Sputtering e61 & HX scale build-up - Cured!

[Ozark_61]

Based on Dan's mushroom picture, and my quick trip to Home Depot - here's what I found - crud in my HX! Maybe this has been causing my temp problems. If this is plausible, what can I do to fix it? I would imagine the whole HX system is full of this scale (?).

[malachi]

You're going to need to descale the machine.

Jim's awesome Insanely Long Water FAQ has some great info on scale, water and descaling.

[HB]

Maybe this has been causing my temp problems?

I agree a descaling is in order, but I'm sceptical that there's enough build-up to affect the brew temperature you noted in your other thread since the water still flows freely. But it could be and it never hurts to descale. Flushing the HX with citric acid solution as Jim suggests in his FAQ is the first step, then checking the condition of the boiler by removing the heating element (which is very conveniently accessible on the Giotto Premium).

[Ozark_61]

Alright - no problem. Wasn't sure if all the same people were on both places.

For descaling - is citric acid interchangeable with ascorbic acid?

[HB]

I disliked chemistry and subsequently purged it from my memories. I've never heard of ascorbic acid ("Vitamin C", see chemical definition) used for descaling, only citric acid (see chemical definition), and only when the scale is very mild. Corrections are welcome.

[Ozark_61]

Thanks for all the clues. I've fixed the problem! NOW that e61 warning makes sense... HOT! It wasn't before. I posted over on CG what I found out & how I fixed it - here.

Cheers,
Geoff

[HB]

Re: Should my e61 sputter?

Thanks Geoff for the follow-up and for yet another good reason to follow preventative descaling as Jim suggests in Section 4, Water Treatment and Preventive Descaling for Espresso Machines of his FAQ.

[pnb]

This post got me on the right track fixing my giotto suffering from the cold group-head and sour espressos...
thanks!
I made a post on CG
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/...so/machines/262079

Best regards
Peter

[pnb]

Just to illustrate some of my findings:






In short the flow in the HX-circuit apparently was reversed (leading cold water from the reservoir to the group) due to complete obstruction in the outgoing tube from the boiler (see brass-fitting in last pic)
Now we all want to descale once in a while!

Peter

[Ozark_61]

Cool beans! You really have some nasties in the water...

Don't forget some good backflushing of your GH - I bet it's got some serious buildup as well. I did mine into a white bowl to the point where no more particulate matter was coming out.

Geoff