I thought my anti vacuum valve was bad but it must be the safety valve

thusband

I posted a few days ago about the leaking and spitting release valve in my Lelit Bianca. I bought a replacement valve and installed it. The machine’s behavior hasn’t changed so I guess it’s the safety valve? Bella Barista sent this picture of the safety valve. They said it wouldn’t look like the one I had in my machine but I don’t see anything close. Also I can’t find a video on replacing the thing.

Is the valve the one on the left with the fitting/hose out of the top?

Would you know of a quick tutorial that would explain the replacement?

Also, just to top things off the three-way connector (also circled) disintegrated so that will need replacing too.

I’m expecting a call back from Bella Barista so we’ll see how it goes.

DavecUK

thusband

I remember warning about finding out which valve it is. https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/1018-think-my-anti-vacuum-valve-on-my-lelit-bianca-is-bad/3 You must open the top and absolutely identify where the leak is…pop up a photo with where you believe it is if you want…and I can tell you what the component is.

Absolutely watch the video below where all components are explained. It’s for the first version but the vac breaker and safety valve are the same. skip to 3m 25 if you only want to see those, but I think it’s helpful if you grab a coffee and watch it all.

Replacement is easy, it will undo, but there might be thread locker. Use an open ended spanner on the large brass part of the valve and tappy tappy with a larger spanner to shock it off…don’t torque the thing off, or you will most likely break something

You need to be careful of the type of safety valve, not only the pressure rating (which should be the same or very similar), but how large it is…so it can sit sideways on the top of the boiler! Most large valves won’t fit…but the one BB linked to looks like it should and the pressure will be fine…you don’t want them blowing to early…3 bar is higher than stock, but will be fine.

Use a 3 way brass connector…get one from ebay if BB don’t have any…then you won’t ever have any worries again.

thusband

DavecUK

Yes, I took the top off and it appeared the water was coming from the anti vacuum. I could see slight water movement in the silicone tubing. I couldn’t determine where the sound was coming. I guess, though, it wasn’t coming from the anti vacuum valve.

Here’s a photo. The safety valve is on the left? The three way connector is at the top.

MediumRoastSteam

thusband see the picture I attached on your other thread. It has the same layout as your machine. All the possibly culprits are pointed with red arrows, including safety valve.

Both Dave and I warned you. 😊 - because it’s ultimately all linked up, you must be sure on what’s causing it. Although unlikely, it could even be the OPV’s water reaching the safety valve, boiling the water and causing what you are seeing. But if it’s not that, then it can be the safety valve. But you must be 100% sure.

For reference: https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/1018-think-my-anti-vacuum-valve-on-my-lelit-bianca-is-bad/7

MediumRoastSteam

thusband - on your photo above, is it just me or is the 3 way connector damaged and broken on the tube linking to the safety valve?

thusband

MediumRoastSteam see the picture I attached on your other thread. It has the same layout as your machine. All the possibly culprits are pointed with red arrows, including safety valve.

Both Dave and I warned you. 😊 - because it’s ultimately all linked up, you must be sure on what’s causing it. Although unlikely, it could even be the OPV’s water reaching the safety valve, boiling the water and causing what you are seeing. But if it’s not that, then it can be the safety valve. But you must be 100% sure.

Yes, I removed the cover and really thought it was the anti vacuum. I could see the water/steam.bubbles movement. Not much at all but it appeared it was coming from the anti vacuum.. Maybe because they’re all connected it was the OPV. I tried listening to where the “purring” was coming from but really couldn’t tell.

Here’s a photo of the OPV. It looks pretty clean right?

thusband

MediumRoastSteam

Yup, it broke this morning.

MediumRoastSteam

thusband -ps: I don’t think the OPV functionality is your issue. It’s there to relief the pressure if necessary. I don’t think you are reading my sentences fully. 😊

Now that your connector is broken, it should be easy to see where the hissing is coming from. If ends in the drip tray via the outlet at the front, it has to come from the anti-vac valve, as any water from the OPV or steam from safety valve will leak into the machine via the broken outlet.

thusband

MediumRoastSteam I don’t think the OPV functionality is your issue. It’s there to relief the pressure if necessary. I don’t think you are reading my sentences fully. 😊

Now that your connector is broken, it should be easy to see where the hissing is coming from. If ends in the drip tray via the outlet at the front, it has to come from the anti-vac valve, as any water from the OPV or steam from safety valve will leak into the machine via the broken outlet.

