Coffee machine not pumping water or leaking? What to check yourself
When a coffee machine won't pump water, there's most often air or limescale in the system. A puddle under the machine is usually a full drip tray or a badly fitted brew unit.
- Most common cause
- air in the system, limescale or the tank
- Time
- 15–30 minutes
- Repair shop
- 340–820 zł
Turn the machine off and unplug it before removing the brew unit. Watch out for hot water and steam from the wand. Don't open the casing.
Step by step
Check the water tank
Take out the tank, fill it with fresh water and push it in fully. Check the valve at the bottom of the tank isn't blocked by limescale.
Take out the water filter as a test
A clogged or new, unsoaked filter in the tank can block the flow. Remove it and try making coffee without it.
Bleed the system
Put a cup under the steam or hot water spout and run hot water for 20–30 seconds. This removes the air that blocks the pump.
Clean the brew unit
Remove the brew unit (if your model allows it), rinse it in lukewarm water without detergent and put it back until it clicks.
Empty the drip tray and grounds container
A puddle under the machine is most often an overflowing drip tray. Empty it with the machine on so the counter resets.
Descale the machine
Limescale narrows the pipes and nozzle. Run the descaling programme with the descaler recommended by the manufacturer and don't interrupt it.
- the pump runs loudly and still no water comes out
- water leaks from inside the casing, not from the tray
- the machine trips the breaker
- the error code returns after cleaning and descaling
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Pump replacement | 410–750 zł |
| Seals and hoses replacement | 270–540 zł |
| Service with descaling and cleaning | 340–610 zł |
| Diagnosis | 110–200 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
Most water problems are limescale and air, which you can fix for 0 zł. Replacing the pump in an automatic coffee machine usually pays off, because a new machine costs much more.
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Why is my coffee machine noisy but no water comes out?
Most often because of air in the system, an empty or badly inserted tank, or limescale.
Why is there water under the coffee machine?
Usually an overflowing drip tray or a badly fitted brew unit. Less often a cracked hose inside.
How often should I descale a coffee machine?
When the machine tells you to, usually every 1–3 months, depending on water hardness.