My Nespresso machine has no water coming out: causes and repair

Published Categorized as Fix/Repair Tagged

Your Nespresso has no water flow? There is the sound of the motor and you can hear the water pump, but your Nespresso has no water coming out. In most cases the cause is benign and easy to fix.

First, you need to identify the source of the water not flowing. Follow our step-by-step troubleshooting guide to repair your Nespresso machine with no water coming out. It applies to all the Nespresso models: Nespresso Inissia, Nespresso Virtuoline, Nespresso Maestria, Nespresso U, Nespresso Citiz, Nespresso Pixie, or Nespresso Lattissima.

Why does my Nespresso has no water flow

Make sure that there is water in the reservoir, that it is locked in place and that it sits properly on its base. Your first step is to reset the Nespresso machine. If this doesn’t solve your problem, check the points below. Unplug the Nespresso machine before any intervention.

The water pump is air-locked

The pump ensures the flow of water in your Nespresso machine. If it makes a noise but only a few drops of water or nothing arrives in your cup, it is probably air-locked. You need to prime your pump (see below or check our detailed post).

It could also be that your Nespresso machine needs to be descaled. Over time limescale can clog the pipes and prevent water from flowing normally.

The valve of the water tank is stuck

The flow of liquid from the water reservoir is controlled by a valve. Dirt or scale can clog it and prevent the water from flowing into the machine. Remove the tank and inspect the valve at the bottom. Replace it if it is damaged. If it is dirty, use white vinegar to clean it. The vinegar will dissolve limescale deposits and solve the problem of your Nespresso machine with no water coming out .

A malfunctioning flow meter

The flow meter controls the flow of water in your Nespresso coffeemaker. It consists of a magnet and an impeller. Clogging, especially with lime deposits, can cause the impeller to stop rotating and alter the water flow of the Nespresso machine. Descaling your coffee machine should solve the problem.

A damaged or clogged safety valve

This component handles the water pressure when the Nespresso coffeemaker is running: it prevents overpressure in the water circuit. As with the flow meter, limescale deposits are usually the culprit, and descaling the Nespresso coffee machine is enough to repair a Nespresso with no water flow.

Solenoid valve stuck

The solenoid allows the water to flow or not. If it is damaged, or more often covered in limescale, it can block the flow of water in the Nespresso machine. Descale the coffee maker and restart it.

Repairing a Nespresso machine with no water coming out

Prime the Nespresso water pump

Check out our detailed post on how to prime the water pump to repair your Nespresso machine with no water coming through. Here is a breakdown of the procedure:

  1. Lift the top handle of your Nespresso machine vertically.
  2. Press the Espresso or Lungo button once. You should hear the pump start.
  3. Push the handle further back from the vertical, about 1/2 inch.
  4. After a few seconds the water starts to flow in the machine.
  5. Return the handle back to the horizontal closed position.

The pump is primed and you are ready to start making coffee. Check out our easy and delicious coffee recipes!

Descaling a Nespresso machine

As we have seen, many problems are due to your Nespresso machine needing to be descaled. It is recommended to descale the Nespresso at least once a year. Here is the descaling procedure:

  1. Empty the used capsule tray and the water tank.
  2. Pour in the tank 3/4 water and 1/4 descaling product.
  3. Place a large enough container under the coffee output and turn the Nespresso machine ON.
  4. Press the small cup and Lungo buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds to 4 seconds.
  5. Press the Lungo button again and the water will start to flow.
  6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 twice.
  7. Clean the water circuit with 2 clear water cycles by pressing the Lungo button.
  8. Exit descaling by pressing the “small” and Lungo buttons simultaneously for 3 to 4 seconds.

Your Nespresso machine is ready for use.

I tried everything, and still my Nespresso machine has no water flow

We have seen that the safety valve, the solenoid or the flow meter could lead to a Nespresso machine with no water coming out. If the problem persists, it could be that one of these components is broken and needs to be replaced. You can also test the water pump, the procedure is detailed in our guide on repairing a Nespresso machine not piercing capsules.

We have listed the most common causes of a Nespresso machine with no water flow. If the problem persists: