When a malfunction occurs in our Dolce Gusto coffee machine, we must conduct a thorough investigation and evaluate all possible causes until we find the true cause of the problem.
As the dripping is a consequence of a failure in the water system, we will have to check all the components of the system, as any of these can be the cause:
- Water tank
- Rubber seals
- Valves
- Internal pipes
- Water pump
- Heating element
- The injector
The water leakage or dripping can be observed in two different areas of the coffee maker such as:
- In the upper front part of the Dolce Gusto. If you notice the leak at the top of the machine, the problem is around the injector or pod holder.
- At the base of the Dolce Gusto. In this case, any of the system’s internal components that we have already mentioned may be responsible for the leak.
How to repair a leaking Dolce Gusto
It will be necessary to disassemble the Dolce Gusto to repair the damaged part; you can do it yourself if you are good at assembling and disassembling appliances and have some electrical knowledge. Generally, it will be better to replace the whole component, being much more practical and economical.
There is also possibly no damage to any component; only a connection or a hose inside the machine has been loosened.
Dolce Gusto maker leaking water from the base
If the leak is located at the bottom of the brewer, there is likely a broken component or a poorly sealed gasket. Disassemble the Dolce Gusto and locate exactly which internal part is causing the leak.
This disassembly should only be performed if the warranty on your machine has already expired because if it is still valid, it will be invalidated by this procedure.
Of all the internal components, the water tank, pump, and heater (thermoblock) are the most common that can leak; here’s how to check each of them:
Leakage in the water tank
To check if the leaks come from the water tank, the first thing to do is to remove the tank and verify that it is in perfect condition, without damage to any of its parts, as well as the connections to the body of the coffee maker.
With time, the most common problem with the tank is that the rubber gasket that seals the connection between the tank and the coffee maker wears out or is completely damaged, and this will cause a leak.
It can also happen that the tank valve does not lift correctly, and it is necessary to verify that both the spring and the O-ring are in good condition.
Water leakage in the pump
When inspecting the water pump, we must pay close attention if there are drips near the pump when starting the coffee maker. You may see rust on it, or some parts may not be in good condition.
Note: To perform this task without casings, you must be cautious since there are exposed live parts.
Problems in the water pump can lead to excessive vibration and noise.
Water leakage at the heating element inlet or outlet
Boiler problems usually come from the pipes that connect to the heating element, through which the water flows continuously. If these pipes become damaged or deteriorated over time, water will leak, leaving a dark stain on the boiler wall.
To know for sure if any of these elements are damaged and are causing leaks, it will be necessary to remove the outer casings of the machine and operate the coffee maker to observe any drips instantly.
Note: Again, be very cautious during this operation.
Water leakage in the heating element
The most common failures in the thermoblock are due to breaks or cracks; in this case, you will have to replace the damaged component with a new one. You can easily look for the part you need online, as there is more supply than in physical stores.
Water leakage around the pod holder
Pod coffee makers can present problems when water is not injected correctly through the pod. Water is supposed to flow directly from the Dolce Gusto into the pod and through the pod at high pressure until the coffee comes out of the bottom into the cup.
But if the injection system fails, the water will not only flow out of the bottom of the pod but also out of the sides and even over the pod holder, i.e., it will spill and fall anywhere but into the cup. In the following video, you can see the consequence of this problem in a Dolce Gusto Circolo:
