Andreja Premium direct connect has noisy pump

[Velomane]

Hello everyone,

I finally installed the Chris Coffee direct connect kit for my Andreja last night, and pulled a couple shots this morning. My problem is the incredible amount of noise generated when the Andreja's pump activates. The regulator's needle, set at 1 bar when at rest, is all over the dial when the pump is going. I'm not sure what the source of the noise is. My initial feeling is that it is the regulator.

Questions:

Is the noise normal? Is it in fact the regulator? Should the needle be jumping the way it does? Is one bar okay? The instructions say not to exceed .75 bar, but I found that brewhead pressure took about 25 seconds to reach 9 bar, hence the increase.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

[cannonfodder]

Sounds like the machine is starving for water. If you use plumbing pipe that is too small, you will not provide sufficient water to the machine at any pressure. Like trying to breath through a garden hose or a straw.

[SLC]

I had the same problem with my Andreja. The regulator needle was going crazy and all over the place. That is not normal. It turned out that my home water pressure was too high. The regulator could not take 130psi home water pressure and bring it down to where needed for Andreja. Hence the needle going crazy. A simple way to check is to go get a water pressure gauge at your local home depot/lowes. $8.00. Attach it to your water heater and see what you get. It should be around 50 or 60 psi. If it is higher then that is the reason for the needle going crazy. I lowered my home water pressure to 50psi and never had a problem after that. The needle no longer went crazy. Good luck...

[Velomane]

Attach it to your water heater and see what you get. It should be around 50 or 60 psi. If it is higher then that is the reason for the needle going crazy. I lowered my home water pressure to 50psi and never had a problem after that. The needle no longer went crazy. Good luck...

I see. You mean attach the gauge to my home water heater? Also, how do I lower my house's water pressure? Using the valve at the meter?

Mike

[ScottW2]

If you need to reduce the pressure, you will need a regulator. Something like this:
http://www.chriscoffee.com/produc...ing/regulatorvalve

[Velomane]

If you need to reduce the pressure, you will need a regulator. Something like this:
http://www.chriscoffee.com/produc...ing/regulatorvalve

Thank you Scott, I didn't see that item. That may just be what I need, as long as pressure is in fact the problem. I'll get on that Monday morn. Meanwhile, does anyone see a problem with me using the shutoff valve that came with the install kit as a means to reduce the pressure? Of course, I'll ensure I don't actually starve the machine for water.

[Velomane]

Hi all,

Just got home from work and tried lowering the pressure via the shutoff valve. Sure enough, no noise and a fairly stable needle on the regulator's gauge. Given that the rest of the house doesn't seem to suffer from any high pressure problems, I'll get that regulator valve that Scott mentioned.

Thanks everyone for your input,
Mike

[HB]

You may want to check your house's main pressure regulator. Street pressure can be over 100 PSI, which is hard on your plumbing. Reducing it to 50 PSI will save water too. Typically the pressure regulator is located under your house at the point of entry. It's a quick job for a plumber, but will probably run upwards of $150 including parts and labor. The good news is that regulators last a long time. The ones in our neighborhood started failing around 15 years; the telltale sign of failing seals is a big woosh of pressure when you first turn on the faucet.

[SLC]

Dan explained better what I meant by my post above. You can adjust your home water pressure by turning a screw/knob on your home water pressure regulator using the gauge attached to your home water heater or any outside faucet to see the adjustment in home water pressure. If adjusting it does not make any difference then your home water pressure regulator (usually right by your home water shut off valve) is shot as mine was.

It is really worth the money for a plumber or beer/wine and dinner for a friend that really knows what he or she is doing in the area of plumbing.

Mark

[Velomane]

Thanks guys,

I picked up a pressure gauge at Home Depot today on the way to work. I'll check the pressure tomorrow, as well as call the city to see what they say about their system's static pressure. One guy at the store seemed to think that the city's pressure, pretty much everywhere, is 60 PSI. He thought it would be quite odd to see something significantly higher, particularly in my part of town, which is where he lives as well. I'll know more tomorrow.

As for a pressure regulator, there doesn't seem to be one in my house. I know it wouldn't be outside, it gets pretty cold here, and it certainly isn't inside. Once again, a call to the city might shed some light on this, given their website doesn't have any helpful information in this regard.

Mike