Keurig Coffee Maker Descale Not Working? – How To Fix It

If you’ve been using a coffee maker for a while, then you’ve probably encountered clogging in the system. Coffee and coffee grounds can be difficult to remove from the system, so you need to make sure you’re doing it in the correct way.

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It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the Keurig coffee maker.

And yes, we’re talking about the single-cup brewing machines first introduced in the late ’90s. We’re not talking about the K-Cups that are in vogue now.

We’re sticklers for fresh-brewed coffee, which can’t be beaten.

Unfortunately, Keurig is a brewing system, which means it needs to be cleaned every once in a while.

If you never descale your Keurig or clean it, you’ll eventually start noticing a buildup of coffee oils, calcium, and other yucky stuff. This blog post will show you how to descale and clean your Keurig.

There is a lot of stuff that can go wrong with a computer that operates perfectly well.

The Keurig Coffee Maker isn’t any different.

It can come up with something, from refusing to move on to refusing to close tight.

When it is already full, it might stop dispensing water, stop heating, start leaking or even call for water to be added.

Another set of issues you can face is an unresponsive touch screen as well as the power button.

Often, your Keurig can only seize the job after a power outage.

Even if it seems all right from the outside, a strange quality or quantity of coffee can start brewing. When it starts making a buzzing noise when it’s switched off, it weirds me out.

The Keurig Coffee Maker descale not working is one such problem. There is definitely nothing freaky going on, considering how weird your Keurig acts. Rest assured, the day will be saved by some practical tech support.

To help you out, here is a quick guide to descaling your coffee maker.

Scaling of the Keurig Coffee Maker

Scaling tends to occur as the water flows into the machine.

This is where calcium ions and other sediments accumulate on the machine’s inner sections.

The descale light will turn on when this occurs. This generally means that cleaning (descaling) of the unit is required. The machine will, in some cases, immediately stop running.

Some individuals have tossed their Keurig out assuming that (while all that is required is some descaling!) it stopped working.

How much you descale your Keurig depends on the hardness of your area’s water. If your water contains too much hardness, you will have to descale your Keurig more often than if the water is lighter in your neighborhood.

Why Does the Descale Light Turn ON

Nothing is worse than wanting to have caffeine and finding the light on your Keurig’s downhill. Even a regular descaling often won’t make the light turn off.

But I wanted to explore what to do when it is not going to work on a Keurig coffee maker descale. It’s literally a warning when the dreaded descale light turns on, that something is blocking the usual flow of water.

Although that can mean that you have scale build-up within the Keurig in your sections, it’s not the only problem that’s possible.

If you are refilling your own cups, as you fill them and don’t fill them all the way to the bottom, it is a smart thing not to pack down on the coffee.

This will contribute to the descaling light going ON. Some refillable cup makers allow more space for flow than others. Your cup may even be placed too close, which limits the flow of water.

How the Water Type Plays a Major Role in Scaling?

Water and, clearly, coffee powder are the best exceptional but most common ingredients to make a sweet cup of piping hot coffee.

Several parameters, such as water pressure and water temperature, play a significant role in producing a blissful consistency of coffee.

However, the water quality you choose is the most important. This is crucial with respect to Keurig brewers and water consistency, for any inaccurate errors would end in a wrecked coffee maker, or horrible-tasting coffee.

Hardness of Water

To understand why the Keurig Coffee Maker descale light goes ON, here is a quick overview of what water hardness is and why plays it a role in our case.

The quantity of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water is the meaning of water hardness.

Hard water, predominantly calcium and magnesium, is rich in dissolved minerals. The symptoms of rough water you might have noticed, actually, the last time you washed your face.

You may have felt like there was a layer of makeup left on your lips, relying on the hardness of the water, after using soap to wash.

Soap reacts with calcium (which is comparatively strong in hard water) to form scummy soap in hard water. To get stuff clean, be it your skin, clothes, or your laundry, more soap or detergent is needed while using hard water.

The Relation Between Scaling and Water Type

Descaling is designed to extract calcium and other traces of minerals.

Therefore, in your Keurig coffee maker, you can never use mineral water or spring water, since these contain large concentrations of minerals that can make the descaling warning appear more often.

For some versions of Keurig, distilled water is a perfect way to go, but not Keurig 2.0.

