Problems descaling water docent come out the right way

Hi,
been talking to Gaggia (Philips) and they told me that with the newer Breras, you need to ill the water tank, put the machine into standby, then press the long and short cup buttons together for 6 seconds. This will start an auto descale programme (that they didn't mention in my manual!). A small amount of water will be dispensed through the coffee nozzles, then it will stop and the warning triangle and the prime warning light will come on. Place a large container under the panarello, then turn the knob to the right to dispense water. It will dispense about 50 - 100 mls (cold) water, then stop for about a minute. Just leave it and eventually it will empty the tank. Refill it and start again, but it will stop after a few seconds. Turn the knob back to central position, then it will dispense another small amount of water from the coffee nozzles, then stop with warning lights again. Turn the knob back right to dispense water, if it stops because of empty tank, just refill it. Eventually, the machine will stop and go to standby. Turn the knob back to the centre, refill tank yet again and the machine will start normally WITHOUT that descale warning light. HOORAY !!

Yes this is correct. You have to press the steam/water button down ... and NOT the descale button as the instructions say in the manual. Apparently Saeco/Phillips has had so many descaling problems with this machine that it has stopped making them. I am convinced that it was the error in the manual that caused most of the descaling problems that are reported - not the machine.

HI
The Digital Italia is programmed to descale the boilers on its own. With the machine turned on, push and hold the descale button (bottom right button). This should say "Descaling" in the display. Mix your descaling crystals in your water tank. Stir until they are completely dissolved in the water. Next have a container that can handle about 2 quarts of water under the steam wand, or have the machine positioned next to a sink. Next open the steam knob on the right side of the machine. You should hear the pump turn on and pump about 2 to 3 oz's. of water through the wand into the container. The pump should turn off and there will be a wait of about 2 minutes. The pump should turn on again and more water will come out. It will do this until it has completely drained the water tank. Do not interrupt this cycle until the machine has stopped on its own. When it does stop, the display will say "Finished descaling" push any button to continue. Rinse out the water tank and refill with fresh water. Place the water tank on the machine again, push the descale button again, then close and then open the steam knob again to let water just flow through the boilers until it is emptied by the machine, but don't turn off anything until the machine stops again on its own. This will clear the descale if you have gone to the "Reset Descale" in the menu and chose "Yes". Refill the water tank again with fresh water and then close and then open the steam knob again to prime and your ready to go.

The Italia is programmed to descale the boilers on its own, when set in the correct mode. To program the machine to descale it's self, do the following. With the machine turned on, push and hold the descale button (bottom right button). This should light the top right red indicator light. Mix your descaling crystals in your water tank. Stir until they are completely dissolved in the water. Next have a container that can handle about 2 quarts of water under the steam wand, or have the machine positioned next to a sink. Next open the steam knob on the right side of the machine. You should hear the pump turn on and pump about 2 to 3 oz's. of water through the wand into the container. The pump should turn off and there will be a wait of about 2 minutes. The pump should turn on again and more water will come out. It will do this until it has completely drained the water tank. Do not interrupt this cycle until the machine has stopped on its own. When it does stop, all lights on the top will flash. Rinse out the water tank and refill with fresh water. Place the water tank on the machine again, push the descale button, then close and then open the steam knob again to let water just flow through the boilers until it is emptied by the machine, but don't turn off anything until the machine stops again on its own. This will clear the descale light. Refill the water tank again with fresh water, then open the steam knob to prime the machine and your ready to go.

Hi
It should take about 45 minutes to an hour to properly descale the machine. If it only took a couple of minutes you really didn't descale your machine. If you used the powder it has to disolve completly before descaling. The best way to descale is with the descaler in the tank. Turn on the machine and run about 8 ozs of water-descaler through the wand and then turn off the machine. Wait 10 minutes and repeatthe last procedure. Do this until the tank is empty. When done with the descaler, rinse out the tank and put fresh water in the tank and run the whole tank through the wand. Then fill the tank and your ready to go.

1. place water and descaler solution into tank
2. remove milk frother from arm
3. place a jug under steam arm
4.hold down the button 2nd from the right next to the menu button for a few seconds.
5.descaling machine open steam knob will appear on the display
6. after descale has finished "fill water tank" will appear.
7. refill tank with clean water no descaler
8.press the button 2nd from the right as in step 4
9. rinsing machine will appear.
10. when finished"close knob"will be displayed
11. refill water tank
12. ventilate will appear on the display
13.press the hot water button and allow to run
14.ventilate will disappear,warming should be displayed.
15. job done !!!

use 1/4 cup of vinegar and fill pot with cold water, run through machine

Hi kdimof,
I realize you posted this problem over a year ago, but I was curious to see if you were ever able to resolve this problem, or find the exact cause.
I have the same issue you describe. I descaled my Lattissima for the first time using the Nespresso descaling solution. And now, two months later, I cannot remove the chemical smell/taste of the descaling solution. I've run numerous descaling cycles with just water (as per Nespresso's customer service advice), with no success. I was forced to accept a refurbished machine (even though my Lattissima was only 3 months old). The refurbished machine is currently on the way. We'll see if I have the same issue when I descale this one.
Thanks, Redfran

when the machine gives the signal press the bottom right hand button for 5 seconds.
it will tell you to open the knob.
before you open the knob fill the water tank with the descaling solution
place a large water receptacle under the steam wand.
now turn your knob
the machine will start to descale this can take a while
when the descale cycle is finished close the knob.
rinse the water tank out with fresh water and fill it will clean drinking water.
Press the same button on the bottom right to confirm that yo are doing the rinse cycle.
open with knob and the machine will start the rinse cycle.
when the rinse cycle is complete close the knob and load the circuit.
when descaling is over fit a new cartridge filter in your water tank and off you go with your descaled cleaned coffee machine.