coffee-for-less-blog
A Keurig coffee brewer is a modern miracle. No lengthy complicated brewing process is required; you just fill the Keurig water reservoir with water, pop in your Keurig cup, and in a minute, you’ve got a hot brewed cup of your favorite coffee.
That is, of course, how it happens when the machine is working. When it doesn’t work, for example – when the Keurig water pump is not pumping – you have a problem.
What to Do for a Keurig Not Pumping Water
If you’ve ever had a Keurig not pumping, you know what this is like. You fill the Keurig water reservoir, press the button, and just hear some kind of grinding noise as the Keurig pump attempts but fails to pump the water through. Unless your Keurig is brand new and you can return it, you’ve got a problem that you’d love to be able to resolve quickly. Here are the steps to take to fix a Keurig not pumping water.
The most likely reason for a Keurig not pumping water is water scaling, debris that builds up and interferes with the Keurig water pump. There are a number of ways to resolve this problem.
- The simplest is to take out the Keurig water reservoir, empty it out, and refill it about a third of the way.
- Then shake the water around in the Keurig water reservoir. Spill the water out. Find the opening where the Keurig pump pumps the water into the brewer.
- Fully clean the opening with a dishtowel to clear it of any debris that may be obstructing the action of the Keurig water pump.
Hopefully this will clear any problems, and the Keurig water pump should function correctly after this.
Take a look at this quick fix of how to clean your machine with a hack that is not in the user manual!
What If the Keurig Is Still Not Pumping?
For a Keurig not pumping water after this fix, a second alternative is to insert a turkey baster into the part of the reservoir that connects to the machine and the water pump, with some water already in the reservoir. Use the turkey baster to force a few bursts of water through the connection.
You should notice the water get a bit cloudy as the scaling and debris is forced out into the water reservoir. This should effectively unclog or descale the machine, allowing the pump to push water freely through so that you can go back to brewing delicious Keurig coffee after washing and refilling the reservoir.
If this is still not effective, you can descale the machine by making a mixture of vinegar and water, filling the water reservoir with it, and putting the machine through a brewing cycle. You should get in the habit of doing this every few months anyway just to make sure the Keurig machine is clean.
What If the Keurig Is Still Not Pumping?
If your Keurig coffee maker is making a grinding noise but not pumping water, it is likely the motor is trying to pump water through but is not able to. The problem may be that air has gotten into the machine, inhibiting the pump’s ability to prime. The only thing to do here is try various methods of shaking the machine to try to force the extra air out. If this turns out to have been the problem, in the future, refill the reservoir before it gets completely empty.
If you don’t hear such a noise but the water is not pumping, it may be the motor is entirely broken. If this is the case, the motor or the whole unit will need to be replaced.
I have done every suggested fix and me 3 month old machine will still not make coffee. Very frustrated at this point. I cannot return the machine since I trust the Keurig brand and did not keep my reciept.
I tried them all and found out the best way was to remove the water container, take an air compressor or bicycle pump, wrap the end with a paper towel and blow air into the opening where the water would go into the machine. Cleans it out perfectly.Machine runs like new again. Wife was ready to toss it and buy a new one.