I would say we are better off using plain old tap water for almost everyone and then enabling the Keurig filter to clean it. Of course, there is a tiny amount of chlorine in most tap water, which can influence the coffee flavor, so you can install a reverse osmosis water filter to your counter (or whole house), or simply buy reverse osmosis water at the local supermarket.

Now that you know why the light (descale) is ON, let us take a look at how you can resolve this. Keurig urges you to use a chemical called Dezcal to descale your unit. Conversely, diluted vinegar may be used, which performs almost as well.

All you need to operate the Dezcal or diluted vinegar through the system to descale, then you can turn off the descale display.

If all this seems very confusing to you, don’t worry!

I will explain how to descale your Keurig Coffee Maker with each method in detail. Keep reading to find out more.

Using Filtered Water to Prevent Scaling

 

Like I mentioned earlier, the use of filtered water is one strategy to get around the slow downscaling. There are some water filtration units that can be directly connected to your home’s plumbing.

APEX Countertop Drinking Water Filter – Alkaline

 

The APEX Countertop Drinking Water Filter removes the chlorine taste and odor, as well as heavy metals. The filter also controls microorganisms in your drinking water.

 

How to Use Dezcal To Descale your Keurig Coffee Maker?

 

Vinegar takes time to work and leaves behind an unpleasant odor and aftertaste. It influences the scent and flavor of the coffee and can be tough to clean at times.

Dezcal is a good alternative that is generally used to descale boilers and heating elements, including faucets, spray heads as well as milk systems.

Make use of the Urnex Dezcal Coffee and Espresso Machine Descaler Activated Scale Remover to easily and reliably descale the Keurig Coffee Maker.

Procedure

• Create a descaling solution (The ratio is one oz powder for every thirty-two oz of water).
• The powder dissolves in warm water.
• For up to thirty minutes, hold the descaling solution in a vessel.
• Rinse all the parts.

 

How to Use the Keurig Descaling Solution To Descale your Keurig Coffee Maker?

 

Did you know that “Keurig” is the Dutch term for “excellence”? I looked up the official website of the Keurig Coffee Maker and, found out that there is a Keurig Descaling Solution. It makes life much simpler, especially when the descale light is on, and the machine refuses to work.

I went ahead and decided to buy the Keurig Descaling Solution Brewer Cleaner. It was really easy to use, as instructed coffee tastes great after rinsing the coffee maker out.

Before this I used vinegar, so I thought I would try this method when I got a new unit.

After following the directions and running it, it had a slight odour, but I found it rinsed out way easier than vinegar.

It was not at all after tasting. It seems like it made the water run a bit smoother across it, too. I will definitely recommend this product, as it seems to both do its job and rinse well.

But for those of you who are on a tight budget, I would suggest you consider the price and benefits before buying.

Procedure

Follow the steps mentioned below to descale your Keurig Coffee Maker:

1. Turn the power off
2. Remove the water filter (Empty Reservoir)
3. Fill the Keurig Descaling Solution into the reservoir
4. Fill the empty bottle with water and add to the reservoir
5. Turn the power on and position the mug
6. Perform a cleansing brew (using 10oz. brew size)
7. Pour the contents of the mug into the sink
8. Iterate until ADD WATER light comes on
9. With power on, let brewer sit for thirty minutes
10. Rinse reservoir completely
11. Fill the reservoir with fresh water
12. Perform (at least twelve) cleansing brews

 

I would strongly recommend you not to buy an off-brand (not Keurig) to descale your Keurig coffee maker. I tried this once, and it left a terrible aftertaste in my machine making it unusable. I was about to buy another coffee maker but chose to try the Keurig Descaling Solution Brewer Cleaner as my last resort. My favorite coffee maker was restored, and my daily cup of coffee is delightful.

How to Use Vinegar To Descale your Keurig Coffee Maker

Mix one part of white vinegar with one part of water to prevent purchasing any pricey descaling solution. Since 14 oz is the average bottle, that means you’re going to need 7 oz of vinegar and 7 oz of water to make a mixture.

Following the advice of Keurig from their official website, go through the descaling process I discussed above. Note that you should allow the mixture to stay in the Keurig for up to four hours (if appropriate) instead of the thirty minutes they suggest for their solution.

