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Descaling Giotto: How often?

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  • JohnA
    replied
    Re: Descaling Giotto: How often?

    Originally posted by moey007 link=1230506603/0#5 date=1230522346
    hi all, thanks for the descaling guide. this will come in handy for alot of giotto users. i have a couple of questions though....what do you mean by "Ground the wire that was connected to the water resevoir sensor" ? also can the water which comes out of the vacuum breaker do any damage if it gets onto any of the other parts?

    thanks

    just connect it to the body of the machine.
    you only need to do that if you remove the water reservoir, to fool the machine in thinking its in place.,
    dont bother doing it, just mix in the descaling solution with water in the reservoir.

    After seeing how much scale build up there is in a year, i would now do it every 6 months.

    Leave a comment:


  • flatwhite
    replied
    Re: Descaling Giotto: How often?

    The detailed instructions are not mine - I just stumbled upon them. It looks really complicated and I think Ill go with Dennis advice and just run descaler through the brew and steam cycles.

    Leave a comment:


  • moey007
    replied
    Re: Descaling Giotto: How often?

    hi all, thanks for the descaling guide. this will come in handy for alot of giotto users. i have a couple of questions though....what do you mean by "Ground the wire that was connected to the water resevoir sensor" ? also can the water which comes out of the vacuum breaker do any damage if it gets onto any of the other parts?

    thanks

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Re: Descaling Giotto: How often?

    Originally posted by cuppacoffee link=1230506603/0#3 date=1230509436
    Oooh - that is complicated!

    My experience has been to add the product to the reservoir, run it through water, steam, and grouphead valves/outlets, let it sit for a while, repeat the process, then flush with fresh water....easy peasy.
    I tend to remove the connection to the boiler level probe- just to ensure a complete fill of the boiler. Once the boiler is full, pop it back on...

    Its a good way to ensure that descaler is everywhere....

    Chris

    Leave a comment:


  • cuppacoffee
    replied
    Re: Descaling Giotto: How often?

    Oooh - that is complicated!

    My experience has been to add the product to the reservoir, run it through water, steam, and grouphead valves/outlets, let it sit for a while, repeat the process, then flush with fresh water....easy peasy.

    Leave a comment:


  • flatwhite
    replied
    Re: Descaling Giotto: How often?

    Thanks Dennis. The reason for my post is that some other sites make the descaling process look incredibly complicated.
    See, for example: http://biobug.org/coffee/giotto/descaling/

    In essense, his instructions are:

    Empty the boiler:
    With the machine hot, turn it off and remove the water resevoir.
    Put a heat resistant pitcher under the water spout.
    Open the water valve and lift the left side of the machine to force most of the water out.
    (I place a tape measure under the side, its heavy.)
    With the machine off and water resevoir removed:
    Unplugging the machine isnt a bad idea.
    Remove the four corner screws on the top of the machine.
    Unplug the water level sensor - Rear corner of the reservoir area.
    Lift off the top cover. (Use a rag if its hot)
    Put your citric acid/descaling solution into the resevoir or water pitcher.
    Put the silicon hoses from the machine into the pitcher - they must be submerged.
    Ground the wire that was connected to the water resevoir sensor (or the machine wont fill)

    Some anatomy
    Vacuum Breaker: Opens when the machine is cool,
    closes when water begins to steam.
    Water sensor: Fine wire connects to it, when water
    touches the shaft inside the machine stops filling.

    Fill the boiler
    Disconnect the boiler water sensor wire.
    I let it hang over the front of the machine.
    Make sure the hoses are submerged.
    Open the steam valve (point it at the tray)
    Place a rag over/around the vacuum breaker valve.
    Water will come out both when its full.
    Plug in and turn on the machine.
    Once the boiler is full of descaler solution
    -Water will come out the breaker/steam wand.
    Turn off the machine.
    Reconnect the boiler water sensor.
    Turn the machine back on.
    If you want to descale the HX as well,
    Activate the brew head and allow a cup of water/solution out.
    Let it sit, heat up and descale.
    I let mine descale for three hours, some do overnight.


    Flush out the descaler
    Turn off/unplug the machine.
    Empty the boiler again as above. Its hot so itll work.
    You may want to let it cool so youre not shocking the metal with cold water.
    Fill the pitcher with fresh water.
    Disconnect the boiler water sensor again.
    Turn on/plug in the machine.
    Fill the boiler to the top with fresh water.
    This will remove any residue.
    Repeat if you wish to flush the whole boiler.

    Turn off/unplug the machine.
    Reassemble everything.
    Run a gallon or two of fresh water through the machine.
    Dont forget to thorougly flush out the brew head.
    The lever assembly may become difficult to move once the coffee oils are removed.
    You can supposedly lubricate it with food grade lube
    or just pull a few shots to loosen it up.


    There are detailed pics, but this looks like a workshop job, not a DIY!!!

    Leave a comment:


  • cuppacoffee
    replied
    Re: Descaling Giotto: How often?

    Hi Allan

    Yes, Id recommend descaling for any machine with a boiler. As for how often, this is dependent on usage and water quality in your region, though once every 6 months cant hurt and at least once a year.

    Both Bombora and Cafetto have suitable products and specific directions are provided with the product, though may vary somewhat dependent on which product you use.

    Cheers!

    Leave a comment:


  • flatwhite
    started a topic Descaling Giotto: How often?

    Descaling Giotto: How often?

    A quick Giotto question: Should one descale and if so, how often? Theres nothing in the owners manual, but all my previous machines have recommended descaling.
    Also, whats the best method for descaling? does nayone have detailed instructions?
    Thanks

    allan
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