Why is my Keurig leaking?

Keurig machines are well known for producing consistent coffee day after day with the ease of just pushing a button. However, this does mean that Keurig is entirely problem-free.

After some time the Keurig may start leaking from the bottom or cup holder especially if you use it roughly.

Many users encounter this problem and ask for a solution. So in this article, we will discuss the reasons behind Keurig machine leakage and remedies to fix them!

The first step to solving Keurig leakage: Clean and Descale Keurig Coffee Maker

Unless there are electrical issues or some broken parts, most of the issues you encounter in Keurig can be solved with proper Cleaning.

In other words, we can say that your Keurig needs to be descaled.

Water used for brewing coffee in Keurig contains minerals. These minerals cause limescale to build up inside the Keurig machine. If this limescale remains untreated, ultimately they clog the Pathway of flowing water and can back up the water in the Keurig machine resulting in leakage.

Additionally, clogging also results in a bad coffee taste and can also make Keurig stop pumping water.

Therefore, Descaling is necessary to overcome all these issues. It is recommended to descale Keurig once every 3 to 6 months or after every 300 cups of coffee.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on cleaning and descaling your Keurig.

1. Remove the drip tray, water reservoir, and capsule holder.
2. Rinse and clean all these detachable components of your Keurig with warm and soapy water properly.
3. Fill the tank with solution or vinegar and water and run a descaling cycle. Descaling will remove all the accumulated minerals from your machine. Follow these instructions to descale your machine.
4. After descaling, run 1 to 2 rinsing cycles with hot water only. Otherwise, your coffee will taste like vinegar.

Here are detailed instructions for descaling every Keurig model

You can buy a descaling solution from here

Watch this video for descaling instructions.

Keurig leaking from bottom | Reasons and Solutions

If your Keurig machine is leaking from the bottom then most probably there is an issue with the water reservoir. Let’s discuss these problems in detail.

1)Defective O-Ring

There might be a chance that the O-Ring that is responsible for establishing a secure connection between valves and pump gets worn out or misplaced.

Solution

First, check whether the O-ring is present at its original position or not. As it might get misplaced due to vibrations in the machine while brewing. Try adjusting the position of the O-ring.

If adjusting the position of the O-ring doesn’t work then the solution is to replace the old one with the new one.

You can simply order a new O – Ring from Keurig’s official website or from Amazon. However, you should be familiar with your brewer model because O –Rings differ per model.

If you find it difficult to replace it all by yourself, you can contact Keurig’s official website to seek professional help

2) Cracked Water Reservoir

The water reservoir may develop some cracks if you wash it carelessly and that eventually leads to leakage of water from the bottom of the keurig machine.

First look for a visible crack in the water reservoir if you don’t find any then fill the water tank with water and place it on a piece of cloth. Notice the cloth after 15 to 20 minutes. If the cloth is dry then your water reservoir is good and if the cloth is wet then there must some small holes inside the water tank that are not visible.

Solution

Depending upon the extent of the crack, you need to buy a new one or repair the older one. For repairs, you can use a dab of hot glue, or you can even solder the water tank.

If the water reservoir is non-repairable, then you can find a new one compatible with your model on Amazon.

However, it is highly recommended to replace the water tank with a new one because repairing the older one will not last any longer.

3) Defective exit seal

There is a little valve at the point of connection between the water reservoir and the brewer.

This valve might get worn with time because of the limescale buildup and scaling.

Carefully examine the seal on the valve, as water usually leaks from this seal.

Solution

First, clean both the valve and base connection with white vinegar solution. Wipe it and put back the water reservoir to check for any kind of leakage.

If cleaning doesn’t help apply some Oatey Silicon Grease. It will restore the seal and strengthens the connection between the water reservoir and the brewer.

Keurig leaking water from the top or Pod Holder | Reasons and Solutions

There can be a few possible reasons why Keurig is leaking water from the top.

1)Overfilling the Water Reservoir

When you overfill the water tank, the Keurig starts leaking. Sometimes the water is filled above max fill in Keurig, which causes your brewer to leak.

This is a common problem encountered when using Keurig k-MINI, in which the water tank is non-removable, and it is hard to judge the max level of the tank.

Read a detailed comparison of Keurig slim and Mini

Solution

Ensure not to overfill the water tank as it may cause leakages. You must know that when the water heats, it expands and ultimately leaks.