Reasons to Clean Your Keurig Coffee Maker Frequently

Buying a new Keurig Coffee Maker ensures that you do not need to worry about wrangling filters or ground coffee beans every single day. But all of us are possibly aware, that the thing can get messy (Of not caring about washing it either!).

Do you know the consequences of not periodically cleaning and maintaining your Keurig Coffee Maker? The Keurig Coffee Maker, like all coffee makers and pod coffee machines, if not properly cleaned, can act as a breeding place for dangerous bacteria as well as mold.

How to Clean a Keurig Coffee Maker

Per week

1. Preferably, on a weekly basis, you may want to clean the detachable parts of your unit.
2. Unplug the machine.
3. The water reservoir, cap, mug tray, and K-cup holder should be disassembled.
4. In soap and warm water, wash the mug tray as well as K-cup holder.
5. Detach the water filter from the water reservoir and lid, then wipe the objects with a clean, soapy towel.
6. Wash the container and the lid with water and let dry naturally, as this might leave lint residue, you don’t want to dry it with a towel.
7. With a wet sponge, clean the outer layer.
8. Install any pieces that are removed and connect the unit back in.

Per three to six months

To avoid hard water minerals that can develop over time, descale the unit, which might impact how well it operates.

1. Start the descaling method by filling ten ounces of white vinegar or Keurig’s Descaling Solution into the tank. I covered this step in detail in the previous section of this blog article.
2. Without a K-cup, begin the brew cycle and let the unit work normally. Using a mug to collect the liquid.
3. A second or third time, continue this procedure.
4. Then, one more time, repeat the process, but with ten ounces of fresh water to eliminate any flavor of vinegar.
5. As always, brew your coffee.

Cleaning Your Keurig K-Cup Brewer Needles

Some people tell me that they have problems with finding coffee grounds in their coffee. Make sure to follow these directions.

• To stop coffee grounds from showing up in your drink tomorrow morning, remove them with a sponge if you see them in your K-cup holder.
• There might also be coffee grounds trapped in the needles, which punch the entry and exit points from which the water runs if you have trouble brewing.
• To clean the Keurig needles, unplug your unit first.
• Then, before rinsing, Keurig gently suggests using a paperclip to clean away any clogging residue stuck in the needles.

If you finish following the steps mentioned above, you will not have to think about the grounds in your coffee.

Using Keurig Pods to Clean Your Keurig Coffee Maker

 

Generally, you do not change your flavor of coffee and do not do anything new. The coffee that your Keurig brews for you is designed to maintain its flavor. But strangely, Keurig starts brewing strange-tasting coffee instead of offering consistency.

Believe me, it is not a Keurig Coffee Maker problem when I say this. When a large proportion of minerals collect within, it may happen to any coffee machine. The drinking water you use to fill the water tank comes with these minerals. For a quick fix, once a week or after brewing a flavored drink, use Keurig Rinse Pods.

The Keurig Rinse Pods reduce the flavor of the carry-over taste between brews. It is literally the fastest way to disinfect your K-cup pod holder. The advantage of using a Keurig Rinse Pod is that you can use it similarly to a standard K-cup pod. It has a formula that is gentle and odorless.

 

Using the Keurig 3-Month Brewer Maintenance Kit

 

Alternatively, try the Keurig 3-Month Brewer Maintenance Kit. Using the Keurig 3-Month Brewer Repair Kit is a smart idea to clean the Keurig after three months. Afterward, you can no longer taste a strange-tasting coffee.

The kit comes with one descaling solution, and four Keurig Rinse Pods as well as two water filter cartridges. The Keurig 3-Month Brewer Maintenance Kit helps by removing mineral buildup that can affect the taste of your beverages.

Is there a Reset Button in the Keurig Coffee Maker

Often we feel desperate for a reset button because our Keurig coffee maker descale isn’t running. That being said, you might be frustrated if you’re hoping for a reset button. The Keurig Coffee Maker doesn’t have a quick reset button.

Unplugging the unit for approximately five minutes, nevertheless, serves as a reset for the unit, and the K-cup holder is opened and closed to reset the brewing period. Note that there is little inside the device that is serviceable by the customer.

Should You Get a Keurig Coffee Maker if You Do Not Have One

It’s tough to find a home on Instagram right now which doesn’t have a Keurig Coffee Maker. I love the Keurig of mine. To be frank, I don’t really know how to use a coffee maker, but I don’t really think I’m going to let go of my Keurig lifestyle anytime soon. How simple and easy it is is the biggest attraction of Keurig.

