flow problem: see our guide to repairing a Nespresso with a water flow problem;
- check if your warranty is still active;
- contact a repair shop if the cost is reasonable;
- buy a new Nespresso.