Always use the manufacturer’s manual guide for instructions on filling the Keurig water reservoir to avoid any kind of leakage and spilling.

2) The needles are clogged

Another reason for leakages in the Keurig coffee machine is needle clogging. This occurs mostly due to stuck used coffee grounds on the needles.

Therefore it is necessary to clean the needles; otherwise, internal debris causes clogging of the needle and blocks the path of water which ultimately leads to leakage from the pod holder of your Keurig machine.

Solution

You have to clean both the top and bottom needles to get rid of leakages.

Here are the steps for cleaning the exit needle located at the bottom of the pod holder.

• Open the lid of the machine and remove the pod holder.
• Then, remove the funnel from the bottom of the pod holder.
• Take a paper clip or sewing needle and move it around inside the tube to get rid of any kind of debris.
• Using warm, soapy water, wash the pod holder and funnel.

Follow these instructions to clean the top needles present beneath the Keurig head.

1. Turn the machine off.
2. You will find the top needles under the head of the machine.
3. Take a paper clip or sewing needle and insert it into the holes of the needle. Remove debris by moving the clip around.

3) Broken or loose upper gasket

Another reason for the Keurig machine leaking from the top is because of broken or lose Gasket. The gasket is a part that is made of silicon that tightly holds the K-cup and water hose of the Keurig coffee machine.

The gasket seal on the puncture needle often gets broken, and ultimately, this dislocated gasket seal causes leakage in your Keurig coffee machine.

Solution

Ensure to align the gasket properly by closing any gap between the K-cup and the puncture needle to prevent topwater leakage.

Follow these simple steps for repairing the upper gasket.

• Open the head of the machine.
• You will find the gasket around the entrance needles.
• Check if the gasket is fine or if it is bent or broken.
• You can take it out by pulling around the edges. If it’s broken then replace it with a new one. You can buy it from here.

4) Defective Pod holder

The pod holder of your Keurig machine might get damaged with time. If you see some bents on the pod holder or if the lid of your machine is not closing properly the defective pod holder is the issue.

This usually happens with old Keurigs when the machine has completed its lifespan of 4 to 5 years. Over time, because of heat or because of using third-party capsules damages the pod holder.

Solution

You can buy a new pod holder compatible with your machine from amazon. Replacing the pod holder with definitely solve this issue.

5) Damaged Internal pipes | keurig leaking water when preheating

If your Keurig is leaking when preheating and the gasket and pod holder is fine then it might be due to damaged internal pipes.

Solution

To check if there is a leakage inside the water tubes you have to completely disassemble your machine and run a brew cycle.

Do this only if you are experienced in working with electronics otherwise seek help from a technician.

Never do this if your machine is still in a warranty period because disassembling the machine will void the warranty of your machine.

Coffee leakage from the Keurig machine

If your machine is leaking coffee then these three might be the culprit behind this issue.

1) Fault tube connector and worn-out filters

Faulty tube connectors and worn-out filters are two primary reasons for coffee leakage in Keurig.

Solution

The ultimate solution is to replace the old tube connector and filter with the new one. You can buy them locally from the retainable seller or from Amazon.

2) Usage of Defective Capsules

Defective capsules are also the cause of coffee leaking from the top of the Keurig coffee machine. If you are using a 3rd party capsule, or reusable capsule that doesn’t perfectly fit in the pod chamber it will ultimately lead to leakage.

The reason is these capsules sometimes have a thicker foil, and that foil can’t be fully penetrated by the needles of your Keurig machine.

Solution

The easiest solution is to use genuine coffee pods for your Keurig coffee machine. Or use the capsules from some well-reputed brands like Starbucks.

3) Overfilling the coffee grounds

Overfilling the reusable capsules with coffee grounds causes the leakage of coffee from the top as water doesn’t find enough space to pass through the capsule.

If you are trying to make a stronger cup of coffee then you must choose a smaller cup size instead of overfilling the capsule.

Solution

Never overfill the capsules with coffee grounds

Final Thoughts on Keurig Leakages

So, in this article, we have discussed all possible reasons behind the leakage of water or coffee from your Keurig machine either from the top or bottom.

If you have applied all these tips and still your Keurig is leaking then your machine might have some more complicated issues like a damaged water pump or heating element. Diagnosing and solving these issues are not very easy.

You have to seek help from some technician or Contact Keurig support to seek professional assistance.

FAQs

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