All you need to do is fill up the water tank, pop in a pod, press start, and in less than a minute you’ll have coffee. This means that you’re not going to have to roast coffee beans, find out how much coffee and water you really like, or hesitate to brew a whole cup. It’s so fast.

Despite my appreciation of this kitchen gadget, in terms of comfort, expense, and sustainability, I see the disadvantages of a one-cup coffee brewer. It is not inexpensive to invest in a Keurig.

The best model I have ever seen goes on Amazon for $250 and more, although for less than twenty dollars you get a decent drip coffee machine.

Keurig coffee is better when it comes to the price per cup than going out for coffee daily. A single-cup coffee maker is a hardly any-fuss choice that brews coffee and makes it as simple as possible to tidy up.

If you drink multiple cups during the day and you have your coffee maker running all the time, Keurig will save you time. Typically, for the next cup, Keurig requires 1 minute to brew an 8-ounce cup and 30-60 seconds to heat the drink. Simply insert the pod, and then you don’t have to do with ground coffee or filter basket preparation. That being said, it has to heat the water first, much like every other coffee machine.

This typically takes 3-4 minutes, depending on the product, so you’ll need to wait four to five minutes to get the first cup full. The unit will be ready for brewing quickly if you keep it running all the time. If not, any time you turn it on, you will need to sit tight for the system to heat up once more, meaning another 4-5 minutes.

I would say that, if you’re ready to invest in a Keurig Coffee Maker if you are a regular coffee drinker and have more than one cup in a day, go ahead! If the price is not at all an issue for you, I think the Keurig Coffee Maker will be worth it. But, if you’re just getting started with a new home or are on a tight budget, the Keurig Coffee Maker might not be for you.

Here are some of the best Keurig Coffee Makers that you can find out on Amazon:

Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker, 8 to 12 Oz. Brew Sizes

 

Keurig K-Select Coffee Maker, Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer

 

Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker, Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer

 

FAQs

1. Is a descaling solution better than vinegar?

Vinegar will work to clean the machine and remove built-up calcium, but it is not a replacement for the descaling solution. The descaling solution works better because it is a concentrated solution that has been specifically formulated to remove deposits and build-ups from coffee machines.

2. How long do you leave the vinegar in a Keurig to descale?

Leaving vinegar in the machine for up to 24 hours could be required in order to completely remove the built-up residue. If you are concerned about your Keurig being damaged by descaling, it is recommended that you take it apart and clean all of the components.

3. What happens if I don’t descale my Keurig?

Over time, the coffee build-up will cause your machine to perform less efficiently. If you do not descale your Keurig about every 3-4 months, it could eventually stop working altogether. Descaling your machine will remove the built-up layers of coffee and restore its performance.

4. How do you get the vinegar taste out of a Keurig after cleaning it?

If you have vinegar residue on your Keurig machine, there are a few different ways to remove the vinegar taste. You can try one of the following methods:

• Boil water and pour it over the Keurig machine. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use a brush to clean off all the residue.
• Pour white vinegar into a bowl, then place the Keurig machine in the bowl. Turn it on and let it run for a few minutes. Use a brush to clean off all the residue.
• Put some baking soda into a spray bottle and mist it over the Keurig machine. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use a brush to clean off all the residue.

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, I realized that the excess scale has accumulated up if a Keurig descale doesn’t work. Repeat the procedure mentioned in this article with more solution or vinegar and let stay for a few hours before rinsing.

For rough build-up, the citric acid works well, as well.

We all know how important it is to clean our coffee makers regularly. Coffee is a natural beverage, so it reacts to its environment. This means that your coffee maker is full of bacteria if nothing has been done to clean it out. However, it is not always easy to do this.

Be careful not to overfill if you use refillable cups. After that, periodically clean the exit needle. I hope you found this article useful!

The Keurig coffee maker is one of the most popular single-serve coffee makers on the market, and for good reason.

Not only does it produce a fresh cup of coffee every time, but it’s also easy to clean and doesn’t use a lot of coffee grounds, which is a plus for the environment.

However, it does need some routine maintenance from time to time.

One of the most important things to do is to descale the machine.