Descaling an Alexia at home

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rotuts
Posts: 65
Joined: 15 years ago

#1: Post by rotuts »

Ive done my best to search for this but must has missed it.

Is it 'safe' to descale at home an Alexia, using a product like dezcal.

My vendor suggest its much safer to work on softening the water than using dezcal.

I wonder why. ive seen threads on descaling a HX machine, found a a nice video at SeattleCoffeeGear for the Silvia, but nothing particular to an Alexia type machine.

would the 'potential' damage be to the Alexia's appearance, or to a potential damage to the inner boiler mechanism that does not have an 'auto' fill feature.

would this be a flushing issue after the descale?

many thanks for so much help!

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erics
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Posts: 6302
Joined: 19 years ago

#2: Post by erics »

The MSDS papers for Dezcal are here: http://www.urnex.com/msds/MSDSDezcalScaleRemoverw.pdf

What your vendor (presumably Chris' Coffee) suggests is certainly true and a good investment would be some water hardnesss test strips such as these: http://www.mcmaster.com/#11235t41/=2mtvhk
This would tell you where you are at now and what any water treatment system is actually doing for you.

A pretty neat product that I've seen is this: http://www.1st-line.com/parts/other/4009010.htm . A lot depends on the properties of the water you're using in Alexia and what indications you may have that a descaling is called for. Have you removed the "mushroom" assembly of the E-61 grouphead yet? Do you have any reservations in doing same?

Needless to say, there is loads of info on descaling an espresso machine on this site.
Skål,

Eric S.
http://users.rcn.com/erics/
E-mail: erics at rcn dot com

rotuts (original poster)
Posts: 65
Joined: 15 years ago

#3: Post by rotuts (original poster) »

I have not removed the mushroom yet and have some reservations on that now but will learn more about it as Ive seen worthwhile threads here on that.

Ive also read as much about scale as I can here which has been very helpful.

of note my water from the tap tests at 25 grains but after passing through a Brita comes down to 3 grains which Im told by CC is fine. the brita is not new, about a few months old but that water is only used in the Silvia and I only drink a double or two in the AM

Ive read a little about the brita as a softener here and elsewhere. I think I use one tank a week of water at most.

Im interested in learning why home descaling might damage the machine when its done 'in shop' if need be.
things are always good to know even if not used at home.

your tips are very helpful as all have been here. for now Im going to stay with the brita and test the water regularly. thanks for that ref to online test strips.

eventually if things stay the same Ill figure out how to examine the mushroom 1x / year.

Im assuming to test the 'in place' water softener Id test a little water coming out of the grouphead?

thanks again for all your help