I haven’t run the machine with the broken connector. It broke this morning when I had the top off looking for the leak. I shut it down after that.

It’s not really a hissing sound. The original short video has it.

If it’s the anti-vac shouldn’t it be gone since I installed a new one?

MediumRoastSteam

thusband - yes, I think it should. What I’m trying to say is, if you do run the machine with the connector broken, no seater should really come out out of it - maybe a tiny amount from the OPV if the pressure goes over 12 bar.

If steam comes out of the safety valve, the. It will be very obvious now and you’d be able to spot it.

thusband

MediumRoastSteam yes, I think it should. What I’m trying to say is, if you do run the machine with the connector broken, no seater should really come out out of it - maybe a tiny amount from the OPV if the pressure goes over 12 bar.

If steam comes out of the safety valve, the. It will be very obvious now and you’d be able to spot it.

Sorry I’ve been away for a few days. Yes after warming the machine up without that three way connector steam constantly escapes from the safety valve. I have a replacement valve but getting a wrench to fit is impossible. Do I need to remove that large copper tube leading to the group head or is there another way?

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam run the machine with the connector broken, no seater should really come out out of it - maybe a tiny amount from the OPV if the pressure goes over 12 bar.

The expansion valve (OPV) will pass water after every shot, and when warming up.

thusband

DavecUK The expansion valve (OPV) will pass water after every shot, and when warming up.

Right, but the safety valve shouldn’t pass steam all the time should it? Is there a trick to removing the safety valve without having to remove the copper tube to the group head?

MediumRoastSteam

DavecUK The expansion valve (OPV) will pass water after every shot, and when warming up.

Out of curiosity Dave, will the expansion valve pass water after every shot even if the machine has a rotary pump?

MediumRoastSteam

thusband Right, but the safety valve shouldn’t pass steam all the time should it

It should never pass steam, ever, unless:

the pressure in the boiler is higher than the safety valve rating - that would be it doing its job, to protect against over pressure in the boiler and eventual explosion.
The safety valve is faulty.

If you have isolated to the safety valve passing steam, you need to replace it.

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam Out of curiosity Dave, will the expansion valve pass water after every shot even if the machine has a rotary pump?

Yes it will.

thusband Right, but the safety valve shouldn’t pass steam all the time should it? Is there a trick to removing the safety valve without having to remove the copper tube to the group head?

as @MediumRoastSteam has said, it shouldn’t be passing water. The only time it can do that and not be faulty, is if the steam boiler was overfilling. If that was the case you would be mentioning other symptoms.

You should be able to get that fitting off with an open ended spanner? If that doesn’t work, more angled variants will. Remember tappy tappy, not torquey torquey

thusband

MediumRoastSteam It should never pass steam, ever, unless:

the pressure in the boiler is higher than the safety valve rating - that would be it doing its job, to protect against over pressure in the boiler and eventual explosion.
The safety valve is faulty.

If you have isolated to the safety valve passing steam, you need to replace it.

Steam escaping all the time so it needs to be replaced. Now the challenge is to remove it without pulling everything else off to do it.

I wonder why there aren’t any ‘how to videos’ on it? At least I haven’t come across any.

MediumRoastSteam

thusband I wonder why there aren’t any ‘how to videos’ on it? At least I haven’t come across any.

On the Elizabeth:

Same principle. Good luck!

thusband

MediumRoastSteam On the Elizabeth:

Same principle. Good luck!

Yes, thanks, that explains it and I did see this one. However the layout of the Elizabeth is quite a bit different as access on the Bianca is really difficult. Also the open end wrench used is 17mm. A 17mm is too big for the Bianca valve, maybe it’s a 15.

I’ll need to loosen or remove the steam pipes. I was hoping there would be an easier way.

thusband

DavecUK You should be able to get that fitting off with an open ended spanner? If that doesn’t work, more angled variants will. Remember tappy tappy, not torquey torquey

Yes, maybe a different angle. I like your tappy tappy. Light taps with a hammer right?

DavecUK

thusband Yes, maybe a different angle. I like your tappy tappy. Light taps with a hammer right?

If you’re me, light taps with a pin hammer, possibly. If you’re not me, light taps with a bigger spanner (which often I do). Light taps with a big hammer…no. Also shock both ways if it won’t come loose in the loosen direction, obviously don’t shock in the tighten direction too hard.

it’s a shame there are no multi hit open ended impact spanners