Keurig’s convenience as a quick coffee-brewing machine can quickly turn into frustration when it starts leaking water and you find yourself having to wipe up water droplets on your kitchen counter every so often. Even worse, the leaking water poses an electrocution risk and may also cause the brewer to rust.
Causes of Keurig water leaks when heating?
Keurig brewers sometimes malfunction and start leaking water either at the top or at the bottom. If the coffee machine is leaking at the top, it could be due to clogging, overfilling, malfunctioning capsules, defective heating elements/ pipework, loose or broken upper gasket, and a faulty K-Cup lid.
Clogging
If the puncture needle at the bottom of your K-Cup holder is clogged, this may cause water to leak out of the top of your Keurig machine. Water leakage may also be caused by a clogged valve at the bottom of the water reservoir.
Overfilling
Water leakage out the top of the Keurig may also be caused by overfilling the water tank. This is a common issue in Keurig models with small water reservoirs, such as the Keurig K-15 Mini. When you fill-up the tank to the brim, the water expands as it heats, causing excess water to leak out the top.
Malfunctioning capsules
If you’re using refillable capsules or third-party pods instead of genuine Keurig K-Cup pods, this may be the cause of the water leak at the top of the machine. The refillable capsule may be too large and doesn’t fit right inside the pod holder, causing the leak. Meanwhile, third-party coffee pods may have film lids that are too thick to be penetrated by the puncture needle, resulting in water leakage.
Defective heating elements/ pipework
The internal pipework and heating elements may have leaks, causing water to come out the top of the Keurig brewer. The issue may also be due to the pipework in the Keurig’s water circuit being loosely attached.
Loose or broken upper gasket
The upper gasket is a silicone component that forms a tight seal for the K-Cup and the water pipe on your Keurig brewer. If this part of the machine becomes loose or breaks, you’ll likely end up with water leaks at the top of your brewer.
A faulty K-Cup lid
If the K-Cup lid isn’t being tightly held by the brewer, water may come out the top of the machine. This is due to the loosely fitting lid not being able to hold back the build-up of water pressure inside the coffee maker.
Why is my Keurig leaking water underneath?
Meanwhile, if the brewer is leaking at the bottom, the issue could be a defective O-ring, a cracked water reservoir, or a faulty seal on the water tank. Each of these causes of water leaks at the base of your Keurig brewer is discussed in detail below.
Defective O-ring
The O-ring is a component that seals low-pressure hydraulics inside a coffee maker to prevent leakage of fluids. If the O-ring is faulty, your Keurig is likely to leak water from the bottom.
Cracked water reservoir
Your Keurig’s water reservoir may develop a crack or pinhole due to physical damage (such as the machine falling) or hairline cracks due to normal wear and tear. Both of these usually result in water coming out of the base of the brewer.
Faulty seal on the water tank
The silicone seal on your water reservoir may lose its sealing capabilities due to the bottom of the water tank pushing against the base whenever the tank is full. When this happens, water leaks through the perished seal.
Fix for Keurig leaking water
Fixing a Keurig that’s leaking water either at the top or at the bottom usually involves either repairing or replacing the faulty components. Here’s how to fix every cause of Keurig water leakage that we’ve discussed.
Avoid Overfilling
To prevent leakages due to an overfilled brewer, never fill up the water reservoir up to the brim. The amount of water you pour into the tank should always be equal to or less than the recommended amount.
Replace the K-Cup Lid
For a Keurig that leaks water due to the brewer loosely gripping the K-Cup lid, reach out to Keurig for a replacement K-Cup lid. Alternatively, you can fit something around the K-Cup for a tighter grip.
Unclog and Clean the Brewer
If clogged parts are the cause of the water leak, consider unclogging the puncture needle using a paper clip. Meanwhile, remove the water reservoir and the K-Cup holder and clean them both with soapy water to remove any clogs (such as at the base valve of the tank) that might be causing water to leak out of the brewer.
Repair the Upper Gasket/O-ring
To stop water from leaking out of the Keurig brewer due to a loose or broken upper gasket, start by detaching the water reservoir and its lid/cap. Then, unscrew the circular screen at the base of the reservoir and pry off the O-ring with the help of a plastic opening tool.
The O-ring is the rubber seal that surrounds the circular screen. Finally, replace the old O-ring with a new one. Keurig usually offers replacement O-ring parts under their warranty cover.
Use only Genuine K-Cup Pods
If third-party pods are the cause of the water leak problem, consider replacing them with genuine K-Cups. Alternatively, you can try out other brands of coffee pods to see if this will solve the problem.
Repair the Internal Pipework/ Damaged Heating Elements
You can troubleshoot if loose or leaking internal pipes inside the water circuit are the cause of the water leak by disassembling the unit. To do this, unplug the machine and unscrew and open the rear panels. Then, try to visually locate the leaking component.
Note: You should only attempt to disassemble a Keurig unit by yourself if the warranty period is over. Doing so while the product is still under warranty will void the warranty cover.
After locating the source of the leak, you can seal it up using a strong, heat-resistant adhesive. As for loose pipes, place them back into the correct position by hand until they’re firmly secured and aren’t leaking any water.
Take note, though, that it’s better to go for new replacement parts than to patch up parts that are already faulty, as the former will last longer. Also, if you aren’t a DIY enthusiast, consider hiring a licensed service technician to do the repair/replacement job for you. They usually charge an affordable hourly wage of less than $30.
Restore the Silicone Valve
If the seal at the base of the water tank is won out and is leaking water, restore it using a silicone grease product. These are usually available for $5 or less on Amazon. Apply the grease on the water reservoir’s feed, then spread it by detaching and reinserting the water tank a few times.
Repair or Replace the Water Reservoir
For water leaks caused by a water tank with cracks and pinholes, fix the problem by sealing the cracks with hot glue or a soldering machine. For larger cracks that can’t be sealed up, replace the water tank with a new one.
Why my Keurig won’t stop pumping water
Sometimes, when you use your Keurig brewer after a power outage, it may keep on pumping water. A clogged brewer may also pump water continuously. To stop this problem, you should clean and reset the Keurig by following the procedure detailed below:
- Turn off and unplug the brewer, then let it sit idle for about 20 minutes.
- Unclog the needle using a paper clip
- Descale the brewer using vinegar or Keurig descaling solution.
- Remove and empty the water reservoir. Then, turn it upside down and gently tap the bottom.
- Reattach all parts, plug in and turn on the brewer to check if the problem has been fixed.
References
- Ohio State University: Functions & Components of a Keurig Coffee maker
- U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics; Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: 49-9031 Home Appliance Repairers
