I don't know what came over me, but after I pulled my morning shot and switched off my machine completely (ECM Puristika) I decided to lift the brew lever to see if any (or how much) water will come out with the pump off. To my surprise (I guess I shouldn't have been surprised ) water did flow for about a minute or so (I assume due to the boiler being hot and pressurized). Then it occurred to me that I might expose the heating element and I lowered the brew lever close. After a minute or so, I turned the machine back on and immediately engaged the pump, so as to fill up the boiler, but water did not flow for a 30 or 40 seconds or so.

I realize what I did was dumb, and I am now worried if the brief period it took for the water to fill up the boiler completely might have caused any damage to the heating element.

I would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

Even when steaming, there's a fair amount of water above the heating element. Opening the brew valve with the pump off as you did pushed out some water because of water expansion, but absolutely not enough to expose the heating element.

Thank you, Dan, much appreciated!

Thanks, Dan!

Usually there is a water level probe that prevent heating when no water (and trigger refill process).

To clarify for those reading this discussion, the OP has an ECM Puristika, which has a single brew boiler that's aways full. It doesn't steam and I cannot think of a way to expose the heating element to air.

And even if it was exposed, the machine was off.
And the heating element should have been cooled down enough by the hot water, to prevent damage, because of the heat left in it.