Hi, all. I've been here before...just watched my boiler pressure jump past redline on my Elektra SemiAutomatica again. I've been through three pressurestats in just under a year! After speaking with various folks, I'm starting to get the idea that my problems really couldn't be bad pressurestats. Couldn't expect to have 3 bad pressurestats in just one year.

I've been using distilled water for both steam and espresso for the better part of the year. I've tested the distilled water with one of those paper things, and the mineral content was supposedly as good as it gets. The only thing left to explore (well, as far as my limited knowledge goes) is my descaling technique. So, I'm going to jot down my method, and would someone please tell me if you see anything missing or wrong...

1. Empty water in top reservoir
2. Remove steam wand arm and dump water from boiler (the unit is, of course, unplugged and cool by this time!)
3. Put descaling solution into reservoir
- Previously used CleanCaf - 4 cups tap water to 1 packet
- Now using Dezcal - 2 cups tap water to 1 packet
4. Plug in, turn on, and immediately pump all descaler into boiler
5. Turn machine off, unplug and let sit for about 2 hours
6. Drain descaler through steam valve
7. Put clean, filtered water into reservoir and pump into boiler
8. Dump water out of steam valve
9. Repeat steps 7 & 8 once or twice more
10. If I've had a redline situation, I'll pull the pressurestat, and the pipe to which it connects and soak them separately in a more concentrated descaling solution. I'd leave the pipe actually submerged in descaling solution, but just spoon a few drops of the solution into the open part of the Ceme pressurestat, and rinse well after I'm done.

Anything looking wrong here? Are there any steps missing? I've been doing this procedure like clockwork on a monthly basis, and I separately backflush using JoeGlo about every 2-3 weeks. I prefer to keep the machine on 24x7, even though I typically only pull between 2-4 shots per day between my wife and I. (The whole point of having the machine, in my opinion, is to be able to pull a shot on a whim...don't want to have to wait for temps to stabilize, etc.)

So, any thoughts here? Is the CleanCaf not strong enough? Could there be gunk in a part of the machine that I'm not hitting? Happy to entertain any ideas at all!

Thanks.

JavaJunkie wrote:I've been using distilled water for both steam and espresso for the better part of the year. I've tested the distilled water with one of those paper things, and the mineral content was supposedly as good as it gets. The only thing left to explore (well, as far as my limited knowledge goes) is my descaling technique.

Err, if the steam boiler water is distilled, there can be no scale buildup, so why descale?

The underwater position of the pressurestat creates problems. The Maters the machines use don't work (at least for the current production run). I'm using a Ceme, which has held up for a year so far.

It is not a scale issue -- dropping the Ceme into citric just unfreezes the diaphragm.

Thanks for the replies so far. This is not with a Mater, but with a Ceme. It's my second Ceme to go redline, after the original Mater went redline.

As for why descale? Well...not sure what else to do besides attempt to descale. Got any other ideas why the pressurestats are redlining, and thoughts on what to do about it? I'm game for anything...

JavaJunkie wrote: After speaking with various folks, I'm starting to get the idea that my problems really couldn't be bad pressurestats. Couldn't expect to have 3 bad pressurestats in just one year.

Strange... It probably isn't as simple as Mater=Crap Ceme=Quality though, there are also numerous Ceme pressurestats failing as well (I don't know if they are from certain bad series like the Maters).

In Europe all Quick Mill and BFC machines are sold with Mater pressurestats: Quick Mill had no issues and BFC got bit by "sticky Mater" recently. BFC machines sold in the USA seems to have Sirai, at least those called La Valentina sold by 1st-line.

I would try to get a Mater from another production series than the one you got with the machine.

another_jim wrote:The underwater position of the pressurestat creates problems. The Maters the machines use don't work (at least for the current production run). I'm using a Ceme, which has held up for a year so far.

It is not a scale issue -- dropping the Ceme into citric just unfreezes the diaphragm.

There have been at least one new production run by Elektra after you got yours.

H'mmm.

This Might be of no help - but, just to report. I bought a demo Semiautomatica about a year ago - and played around a bit adjusting the Mater stat - every couple weeks - to see what the difference in the coffee might be.The Mater stat always seemed a little shakey - that is - prone to sticking. Finally, it stuck for good - and I replaced it with another Mater last April 20. I have adjusted it only once - and so far after 4 months it has worked well. 2-5 cups a day. I do not leave the machine on 24/7. I have descaled once or twice since April - not the boiler - since I have been using distilled water for that - and Brita water for the tank.

(Watch -Now, I have probably jinxed my stat and will need to replace it soon!)

Howard

howard seth wrote:H'mmm.

This Might be of no help - but, just to report. I bought a demo Semiautomatica about a year ago - and played around a bit adjusting the Mater stat - every couple weeks - to see what the difference in the coffee might be.The Mater stat always seemed a little shakey - that is - prone to sticking. Finally, it stuck for good - and I replaced it with another Mater last April 20. I have adjusted it only once - and so far after 4 months it has worked well. 2-5 cups a day. I do not leave the machine on 24/7. I have descaled once or twice since April - not the boiler - since I have been using distilled water for that - and Brita water for the tank.

(Watch -Now, I have probably jinxed my stat and will need to replace it soon!)

Howard

Help me understand this...when you say you haven't descaled the boiler...what exactly are you talking about? Are you backflushing? That's not the same as descaling (I don't think it is, anyway). So, help me out here...tell me about your descaling procedure...what product do you use, and what steps do you follow? I'm wondering if there's an area that I'm not descaling, and that somehow particles are traveling into the pressurestat...

A little more info on the subject from a classic H-B thread:

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...ressure-t2815.html

another_jim wrote:The underwater position of the pressurestat creates problems. The Maters the machines use don't work (at least for the current production run). I'm using a Ceme, which has held up for a year so far.

It is not a scale issue -- dropping the Ceme into citric just unfreezes the diaphragm.

I absolutely believe you're right - it really can't be a scaling issue. And when I do go through the descaling process, I really don't see any deposits on the pstat. As I mention, after the first Mater went south, the next two were Ceme's, but still had issues. Sounds like you've got a theory that it's the diaphragm inside the Ceme? You think that's freezing up?

After I go through the descaling process, I usually find about a day's worth of good behavior from it, and then more of the same issue. Do you suppose that the descaling process is somehow giving the diaphragm a slight boost as a temporary fix, but then suffering once again from the original problem?

When you say you drop the Ceme into citric...exactly what product are you talking about? And do you submerge the entire pstat into some solution? Can you elaborate?

Have you ever managed to take a Ceme apart? I've got one that's toast - no more life left in it. I'd love to disassemble it, and maybe snap a few pictures to see what part looks damaged, so I have some idea what I'm trying to fix when I use your process...

Thanks a lot, Jim. You've helped me with this a bunch in the past, too... Really appreciate the help!

Fullsack wrote:A little more info on the subject from a classic H-B thread:

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...ressure-t2815.html

Thanks Fullsack. But if you look at that thread, you'll notice that I was one of the ones to post there. I appreciate the RTFM concept...definitely did my share of searching before posting...

Though, re-reading that thread, I noticed that one person was flushing the descaling solution through the group head. Am I supposed to be doing that? I thought the only product you put through the group head is a backflushing solution like JoeGlo. Should I also be attempting to descale that part?

One thing I'd really like to do is to actually see the part that is causing the problem. If it's some sort of scaling issue (which I'm starting to believe it is *not*), then I'd like to pull the troublesome part and actually observe the scaling buildup. If it's a frozen diaphragm in the pstat, then I really would like to know how to pull one of those suckers apart and see what a frozen diaphragm looks like!