I believe the vacuum breaker valve is stuck closed on my machine and I have had to resort to getting the air out of the boiler through the steam valve. Does anyone have any idea how to fix this problem?

Even though I use distilled water in the steam boiler, mine sticks from time-to-time too. Get a flashlight and a butter knife; peer under the water reservoir and tap the vacuum breaker's pin with the knife. That should fix it for awhile.

Thanks Dan.

I've also had a sticky pressurestat and had it not been for this forum and the collective experiences therein, I would have been forced to send the machine back to the retailer. As it is I have avoided a 2-3 week wait; £50 in postage and much disappointment. Instead I feel empowered by being able to fix it myself.

Thanks again.

Take the tank off and put a new one on with a new copper washer. The antivacs are a cheap consumable and it pays to keep a spare in the drawer. Once they start sticking that's it.