Keurig single-serve coffee brewers are amongst the best in the world in terms of quality and convenience. However, these coffee machines aren’t exempt from problems, and one of the most common of these is when all the lights come on simultaneously.
When all the lights are steadily on or flashing inexplicably and you can’t brew or only a little coffee is being dispensed, you need to check out and fix the underlying issue. It’s important to know which parts to troubleshoot when you encounter such a problem, and how to fix the same.
Why are all the lights on my Keurig on?
Sometimes, you’ll notice that all of the lights on your Keurig, including the ‘add water’, ‘heat’, and ‘medium cup size’ buttons, are flashing simultaneously. The most common cause of this issue is a misplaced charcoal filter. The charcoal filter sits inside the Keurig’s water reservoir and if it isn’t properly seated in the holder, all the lights start to blink at the same time as a sort of error messaging.
Note: The charcoal filter usually shifts due to the downward water pressure when filling the reservoir, consequently preventing the proper flow of water from the reservoir into the tubing that leads to the heating elements.
There’s also another instance, whereby all the lights on the Keurig come on steadily (no blinking) and no coffee comes out when you press the brew button. This is usually caused by clogged needles. When the entry or exit needles are clogged with grime and coffee grounds, they eventually malfunction, resulting in this issue.
Keurig not working all lights on fixes?
To fix a Keurig that’s not working and all lights are on, you first need to find out the actual cause of the problem. To troubleshoot the charcoal filter, follow the steps outlined below:
i. Add water to the Keurig water reservoir and power on the brewer to start heating.
ii. Place a measuring cup on the drip tray/under the exit spout. Meanwhile, open the handle and remove any used K-Cup if still there.
iii. Next, lower the handle and press the 6-ounce or 8-ounce cup size button to start brewing.
iv. Check the level of the hot water collected in the measuring jar at the end of the brew cycle. If it’s the same ounces as the cup size button that you’d chosen, then the charcoal filter isn’t the problem. However, if the amount of water collected is less than the selected cup size, it’s likely that the charcoal filter is not properly seated in the holder and is what’s causing all lights to flash simultaneously.
v. Next, detach the water tank, empty it, and remove the charcoal filter, which is located at the bottom of the water reservoir.
vi. Add water to the tank and reinsert it into the brewer. Empty the measuring cup and return it under the exit spout.
vii. Then, run another water-only brew cycle using the 6-ounce or 8-ounce cup size buttons. If the amount collected is the same as the selected cup size, it proves that the charcoal filter you’ve removed was the problem.
viii. In this case, you need to readjust the filter. However, if the amount collected is still less than that specified, the problem lies elsewhere
Take note that not all types of Keurigs come with a charcoal water filter. Examples of Keurig brewers without a filter include the K-Mini, K-Mini Plus, K15, and Rivo. If you have any of these Keurig models but all lights are still coming on at the same time, the problem most likely lies in the needles.
To reset a Keurig with all the lights steadily on
To reset a Keurig with all the lights steadily on, follow the steps detailed below:
i. Unplug the Keurig unit and plug it back on again.
ii. Next, open the brewer handle and close it again.
iii. Then, press and hold down the power button down with one finger; while sequentially pressing the small, medium, and large cup buttons with another finger. Press the buttons in this sequence at least three times before letting go of the power button.
iv. At this point, the Keurig will reset, the lights will turn off, and you should be able to hear the water pump kicking on.
To fix a Keurig where all the lights are steadily on and the Keurig isn’t brewing
To fix a Keurig where all the lights are steadily on and the Keurig isn’t brewing, follow the steps below to clear the needle clogs:
i. First off, power off and unplug the Keurig coffee machine from the wall outlet.
ii. Then, lift up the brewer handle to access the bottom of the brew head where the entry needle is located.
iii. Straighten one end of a paper clip and use it to poke inside the hole where the entrance needle is located. This will dislodge the clogs on the needle. If you can’t clearly see the bottom of the brew head, use a flashlight to illuminate the area.
iv. Next remove the K-Cup pod holder to access the exit needle at the bottom. Using the same straightened paper clip that you’d used for the entry needle, dislodge the clogs on the exit needle.
v. Once done, return the K-Cup holder inside its compartment, close the brew head, and run a test brew to see if the problem has been fixed. Also, the lights should stop coming on steadily at this point.
References
My Morning Espresso: A Guide to Fixing Keurig Blinking Lights