Descaling a Heat Exchanger

Regularly descaling a tank-version heat exchanger is a good idea for the long term health of the machine. Gail takes us through the process on the Rocket Giotto Premium Plus.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• descale
• descaling
• how-to
• heat exchange
• rocket
• giotto
• cellini
• quick mill
• anita
• andreja
• izzo alex
• grimac
• la valentina
• pasquini
• livia 90

[hugecookiemonster]

Correct me if im wrong. But isnt 45 minutes to an hour too long to leave descale solution in the boiler? I heard it can damage the lining inside the boiler if left too long? Also, i thought you were suppose to descale machines cold and not let the water heat up?

Chris

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@hugecookiemonster We haven't seen boiler damage; we generally turn the machines off as the solution is hanging out in there but the machine has to get up to tamp to pull water through. - Kat

[aesonvirus]

The "lubrication" removed from backflushing with detergent is quickly replaced with what it cane from... Oils from the beans.

Backflushing causes my Rocket's pull lever to feel less smooth when pulled but a few shots and it's right back to normal.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@aesonvirus Interesting -- I have not experienced that on any of our machines. Thanks for sharing your feedback in case others have noticed the same thing! :) - Kat

[joeldamianicigan]

Chris' coffee was saying that the detergent used in the backflush somehow isn't good for the machine when used too frequently...

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joeldamianicigan Yes, they have always favored filtering water vs. descaling, but we don't take that position, so it's really up to you how you want to maintain your machine :) Like everything we do, we can only offer our advice and experience and where you take it is totally up to you :D - Kat

[JmanEspresso]

You're not going to be able to get water out of the steam wand, because its an HX machine.

Open up your machine, and see if your model has a drain plug on the bottom of the boiler. If it does, this is how you're going to have to drain the boiler to descale.

[JmanEspresso]

(continued) this will ensure that ALL of scale is removed from the boiler. Scale forms because of steam production. When steam is produced, any dissolved solids(TDS) are released from the water, like distilling water, and attach to the boiler. A lot of the scale is at and above the water line in the boiler.

[hugecookiemonster]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Maybe it is different with heat exchangers then. This was what i read for descaling my Gaggia Classic. I just wanted to clear it up because i am buying a reconditioned Brasilia Roma Cappuccino which is a heat exchanger.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joeldamianicigan Ummm...not sure I get this; these maintenance methods don't interact with anything that has lubrication involved in it... - Kat

[joeldamianicigan]

Hearing too that it might be bad to descale/backflush your machine too frequently. Something about it removing the lubrication that was put in by the factory...

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joeldamianicigan Yeah, it's just the delay from the pump, really. - Kat