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J.L.Hufford Supporter Forum > Coffee & Espresso Machines > Coffee/ Espresso Machine Reviews > Help! Rancilio Silvia won't brew!!! |
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J.L.Hufford Supporter Forum > Coffee & Espresso Machines > Coffee/ Espresso Machine Reviews > Help! Rancilio Silvia won't brew!!! |
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| Help! Rancilio Silvia won't brew!!! | Rating: 
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10th, 2004 05:54 pm |
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1st Post |
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PMan1977 Member
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Hi all. My Rancilio Silvia stopped heating water or steam. I have heard that there is some sort of reset? Can anyone tell me how to work it/where it is? I've looked all over the machine, and no reset Thanks in advance!
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| Posted: Fri Nov 19th, 2004 12:18 am |
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2nd Post |
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hufford_technical Administrator
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Thank you for participating in the forum. There is a way to reset one of the thermostats on the boiler of the Silvia. It is a high-temperature safety thermostat designed to attempt to protect the heating element from excessive temperatures. For liability reasons, we must state that if you are not sure you can understand electrical safety guidelines (unplugging the machine and not altering or adjusting internal wiring), you should not perform this task and should take your Silvia to a Rancilio authorized service center. Furthermore, if the unit was at a hot temperature when you noticed the heating abilities have been stopped, we cannot be held responsible for any burns that would occur if the machine is not allowed to cool before performing this task. If your Rancilio Silvia is under warranty, the troubleshooting step of resetting the thermostat has no effect on the warranty; however, please be advised below these steps of the reasons why this safety thermostat can trip. 1. Unplug the machine and allow to cool, if necessary. 2. Remove the top plate. 3. Notice that there are three thermostats, two on the top and one on the side of the boiler. Locate the thermostat on the side of the boiler; notice that there is a red button on the top of this thermostat. Press this button straight into the thermostat from the tip. Do not push it from any of the rounded sides. You may or may not hear a click, or any other sort of indication that anything has happened. >See the picture here: http://www.jlhufford.com/images/ranciliotherm.gif for a look at the thermostat in question. 4. Replace the top plate, and fill the water tank. 5. Plug in the machine, open the steam valve (with a vessel beneath the wand), turn it on, and immediately activate the coffee switch to ensure the boiler fills with water. 6. If you have a GFCI outlet (the one with the TEST/RESET buttons), plug the Silvia into that outlet and test to make sure it doesn't trip the outlet protection. The machine needs to be reset when the boiler overheats. The boiler overheats usually if the internal water level is not maintained. The Silvia (and other espresso machines with similar technology) employ an internal heating element which is submerged in the boiler water. When you brew espresso or dispense hot water, the pump pushes out hot boiler water with tank water, keeping the boiler full. When you steam/froth milk, the water level drops as steam is released, but the boiler is not refilled. To attempt to prevent the heating element from burning out, the thermostat kills power to the element. Thermostats can only work effectively if the boiler is full of water (or enough steam). Always turn off the steam switch when steaming is complete, then press the coffee delivery switch until some water comes out of the brew group head. Also let some water out of the steam wand after this to keep it clean. In addition, do not allow these kinds of espresso machines to be turned on and left idle (unused) for several hours at a time, and always press the coffee delivery switch immediately upon any cold startup and let some water out just in case another user of your machine did not follow these guidelines. If you have to perform this reset, keep your eyes peeled for any whitish residue in the water that comes out of the group head. This is an indication that the heating element may have been damaged, and the boiler may need to be replaced. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't let your Silvia boiler operate without water! This, along with limescale and coffee oil build up are the primary reasons we get many machines in for non-warranty service. Thank you again for your participation. --JL Hufford Tech Support
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24th, 2009 11:25 pm |
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3rd Post |
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konmanos Guest
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Guys, Found this post after I experienced the same thing with my Rancillio. It all of a sudden cut out - no frothing - no heating. Being handy I decided to take it apart and perform the reset - but no good. So it was decided to take it in for a service and get a real expert to look at it. The serviceman - got it all working, after he replaced the element in the boiler. He said that at some stage the boiler got low in water - and this caused the element to burn. The Rancillio should have cut-out - however it did not. One thing that he told me that I was not aware of - was the following. You have a water reservoir - located at the back of the Rancillio - which needs to be full at all times - to make sure that you never introduce air into the boiler, or run out of water - So before you make a coffee - always check the water reservoir is full. You also have a boiler - inside - you cannot see this.. The boiler requires water to boil the water and to steam. When you brew the coffee - selecting the brewing button - you are basically sending hot water from the boiler to the grouphead - but at the same time you are priming the boiler - with water from the reservoir. So the boiler never runs out of water..... The catch.... When you are steaming/frothing - you are actually converting the water in the boiler to steam - and the boiler is NOT being primed when you are steaming/frothing. So you CANNOT froth/steam endless amounts of milk - without killing your boiler. I am not willing to try to see what the amounts of endless steaming/frothing is - however my rule of thumb now is.. After each steam/froth - I re-fill the boiler - by selecting the second button (the water release button) which will push the steam out of the boiler and you will see the stream of water come out of the steamer wand - when tis occurs you know that the boiler has again re-filled. Turn the steam light back on and wait for the next steam/froth session and so on... This will certainly minimise the effect of burning out the element. FINALLY.. When you have finished and about to shut it all DOWN... Make sure that that you fill the boiler - i.e the boiler is always full - release the steam from the BOILER and make sure that it has water in it.... This will ensure when you are next ready for your coffee session - you have water in the boiler. Also - when you start-up your boiler.. 1. Fill the back reservoir 2. Select the water button and release water through the steaming wand or 3. Select the brewing button and release water through the grouphead section. Happy brewing...
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| Posted: Sun Aug 23rd, 2009 03:19 am |
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4th Post |
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hufford_technical Administrator
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konmanos is correct, and these are all good tips. The reason that you must shut off the Rancilio Silvia if you are not going to be using it for a while is that the OPV (Over Pressure Valve) that relieves excess pump pressure back into the water tank is not perfect at containing steam. Steam is very difficult to contain in any setting, which is why steam taps for frothing are always tight and pain in the neck to open. The OPV will allow steam to escape into the water tank, albeit very slowly. Even with the Silvia set to brewing temp, there will always be a little bit of steam at the top of the boiler. As more and more escapes, the boiler level goes down. For a machine to be able to be left on, the boiler must have a water level probe and auto-refill function, or have an outside-mounted heating element like the Ascaso Dream.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 5th, 2009 02:24 pm |
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5th Post |
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johnhumid Member
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How to reset one of the thermostats on the boiler of the silvia?
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| Posted: Mon Sep 14th, 2009 02:59 am |
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6th Post |
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ajschneider04 Member
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Glad to have found this thread! Let say a handy person did all of those steps, and the machine is heating up great again, with no whitish residue visible in the effluent water. Is there anything other maintenance to plan on now due to this incident? In my case, the boiler seems to have overheated while I was running cleaning solutions (Cleancaf) through the machine. The boiler must have gone dry for too long between the cleaning and rinse cycles. Any tips on how to clean the machine effectively and get all the cleaner rinsed out without emptying the boiler in between rinses?
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| Posted: Fri Sep 18th, 2009 02:00 am |
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7th Post |
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hufford_technical Administrator
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Really the best way to rinse effectively without emptying the boiler is to do so through the group head using the coffee brew switch. Rancilio designed the boiler with the water supply entering the boiler on the side, but at the top edge. Water exits the boiler through the steam wand also through the top. This doesn't create a condusive environment for a thorough mixing of water. Water exits the boiler through the brew group via a standpipe that is in the middle of the boiler. It makes for a slightly better mix. Ultimately the best way to effectively rinse the boiler is to operate the unit with the top plate off and the wiring harnesses removed from the heating element's electrodes to keep the water from heating. What you should do is use an adjustable wrench to remove the copper pipe that leads to the steam valve. Use a drinking straw to suck out the water and spit it out somewhere. Then reattach the pipe and refill. Repeat as necessary. Always unplug the Silvia in between filling and siphoning to avoid electric shock.
