ECM Technika V Profi PID drawing steam boiler water too fast?

#1: Post by **don giovanni** » July 2nd, 2022, 12:50 pm

Hello has anyone taken a look at this video from one of ECM's authorized retailer? Around 8.32 of the video, it states that it is recommended that no more than 4 oz of water be dispensed from the water spout to avoid running the risk of overheating the hx heating element. Is that unique to the technika or applies generally to hx machines or to all espresso machines in general?
Thanks

#2: Post by **another_jim** » July 2nd, 2022, 1:03 pm

That's a new one for me.

It's a good idea to "blow down" boilers if you use the steam but not the water in order to reduce mineral buildup. This means running the water tap until the pressure is all the way down, getting about 12 to 18 fluid ounces in machines of that size, and letting the boiler auto refill. I have been doing this monthly for twenty years, and haven't blown a heating element yet. It's SOP in many shops and for many owners.

July 2nd, 2022, 1:13 pm

Just to clarify, what you mean by "blow down" boilers is purging steam from the steaming wand and that will allow the boiler to refill water. Is that correct?

#4: Post by HB » July 2nd, 2022, 1:17 pm

I assume Java Jim is being extra cautious; the tubing for the water wand for all the espresso machines I've seen is above the heating element. FWIW, I power off the machine before flushing out the steam boiler (to keep mineral concentration down), just in case.

July 2nd, 2022, 1:19 pm

Not quite sure how your post is relevant to the topic

#6: Post by HB » July 2nd, 2022, 1:23 pm

Hmm, lemme try again. It's not possible to expose the heating element to the air by drawing water since the water wand's pickup tube is above the heating element.

July 2nd, 2022, 1:31 pm

Let me try again. I don't think you watched the video. The pick up tube for the technika for the hot water wand is connected to the boiler below the heating element. Also it's irrelevant whether where the pick up tube sits. The assertion is the pump cannot pump faster than the hot water spout draws water

#8: Post by HB » July 2nd, 2022, 1:36 pm

I watched it but missed that detail. If that's the case, you'd have to be cautious about drawing down too much. I'm not aware of any other espresso machine like that.

July 2nd, 2022, 1:39 pm

This unit costs almost 3k with the over hyped German engineering. seriously? engineering marvel or defect?

#10: Post by **kitt** » July 2nd, 2022, 4:25 pm

How is it over hyped or a 'defect'? The water pick up tube is on or below the element in a lot of prosumer machines because the boiler is small and not a lot of water sits above the element. If it was above the element, there just wouldn't be a lot of capacity to draw water off. On bigger commercial machines it can sit above the element because of the bigger boiler.
What Java Jim suggests in the video is good practice, but in reality a lot of people draw more water off than that and don't damage their elements.