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Keurig Not Pumping Water?
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Keurig Not Pumping Water?

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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!

How to fix Keurig not pumping water

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.



7 comments

  • On a regular basis and when ever it starts to make that loud boom sound when heating the water I run Vinegar thru it. Let it set and rinse it out by running about 5 large cups worth of water thru till the vinegar is all out. Here in Michigan the water is so hard it leaves a line of deposit in a glass of water setting for only a couple of hours! I drink coffee a lot so I’m cleaning it about once every 4 days or a week.

    Thomas Vance
  • why does the unit leak water over night

    DEAN MONROE
  • The problem could also be coffee grounds in the top down needle. You can use a paper clip. Insert and wiggle it around in both sides of the needle and then brew 4oz of water to clear the needle.

    Jon
  • Do you have a fix for the kurig k-mini plus single? Maybe be and many others most of the time do not pump all the water for a cycle. You then need to open the chamber and hit the button again several times to load all the water. It then continues the brew process and makes a cup of warm not hot coffee. When you are lucky and it works correctly on the first try it makes a nice hot cup of coffee

    Paul Geyer
  • Call Keurig, I have. I had two machines go bad in a few months. I explained what was going on each time, and after trying to fix them as the representative was walking me through the steps she finally said they would send me a new machine. Just send back the funnel. I did not have the receipt as one was given to us as a gift. They may ask for the mod. or serial # , don’t remember, but they were understanding and sent the Keurig. They like their reputation and are willing to help. Good Luck.

    Robert Elmore

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