How to prime a Nespresso machine pump

Published Categorized as Fix/Repair Tagged

Your Nespresso is not pumping water? Your coffee machine has no pressure or the water is not flowing from your Nespresso machine? This is a very common problem that usually only needs a prime of the water pump of the Nespresso machine to fix it.

Read on to identify a water pump malfunction on your coffee machine and follow our procedure on how to prime a Nespresso pump. If your water pump turns out to be faulty our step-by-step guide will show you how to replace it.

Why my Nespresso machine won’t pump water?

If the regular wear of the water pump is a possible cause, other reasons are most probably responsible of water not flowing on your Nespresso machine:

  • you used your Nespresso machine with insufficient water in the water tank or even an empty water tank: the water pump sucked air into the water circuit and is unable to restore the pressure, you need to prime the water pump;
  • the water pump is no longer correctly positioned in the system;
  • the Nespresso machine is overheating: if it is too close to a heat source, make sure that there is enough space around the machine for air circulation to cool it down.

The symptoms of a malfunction of the water pump can be as follows:

  • the water pressure id high and the Nespresso machine makes a loud, high-pitched noise when you switch it on;
  • the water pressure is low and the coffee doesn’t flow;
  • you can’t adjust the water pressure.

How to prime the pump of a Nespresso machine?

Follow our procedure to prime a Nespresso pump  :

  1. Fill the water tank with water.
  2. Start the Nespresso and press the Lungo or “large cup” button.
  3. Raise the lever and wait a few seconds to allow the air in the water circuit to escape as the pump pushes it out.
  4. Lower the handle to the closed position.
  5. Repeat several times steps 3 and 4 until water starts to flow in the capsule compartment or the nozzle: that’s it the Nespresso machine pump is primed.

If water does not flow after several attempts, your problem is not to priming the Nespresso machine. Your pump is probably defective, read on to test the water pump of your Nespresso.

How to test a Nespresso machine water pump?

When your Nespresso has a water flow or pressure problem, you want to know if priming the Nespresso machine is enough or if you need to replace the water pump.

First, unplug your Nespresso coffe maker. You will need a screwdriver and a large syringe filled with water.

Proceed as follows to test the water pump:

  1. Remove the capsule container and the water tank.
  2. Remove the side panels and the back of the Nespresso.
  3. Disconnect the tube attached to the flow meter.
  4. Fit the syringe at the end of the tube you just disconnected, making sure there are no air leaks.
  5. Put back in place the water tank and plug the Nespresso.
  6. Make a coffee with the Lungo or “large cup” button while pressing the syringe to push the water into the water circuit.

If the pump vibrates and coffee doesn’t flow, the water pump is defective and must be replaced.

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How to replace the water pump of a Nespresso machine?

Don’t forget to unplug the Nespresso machine first!

  1. Remove the capsule container and the back and side panels of the Nespresso machine.
  2. Disconnect the water inlet and outlet pipes from the pump (take pictures to make it easier to connect the new water pump).
  3. Disconnect the electrical connections of the pump.
  4. Remove the faulty pump.
  5. Insert the new pump.
  6. Reconnect the electrical connectors.
  7. Connect the water pipes paying attention to the in and out directions (check with your photos).
  8. Put back in place the Nespresso machine back and side panels.

Before making your first coffee, clean the new pump by doing a couple of runs with hot water.