DeLonghi milk frother not steaming, what usually causes it?

[Thomas Martinez]

Looking up common cause of milk froth machines failing. Found a few online. Seems like three common cause for DeLonghi machines specificaly.
First is a steam leak in the system. If the machine are losing steam, the boiler cannot build up the necessary pressure to create steam.
Second is the steam valve go bad. The steam valve on these machines wear out over time and eventually require a new valve replacement.
Third is the hot water button getting stuck in an on position. When on machines, the button will heat the water to the desired temperature but will not allow steam to exit a wand.
This last one is the most frustrating. It would drive someone crazy to fix this instead of just the steam valve which is a much more easier replacement.

 

[Misty Mandrill]

valve goes first 9 times out of 10 on the magnificas. I've probably swapped 30+ of them. Stuck button is real but rare, usually only see it on machines that live next to a stove getting splattered with grease.

 

[Motionless Mantis]

Wait so when the valve go bad does the machine still pump water out into the drip tray or does nothing happen at all?

 

[Enchanting Elk]

descaling. That's it. That's the answer 80% of the time and nobody want to hear it because they didnt do it for 3 years and now the steam circuit is choked with calcium.

 

[Misty Mandrill]

Wait so when the valve go bad does the machine still pump water out into the drip tray or does nothing happen at all?

depends on the model but usually when the steam valve fails the pump will still run but no water will exit the machine.

 

[Distinct Dugon]

Had the stuck button on a Dinamica last year. Customer swore she cleaned it. Found dried milk under the panel though so just cleaned that out and it work right away. Took 15 minutes vs 200 bucks at another shop.

 

[Mist]

the order of failure is kinda meaningless tbh, depends on the water hardness and descaling frequency

 

[Enchanting Elk]

the order of failure is kinda meaningless tbh, depends on the water hardness and descaling frequency

exactly. People skips the boring answer and go straight to ordering parts.

 

[Tense Tuatara]

is the steam valve the same part on a Magnifica S and a Magnifica EVO or are they different parts? I'm looking at one on ebay.

 

[Planet of the]

mine wasnt steaming and the wand itself was clogged with old milk residue. Just soaked it in vinegar for a few hours and it worked.

 

[Motionless Mantis]

how do you test the steam valve if the machine is intact?

 

[Misty Mandrill]

how do you test the steam valve if the machine is intact?

it's a solenoid so you can check the ohms on it. Should be somewhere around 50 ohms give or take. If its reading 0 that means its failed and open circuit. But mechanical issues like a stuck steam valve seat wont show up on an ohm meter.

 

[Enviou]

the third issue is the most frustrating for sure no kidding lol. Tried to fix an eletta for a friend over the weekend. Finally found the thermoblock it was shooting out the steam knob with grit in it. Wanted to throw the thing off a balcony.

 

[Mist]

thermoblock vs boiler is a whole separate rabbit hole btw

 

[Fut]

the third issue is the most frustrating for sure no kidding lol. Tried to fix an eletta for a friend over the weekend. Finally found the thermoblock it was shooting out the steam knob with grit in it. Wanted to throw the thing off a balcony.

mine did the same thing and i should of checked the knob first instead of just the steam valve. Its sitting in a drawer now.

 

[Enchanting Elk]

mine did the same thing and i should of checked the knob first instead of just the steam valve. Its sitting in a drawer now.

that valve in your drawer will be of use in 18 months when the genuine one actualy fails from scale build up in the system.

 

[Tense Tuatara]

nobody answered my question about the parts