No water flow through brewing head even if head not fitted, will pump through steam nozzle. has been descaled, machine approx 3/4 years old, low use, pump was becoming noisy.

Descaling Saeco Automatic espresso machines SAECO VIENNA SUPERAUTOMATIC MACHINES:
SAECO VIENNA DIGITAL - MANUAL DESCALE PROGRAM
1. Fill the water tank with the Saeco descaling solution. (1 bottle of Saeco descaling solution to one full tank of water.)
2. Turn on the machine. Run approximately 1 cup through the steam wand by turning open the hot water steam valve). Turn machine off and let sit for 5 minutes.
4. Repeat this procedure until the water tank is empty. Then rinse water tank thoroughly and flush the machine by running two tanks of clear water through the steam wand.
5. To clear the "Decalcify" message on the Digital model, press the MENU/OK key to go into programming mode. Scroll up or down to select the "Signal.Descal" function. Press MENU/OK. Next, the messages " Quantity Water Not Reached" and "Left Quantity" will flash. Press MENU/OK again - the message "Reset Descaling Program - Yes" will appear. Press MENU/OK again. The Descale meter is now cleared.
SAECO VIENNA DIGITAL - AUTOMATIC DESCALE PROGRAM
1. Press the MENU/OK key to go into programming mode. Scroll up or down to select the "Descaling" function . Press MENU/OK key. Place a large container under the hot water/steam nozzle. Fill the water tank with Saeco descaling solution. (1 bottle of Saeco descaling solution to one full tank of water. Refer to the instructions on the bottle).
2. Then completely open the hot water/steam rotary valve/knob. The pump starts and the descaling program begins. During this phase the pump runs at intervals and the message "Machine is Descaling" is displayed. The complete program takes about 40 minutes. Do not add any water to the tank during this phase. When the message "Descaling Finished" appears, close the hot water/steam valve. The message "Rinse Machine" will appear.
4. Remove and rinse water tank thoroughly, fill with fresh water and replace on machine. Empty the container under the hot water/steam nozzle and replace. Flush the machine by running the tank of clear water through the hot water/steam wand until the message "Rinsing Finished" appears. Exit the Programming mode by pressing "MENU/OK" Refill the water tank with fresh water.
5. To clear the "Decalcify" message on the Digital model, press the MENU/OK key to go into programming mode. Scroll up or down to select the "Signal.Descal" function. Press MENU/OK. Next, the messages " Quantity Water Not Reached" and "Left Quantity" will flash. Press MENU/OK again - the message "Reset Descaling Program - Yes" will appear. Press MENU/OK again. The Descale meter is now cleared.
Descaling Single Boiler Home espresso machines (HOME SINGLE BOILER ESPRESSO MACHINES)


Approximately every 3 months (depending on your use and the water hardness), clean the machine with natural citric acid based decalcifying agent.
1. Add a descaling solution into the water reservoir. Mix thoroughly to dissolve (use warm water for better results).
2. Remove the filter holder and place a cup under the group head and another cup, or other container, under the steam wand to catch cleaning solution.
3. Turn espresso machine on, turn coffee pump on and run approximately 8 oz. of solution through the brew head. Turn machine off and let the machine sit for 15 minutes.
4.Run approximately 8 oz. through the steam wand, and again, turn machine off and let sit for 15 minutes.
Repeat by allowing solution to run alternately through the steam wand and brew head. Turn espresso machine off after each cycle. Repeat process until solution has been run through.
5. Do not leave espresso machine on. Do not wait for the ready light to come on. Do not use the steam switch during this process. Do not allow reservoir to run empty!
6. Rinse reservoir thoroughly with fresh water. Refill reservoir with fresh water. Run half a tank of fresh water through group head, alternating between group head and steam wand.

This means the water cannot flow through the machine. Normal fix is to prime the machine (turn water dispenser on, fill a cup) or descale the machine. Go through the menu, select descale, enter, then turn the steam knob fully anti-clockwise. You should put the descaling solution in the water tank first.
If you have the auto-descale in the menu then run it. Run the solution through the machine twice. Then rinse well.

If there is no water from the head then remove the screw and screen, then press brew button, if water flows clean shower, using a pair of plies hold screen over open flame, coffee will burn out of the small holes. If no water after trying above then remove the 2 allen wrench screws and carefully remove the diffuser and seat with spring, now try running the head, if water flows reassemble and you are back in busines, if no water descale machine.

Select "Hot Water" and open the steam valve. Let it pump water out the steamer for awhile. It usually clears right away but may need to pump a lot of water to clear the error.

If you aren't able to get any water coming out the steam nozzle, you may need to prime the pump with the little squeezy tool they gave you with the machine - or you can use a turkey baster. Mainly you are trying to get water up into the pump to prime it (get the air out of the pump) so it can pump water instead air.

If you get good flow with the portafilter out, you may need a new pump. When you descale do you run the descaler through the brew head? That is one problerm that people make is running the descaler through both the wand and the brew head. Sclae will build up in the pipe in the brew head and restrict it.

That's ok .
The water from the steam nozzle is straight from a boiler.
Where as the brew head is fed from another boiler via the brew unit,so you will still have some coffee in the system.
If you wanted to you can rinse the brew head by making preground coffee without coffee this will flush it clean.

Remove the portafilter and press the brew button, if the water flows from the head with a nice flow then the problem is with the grind (too fine), or the coffee has been Tamp too hard.
If water barely flows when you press the button then try backwashing the machine and removing the shower screen to clean it.

change pump

I started the descaling process as according to manual. I tried running water through every 6 hours or so, however it kept coming up dry. I left the water in for a total of 2 days before finally the water managed to come through.

Hi there, I had a very similar problem with my Gaggia Classic. Worked fantastic every day for two years then one day the brew head was reduced to a very slow drip. I rang some Gaggia service agents and they all said it needs a service ($100-$150). The last one I called told me to descale it before bringing it in for a service as it was probably scale buildup. I told them it wasn't a gradual thing - it just suddenly stopped and they said what happens is the scale builds up to a point where a piece breaks off and clogs the pipeworks leading to the brewing head. So, I used the instructions outlined here: http://www.coffeemachine.com.au/descalin... At then end of the second flush through the steam head, I closed the steam vale to try and push the descaling solution back through the brew head (just dripped through again) then left it for 10 minutes again. Did the same the third time and it went to drip again for about five seconds then bingo - burst back to full flow. Hope this helps.