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| Posted: Mon Jan 25th, 2010 08:02 pm |
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8th Post |
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jzanchy Member
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I just love my Rancilio Silvia V3. I have had no issues at all with mine.I'm not sure how to reset one of the thermostats sorry.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 6th, 2010 10:16 pm |
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9th Post |
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stealthboy Member
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I just registered to say thanks! My Silvia just stopped heating this evening after a long period of frothing, so no doubt my boiler ran a bit dry. I reset the thermostat and everything is back to normal! Thanks so much.
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| Posted: Sun May 9th, 2010 03:30 pm |
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10th Post |
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erick.mccroskey Member
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Thank you SO much! My wife was using my Silvia and ran the reservoir out; it stopped pumping for me. I followed the directions, opening the top and resetting the thermostat...back in business!!
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| Posted: Mon Jun 28th, 2010 02:26 am |
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11th Post |
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dfrederick Member
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Konmanos: Your info was particularly valuable. I had no idea frothing milk on the Silvia for all those cappuccinos drawn on another machine would drain the boiler. (I am afraid I have such a hard time getting a fine enough grind for the Silvia that I have taken to pulling shots on a lesser machine and frothing with the Silvia.) Good thread.
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11th, 2010 02:08 pm |
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12th Post |
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jhausman Member
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Thank you! Fixed the problem. Machine is now working perfectly again (4 years old). I thought I would need to buy a new machine.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20th, 2010 07:28 am |
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13th Post |
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andykim Member
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My Rancilio Silvia also got this problem for about two weeks, and i really know how to use it, but i can't fix. Thank you - Admin for your whole-hearted helping 
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26th, 2010 07:29 pm |
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14th Post |
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oswald808 Member
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Well, I have to thank this very page for making my day. My Silvia stopped working after letting a friend use it, he left the steam switch on. I presumed it had overheated. I spoke to the place I bought it from and they told me I had only two options, to buy a new one or get the boiler replaced. That was May 2009. Over a year later I found this page whilst searching for a boiler replacement. I hit the reset switch and all was well. I've just spent the last hour cleaning it and am drinking a coffee whilst writing this. I am absolutely over the moon. thanks Attachment: IMG_0004.jpg (Downloaded 120 times)
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| Posted: Thu Sep 9th, 2010 07:57 pm |
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15th Post |
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freddo Member
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A big Thanks to Hufford technical for explaining how to reset the Sylvia boiler thermostat. As a new user I panicked when everything went cold. Faced with a 200 mile round trip to the supplier -as I wouldn't trust her to a carrier- how relieved I was to find your excellent web site. Unfortunately being in England I am a bit out of your region of supply but your fame has now been spread to our Coffee Forums UK. Regards, Fred Last edited on Sat Sep 11th, 2010 12:53 pm by freddo |
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| Posted: Sat Sep 11th, 2010 08:00 pm |
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16th Post |
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curlyque Member
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 This morning my Silvia wouldn't heat up. My husband and I were bereft. I was prepared to take her to a service shop and pay hundreds of $$$ to have her back in our lives again. I happened to see this entry from 6 years ago, and tried it out. She sprung to life! Thanks for the info, and the photos were perfect.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 17th, 2011 05:37 pm |
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17th Post |
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Samstan Member
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Hi, I found this thread whilst trying to find out why my Rancilio Silvia suddenly stopped heating. I have one question about pressing the reset button. Do I press it inwards towards the boiler or downwards towards the base? Thanks
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| Posted: Thu Feb 17th, 2011 07:26 pm |
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18th Post |
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hufford_technical Administrator
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Hello and welcome. Press the button straight into the thermostat (towards the boiler). If you press it down from the rounded sides, it will break off.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 17th, 2011 07:33 pm |
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19th Post |
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Samstan Member
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Thank you. Good job I checked first!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22nd, 2011 05:59 am |
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20th Post |
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rogcorn Member
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The internet can be a wonderful thing at times. Thanks for this home fix, after 5 years, she still makes a great cup of coffee. Last edited on Fri Apr 22nd, 2011 06:00 am by rogcorn |
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