Keurig K-Express descale light that stays on even after running the descaling process is annoying. And here’s how to fix the issue.
Keurig K Express is a single-serve coffee maker that has long been a game changer, particularly for stay-at-home baristas. To maintain its functionality, you’ll need to descale it regularly. But this descaling process is not exempt from issues. And the common one is related to the Keurig descale light that stays on even when the descaling process has been done. Then, how to fix it? Keep reading to find out.
Table of Contents
Why Is the Keurig K-Express Descale Switch On?
All Keurig models have a descale light, including the K Express one. This light is a standard feature of Keurig coffee makers. It is an indicator that the coffee machine ought to be cleaned immediately when the light switches on.
Of course, it’s not without a reason why the light turns on automatically. You may not realize this, but the water you pour into the machine’s water reservoir actually contains lots of minerals that can accumulate inside the brew over time. When this occurs, the descale light will turn on, and the brew will stop running. And that’s your cue to descale your Keurig.
Reusable K-Cups packed too tightly may also cause the Keurig K-Express descale light to switch on. As a result, the water flow inside the appliance will be restricted, which might trigger the indicator light for descaling. Simply put, anything that blocks the water flow will turn on the descaling light.
How to Turn Off the Keurig Descale Notification Light?
The descale light of Keurig K-Express will turn on after every 3 months or around 250 brews. You will need to perform a complete descaling procedure to put this notification light off. Prepare following tool to perform it:
- A large ceramic mug
- Fresh water
- Keurig descaling solution
- Access to a sink
Before you start descaling, make sure you have removed any beverage pods in the pod holder. And here’s the step-by-step guide:
- Fill the empty water tank with the entire descaling solution and place a mug on the drip tray.
- To enter Descale Mode, make sure the coffee maker is shut off but plugged in. Press and hold down the 10oz and 6oz buttons at the same time for 3 seconds until the descale light turns on.
- To start the descaling process, press the 8oz button. The hot liquid should pour into the mug and discharge into a sink.
- Continue Step 3 until the “Add Water” indicator light turns on.
- When it’s done, empty the water tank and refill with water until it reaches the max fill line. Hit the 8oz button to begin rinsing. Continue this step until the descale light switches off.
Keurig K-Express Descale Light Stays On
Correctly following the Keurig descaling procedure above will automatically turn off the descale light. Yet, in certain conditions, the descale light won’t turn off even after the descaling process is done.
The first method to fix this issue is to do the Keurig K Express descale light reset. Luckily, the procedure is relatively simple. You just need to turn off the coffee maker and unplug it from the power outlet. Then, let the unit rest for approximately 2 hours. This reset procedure can also be implemented whenever things go wrong with your Keurig.
What If the Descale Notification Keeps Coming On?
If you have reset your Keurig K Express and turned the unit on again, but the descale light still switches on, there is something wrong. Below are a few common problems that make the descale light keeps switching on and how to deal with them.
1. Packed coffee pods
As previously mentioned, packed reusable coffee pods are one of the culprits that trigger the descale notification to turn on. To avoid this, try to not refill your coffee pods all the way up to the brim.
Also, do not press the coffee grounds just so you can make room for more. If you think the issue may have been caused by a densely packed coffee pod, make sure to remove the pod to see whether your Keurig allows you to perform a brew cycle without a pod.
2. Clogged exit and entrance needles
Another thing you can do on how to get descale light off Keurig K Express is by manually checking the exit and entrance needles. The exit needle is on the pod holder’s bottom part, while the entrance one is right under the brew handle.
Lift the handle and unplug the Keurig. The two small holes of the entrance needle should be visible here. To unclog these holes, consider using a needle or a safety pin. Do the same thing to the exit needle. But first, take off the pod holder and the funnel. The tube sticking out from the pod holder is the exit needle you should unclog.
3. Clogged tubes
Should all the above methods fail, there’s a chance your Keurig’s internal components have some dirt particles or air bubbles. You can lightly spank your unit to remove those particles. To do this, you will need to unplug your Keurig and take off the removable parts. These include the drip tray, water reservoir, filter, and coffee pods if there are any.
Bring your Keurig coffee maker to your kitchen sink and firmly slap it on the machine’s base and side. This method should be able to get rid of any potential particles that might have clogged the unit’s internals. Finally, run a few brew cycles with clear water to clear out anything blocking your unit’s water flow.
It’s essential to note that the water you pour into your Keurig is the main reason why you have to deal with the descale light that keeps coming on. As briefly mentioned above, the water you use may be classified as hard water that has a lot of dissolved minerals. These minerals will slowly build up inside your Keurig, and it will trigger the descale notification.
You can minimize the accumulation of minerals by utilizing a water filter system. Even so, you will still need to regularly descale your unit for at least three months. Otherwise, you will see the Keurig descale light stays on all the time.
References:
https://manuals.plus/keurig/kexpress-essentials-k-cup-pod-coffee-maker-manual#
https://yourcoffeeandtea.com/keurig-descale-light/
