This week we are taking
a look a general maintenance of your equipment.
Its come to our attention
that the person who knows your machine the best is the person
who uses it each and every day. They have a feel for the machine
and know when its working right or not so right. Often times we
here from an owner or employee that the machine starting doing
such and such two or three weeks ago. Now its broken and we need
it fixed right away.
I can fix it and will
get there as soon as I can which may be right away or might be
the next day. In many cases if the problem had been addressed
when it was starting we may have been able to prevent down time
and the repair might have been only minor. A pump going bad (
you know the one that started sounding funny three weeks ago)
can easily take the motor out with it when it finally locks up.
Or the Leak that has
been leaking for six weeks and now your counter top is ruined.
Its these little things
that can make a big difference in costs to you.
Do you change your
filters on a regular basis ( do you even have filters), Do you
back wash the machine, do you ever look at the pressure guage
on the machine and do you know where it should be. Do you know
if your machine has a sight glass and have you ever looked at
the level. Do you know how to fill the boiler manually and is
it possible with my machine. Do you ever in the morning while
its quiet before the music is on listen to your machine. Most
steam leaks On espresso machines its easier to hear than to see.
Many people pay a
great deal of attention to the coffee coming out of the machine
but not enough to the machine it self. Its not hard just a little
knowledge and keeping ones eyes open this can save a lot of cost
and effort later. I have many customers who fix their own machines.
I will get many phone calls from someone who does not have a clue
what to call a pressure stat or that valve thingy but they do
know there is something wrong with the machine and we work out
over the phone what the machine is doing different or not doing
and most times are able to determine what the problem is and how
to fix it by themselves or at least what they can check for and
narrow down the problem. It does not really matter if you know
all the terminology of the parts or what they do, I do, all you
need to know is whats it doing different or not all we can try
to figure it out with a little persistence and patience. Over
the phone or thru email (pictures make some things so much easier)
we can help you out or at least point you in the right direction.