Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • luca
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Hi Guys,

    All of these are solved problems and I think that many of you are at the stage where you might be interested in tackling The Insanely Long Water FAQ.

    A few things that I took from it:

    (a) Brita filters are not designed to remove scale. They will do so, but getting good performance out of them requires replacing them more often than youd think.

    (b) The ion exchange softeners at the end of the silicon tube in your tank probably needs to be recharged more often than youd think, too.

    Jims conclusion:

    I personally think home machine users are better served using neutral or harder water and preventively descaling. At home use levels, the 5 gram scale accumulation criterion will only require monthly to quarterly descaling, and the coffee taste will be at its best whenever the water is at 90/50 or above, since the machine will reduce it to that level by heating it. Whether or not to soften the water down to this level depends on how hard the tap water is; if the water is very hard, descaling could become a weekly chore, and such a partial softening could be preferable.

    Theres several ways to do this. The conceptually simplest is to boil the water for a few minutes; this removes hardness in excess of coffee levels. I use my Brita jug for all drinking water, since my water is cloudy from old pipes; its incomplete softening, or that of the hose end softener in a warm tank, also makes for a tasty espresso. Finally, tap water can be diluted with RO water to reach any hardness level one wants.
    Those of us with HX machines would do well to remember that scale can potentially clog up the thermosyphon and make your group run at a lower temperature than youd like. I still havent tackled the "mushroom" in my group, but will do so at some stage.

    Cheers,

    Luca

    Leave a comment:


  • 30x30
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Mal/Javaphile/Thundergod/Wingnut --> Thanks a million guys, will take advice and put it back in.

    Wingnut, inspected the tubes and sure enough its exactly as you described.

    Hornet, its actually normal practice for me to boil water, put in filter dispenser, then pour into the machine. I am pedantic? Yeah, probably :

    Cheers, Andrew

    Leave a comment:


  • Hornet
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Originally posted by 2muchcoffeeman link=1175073473/15#16 date=1175671923
    I use a jug...


    This is what I use. Just boil the jug the night B4.



    Leave a comment:


  • wingnut
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Just an observation...

    On my pablo, the tube for the filter has a square cut end while the return tube is cut at an angle.

    The filter tube is also a couple of cm longer.

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    The Expobar filter sits at the end of the line.
    So it can only be connected from the right end.

    The trick is to pick which of the two tubes.

    If you cant see which one is drawing the water out then put in the blind filter and see which tube puts the water back into the reservoir when the OPV kicks in.
    It will then be the other tube.

    Leave a comment:


  • Javaphile
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Many filters are one-way. Look for an arrow on your filter indicating the direction of water flow. If theres no arrow then it probably doesnt matter which way its hooked up.


    Java "Filtering reality" phile

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Originally posted by 30in30 link=1175073473/15#26 date=1212406423
    If I need to put it back, does it matter which tube it goes onto (there are 2 in the Expobar)?
    Gday 30,

    Seems like strange advice to give you :-?..... But anyway, you need to reconnect it to the tube that leads to the suction input of your pump. The other tube will be the Bypass line from your OPV....

    Cheers,
    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • 30x30
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Ok, regenerating this thread. I removed the cartridge from my Expobar Minore when I bought it. It believe it might have been the softnener cartridge. I was adviced it was OK to remove it since the resulting pour would come out yellow... I use a Sunbeam filtered water dispenser but now having now read this - have I done a bad thing even though I use filtered water?

    If I need to put it back, does it matter which tube it goes onto (there are 2 in the Expobar)?

    Been a year now since I bought it.... *nervous*

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Good to know.

    Thanks.

    Leave a comment:


  • JavaB
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Originally posted by Thundergod link=1175073473/15#23 date=1175692615
    So as my Expobar already has the softener in the tank is my Brita filtered water just overkill?
    Thundergod,

    All types of scale removal filtration (with the possible exception of reverse osmosis - and of course distillation) only reduce the percentage of calcium. Even my commercial water softener leaves some calcium salts....

    So the more stages of filtration the better... And as FC said - it is easier to stop the stuff forming in the first place.

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    So as my Expobar already has the softener in the tank is my Brita filtered water just overkill?

    Leave a comment:


  • Flo
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Originally posted by 2muchcoffeeman link=1175073473/0#13 date=1175665893
    Originally posted by Flo link=1175073473/0#9 date=1175662272
    Hey 2mcm...what is the story re: softening and Giotto? Recommended or not?
    Yes Flo- recommended....The unique water pickup in the Giotto means that you should fill the machine with filtered, softened water....FCs in tank softeners are sadly not suitable as there are no silicon water tubes....

    2mcm
    I just use a Brita Jug with the Maxtra cartridge for filtration...Ok or should I be using something else?

    Leave a comment:


  • Cruiserman
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Originally posted by Fresh_Coffee link=1175073473/0#5 date=1175571716
    Just a thought...

    a)
    For those of you with semi commercials with internal water reservoirs that dont have a "water softener" on the end of the water pick up line, there is usually no reason why you cant simply add one....its only a push on fit onto the end of the silicon tube.

    Instead of descaling the machine then, you simply regenerate the softener from time to time depending on the quality of your local water and the amount of throughput your machine is subject to. Its (a lot) easier than descaling the machine.

    We have them, as they are standard equipment on our Diadema Juniors and Unico Splendors.

    Its easier to stop the stuff forming in the first place (to a greater degree) than it is to remove it.

    Regardz,
    FC.
    I have the Unico Splendor with the softener attached, how do I regenerate it? (scratches head trying not to look too dumb)

    Leave a comment:


  • robusto
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    That brand you mentioned Dennis (which supplied the under-sink filtration on my boat: silver-impregnated activated charcoal to get rid of the taste of stagnation and sundry other tastes--works well) and they do have a softener cartridge, but I think it is disposable and therefore costly.

    Youre probably better off using the proprietary ones which recharge with salt.

    -Robusto

    Leave a comment:


  • Dennis
    replied
    Re: descalling...when??DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

    Originally posted by 2muchcoffeeman link=1175073473/15#18 date=1175673369
    No can do Dennis- why not add a softener cartridge to your under sink?
    Thanks - will contact clearwater to investigate how this can be achieved

    Leave a comment:

Working...
X