Keurig coffee makers are very popular today. They are staples of modern offices and commonly found in kitchens around the world. Because they are a modern convenience, they also come with modern problems. They are a lot more digital and computerized than more traditional coffee makers. They also have a lot of different parts not found in traditional coffee makers.
One common problem that Keurig 2.0 owners have reported is an issue with their unit’s preheating system. In this article we will discuss troubleshooting solutions for this issue as well as a few other common problems and their solutions.
Preheating Problems
It isn’t unusual for the Keurig 2.0 to find itself stuck in preheat mode. Fortunately, this is not a death sentence for your Keurig! If this is happening to your unit right now, then you are not the first person to experience it and you are unlikely to be the last.
There are a handful of parts that can leave your Keurig stuck in preheat mode, but the most common culprit is the water pump. The water pumps in Keurig coffee makers are notorious for getting clogs or failing for other reasons. It may not be obvious at first glance why the water pump would affect the preheat mode, but it does play a role in the preheating process.
When the preheat mode is initiated, your Keurig will sense how much water is in its boiler. If it needs more water, it will call for the pump to add more. If the pump fails, your Keurig will just keep calling for water. This is one way your unit can get stuck in preheat mode.
How Can You Fix This Yourself?
One of the first things we recommend doing is checking your water pump for clogs. If the water nozzle is clogged it is simple enough to clear yourself. You just need something thin that can fit into the water nozzle so you can clear any debris that may be in it. This can be anything from a toothpick to an unfolded paper clip. This issue is common enough that Keurig actually sells a tool specifically for clearing the water nozzle.
We strongly recommend that you unplug your Keurig before you attempt to clear your water nozzle. Even if your pump has malfunctioned, a plugged in unit stuck in preheat mode can potentially have hot water in it. Allowing your Keurig to sit unplugged for a few minutes allows any hot water it may have in it to come back down to room temperature. Also, be careful working inside your Keurig as there are some sharp pieces in it.
What if That Doesn’t Work?
In the event that you are not able to clear the debris from your water nozzle, you could attempt to use a straw to blow the obstruction clear of the nozzle. If there is no debris to remove from the nozzle, there are two other parts that may potentially be the root cause of your problem. Unfortunately, they will not be as easy for you to repair on your own at home. However, being able to identify what is wrong will help you to either attempt to repair it yourself or be able to replace your unit through Keurig.
Some of the parts involved that may be difficult to replace yourself are the processor and logic board as well as the temperature sensor. The reason we suggest looking at the water pump first is because these parts are known to be reliable, especially more reliable than the water pump. In fact, Keurig has even improved the processor and logic board unit to unit, making them more dependable than they already were.
What Are Some Other Common Issues?
There are a lot of things that can happen to your Keurig 2.0, just as there is with most kitchen appliances. For the most part, a lot of these issues are very simple and in some cases these issues should be expected. This is especially true if you do not perform routine cleanings on your unit. Let’s take a look at a few more issues you may run into with your Keurig.
Keurig Not Brewing Full Amounts
The more coffee you brew with your Keurig, the more likely you are to run into this problem. Fortunately it has a very easy fix and is not indicative of a bigger issue with your Keurig. More likely than not, this is caused by coffee grounds accumulating in the needle that punctures the k-cups during the brewing process.
Fixing this is relatively simple. Start by removing the pieces that can be removed, then clean them in the sink. This should take care of any coffee grounds that have built up in the needle and should help prevent any other issues of a similar nature in other parts of your Keurig.
Why Are There Grounds in My Coffee?
If you find you have grounds in your coffee even though you are using k-cups, it is likely related to the issue we discussed in the previous paragraph. Over time the needle that punctures the k-cups just accumulates coffee grounds over time. If you do not clean it routinely, they will find their way into your coffee.
Routine cleaning and maintenance of your Keurig should prevent this from happening before it even becomes an issue.
Conclusion
Keurig coffee makers are very convenient, commonly found coffee makers. While they more or less perform the same function as a typical drip coffee maker, they perform it in a different way that involves different parts. Some of these parts are more likely to cause issues than others, but in most cases routine cleaning and maintenance will help you avoid them.
Other common issues, like having your Keurig get stuck in preheat mode, may be the result of a handful of different issues. More likely than not though, a clogged water pump is the culprit. Including your water pump in your routine cleaning and maintenance schedule will help prevent your Keurig from getting stuck in preheat mode in the first place.
