Troubleshoot steam wand blockages on Expobar Office Lever and Office Lever Plus.
There is no steam coming out when I open the steam knob
If there is no steam dispensing from your steam wand when you open the valve on your Expobar Office Lever or Office Lever Plus, there may be a blockage caused by milk residue or scale. Read on for instructions on how to clear steam wand blockages. Make sure that the hot water valve works, and the issue has been isolated to just the steam side of the machine and check your steam gauge
Is the steam pressure gauge showing approximately 1.2 bars of pressure?
- Yes. Remove the tip from the steam wand. Open the valve. Is there steam coming out of the steam arm?
- Yes. If flow is restored then the tip needs to be cleaned and reattached. Mineral deposits and milk debris can easily collect in the holes of the steam tip, so be sure to clean these thoroughly. Soaking the tip in a solution of hot water and backflushing powder will help remove residues more effectively.
- Yes. Make sure the teflon “no burn” tube that is inside of the steam arm, is not sticking out too far. It can block the holes of the steam tip. You can push this back up into the wand. You can also trim a little bit of the tubing off at the end, on an angle. This will prevent it from blocking off the holes in the steam tip.
- No. There may be a blockage in the steam arm. Clean the wand by using a pipe brush that has synthetic or plastic bristles; metal bristles can damage the wand. Then soak the wand in a solution of hot water and backflushing powder for ten minutes.
- No. Allow machine to cool, remove the housing, remove the copper pipe off the back of the steam valve and check for a blockage if no blockage is present in the valve or the end of the pipe, a blockage is present on the boiler side. Should be sent in for repair/descale of hydraulic system.