Boema - I was hoping I could ask some advice...

cujo

Hi,

I have a Boema 1 grp machine at home. I have had it for a little over 6 months. After the first couple of weeks I noticed a pronounced, constant 'hiss' from the machine.

The service guy replaced the 'anti vac' or 'vacuum anti valve, under warranty.

Since then, this valve has been replaced no less than 5 times. They replaced it again yesterday, as well as doing a 6 month service, and it started leaking again within an hour of the service guy leaving.

Their sales guy says this valve has no detrimental effect whatsoever on the machine or its ability to make espresso. Other than it may cause slight condensation and drip on my bench.

I have no reason to disbelieve him, however I am a little skeptical that perhaps they are now trying to fob me...

If what he says is true however, then I will learn to live with it and leave them alone.

Could anyone please shed some light on this for me?

Thanks for any ideas.

Chris

FreshCoffee2

Everything you have been told is correct however I am at a loss as to why they would bother to replace the valve at all, let alone several times.... This is very common due to the nature of the valve and the circumstance (steam / condensation / calcium coming out of solution in the valve) and there is no point replacing the valve at all. The valve eventually sticks shut and stops leaking altogether (due to the build up of calcium in it) but this also means that it's job as an "anti-vacuum" valve is from that point on, not being done. Which is why we always advise commercial espresso mahcine owners to open a steam valve & let all the steam out when turning the mahcine off ( that equalises atmospheric pressure back into the boiler and stops the possibility of a vacuum happening) and conversely when turning th machine back on...to leave the steam valve open until as the machine warms up, steam starts to leak out of the end of the steam pipe whereiupon you close the valve (this equalises positive boiler pressure back out through the internal circuitry of the machine to prevent suck back of milk happening due to an "inadvertent" vacuum not having being properly cleared before use). The whole idea, is about equalising atmospheric pressure into the boiler so that there is NO VACUUM to have to contend with when the machine is switched back on. A little technical perhaps, but I hope this helps. Regardz, FC. PS Oh and two other things: a) it is highly unlikely there will be any condensation (from this) that will leak onto the bench because the steam immediately evaporates off the hot surface of the boiler & surrounds and b) if you leave the locating screws permanently out of the cup tray on the top if the machine...when the valve spits & hisses, you simply remove the cup tray and lightly TAP the nipple that protrudes from the middle of the anti-vacuum valve. This forces the valve to re seat itself and 9 times out of 10 this stops it spitting & hissing...until the next time you turn the machine on.... ...but please note, if you decide to get inside the machine for any reason, it has to be on your own responsibility. Be aware there is 240 volts in there...!

cujo

Thanks for that.... I'll relax now  ;D I do always open the steam when I turn off\on the machine. thanks again

FreshCoffee2

Great. Re: "I do always open the steam when I turn off\on the machine." This is excellent and renders the operation of (or the need to have) an anti-vacuum valve, basically irrelevant. regardz, FC.

BeanCounter

Which is why we always advise commercial espresso mahcine owners to open a steam valve & let all the steam out when turning the mahcine off ( that equalises atmospheric pressure back into the boiler and stops the possibility of a vacuum happening) and conversely when turning th machine back on...to leave the steam valve open until as the machine warms up, steam starts to leak out of the end of the steam pipe whereiupon you close the valve (this equalises positive boiler pressure back out through the internal circuitry of the machine to prevent suck back of milk happening due to an "inadvertent" vacuum not having being properly cleared before use).

FC, I have a Diadema Junior lever. Would you advocate the same practice for it (ie. of opening the steam valve when turning the machine off and on)? I've just never heard that suggested previously. Regards, Gary

Remus

gary, i've been doing that for 10 years. my original vendor where i bought my pavoni from told me to do that and i've done it ever since. i don't truly know why it is beneficial, (FC will explain i'm sure), i just did it cos he told me to !!

FreshCoffee2

G'day Gary, yes...same story. And an excellent machine you have if I say so myself  ;D If you like I can fax you a "General Care" form that we devised specifically for E61 clone lever machines....but you will have to email me your fax number off forum (I dont know if I can email the thing to you...that might be too technically advanced for a poor old coffee machine importer/techie like me  ). Regardz, FC.