Surely a leak since you can hear it. Apparently you cannot see it. OK, I would get a dental mirror or perhaps a cheap inspection mirror on a stalk that you can get from the auto parts store and look around with it near the top of the boilers. Perhaps if the mirror is cold the leak will cause condensation on the mirror as it sprays it, and you will then find the leak. You have to find the leak obviously.
The noise is when I turned on the steam to try and fill the steam boiler a bit and show the bubbles moving in the tube. I can’t see any sign of a leak.
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
MBdoc - there’s definitely a noise. You can clearly hear it on all videos. Of course I can distinguish the noise from when you turned the steam tap on - that’s not what dndrich is referring to. His advice is spot on. If you can’t see where it’s coming from, then the cold mirror is the way to go.
Also, next time, best if you turn the TV off, as it would be easier to hear out noises. 👍
Edit: are you saying that on the other videos you had the steam tap on all the time? In that case disregard the bit about hearing a noise.
Question: ignore the water moving inside the hoses. But… on the tank, there are two hoses: one for water inlet (it has a cut at the end) and one which is the return - you can follow that one as it is the one attached to the 4-way fitting going to the tank. If you lift that hose from the tank, is steam coming out of it? Do you see/hear bubbles in the tank?
Right. There is clearly a sound like steam escaping, and a leak. And, you have condensation in the gauges. So you gotta find the leak.
dndrich - well… if the safety valve is shot, then the steam could be coming from inside the tank (going back through the return hose), as he also says there was condensation underneath the tank.
MediumRoastSteam Good point
I can’t see anything obvious, so I’d do a couple of things to eliminate the other possibilities,
First, preferably take the outer shell off, it’s in one of my videos. Then run a shot against the blind filter, for about 30 seconds, and check just to see there’s nothing spraying somewhere onto the steam boiler itself or some other thing causing a problem.
Observe underneath the steam boiler just in case something is leaking there that hasn’t been noticed, you’ll get a better view from the sides as well and have a good look around.
Observe the tube in the tank, see if it bubbles or noticeably steams, and if this continues after the vacuum breaker is closed. You might just be seeing the normal vapour that comes out just prior to the vacuum breaker closing.
DavecUK Observe the tube in the tank, see if it bubbles or noticeably steams, and if this continues after the vacuum breaker is closed. You might just be seeing the normal vapour that comes out just prior to the vacuum breaker closing.
Just for clarity, the vacuum breaker tube goes to the drip tray, so it’s unlikely this is the culprit, unless the tube is split somewhere.
The safety valve tube goes to the tank. 👍
MediumRoastSteam Your right, but if the vac breaker is continuously leaking, the condensation might well rise up into the machine if there’s any gaps. I couldn’t see any movement in the safety valve tube, going back to the tank?
DavecUK - agree. Which could possibly explain condensation below the tank… 🤔🧐
The sound in the background is the extractor fan in the room and the radio in the hall. I can definitely not hear any hissing from the machine.
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
Thanks Dave this is very helpful. I will look at your video and try this.
I found a video on removing the back and inside back from Lelit, I couldn’t find yours but I will do this tomorrow and have a look under the steam boiler.
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
GOTCHA
Just after I switched on this morning I saw definite water bubbling out around the large nut on the top of the steam boiler. This is described in the Lelit video as a common place for leaks and also how to tighten it.
Your ears are better than mine. After I found the leak I noticed that the back left corner of the casing was quite warm but the side and back close to it still quite cool. Putting my finger (dental mirror is in the workshop) in the space between the corner and the steam boiler soon got pretty uncomfortable. Listen very close to that corner above the steam boiler there is a very soft hiss.
I will check with a mirror this morning, tighten this fitting and see what happens if I leave it on with the cover on for a few hours.
pity that the pressure gauge is marked on the back of the glass. Is there a way to clean this?
If it still gets condensation I will take the back off and check underneath.
Thanks to everyone for suggestions and support. You are a really great bunch. Also impressed with the approach by Lelit whose, rather unusual, policy is to help users fix things rather than refer everyone to a “certified repairer”. A welcome endorsement of the recent trend to fix it rather than bin it.
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
MBdoc - if the machine is under warranty… I would return to be fixed, including replacement of the gauges - or replaced.
It is under warranty. The immediate problem is that the warranty is locked to the supplier in France and the machine is with me in UK! I can take it back next year to have the gauges replaced but I need to fix the leak now or “no coffee”. Unfortunately I had just sold my old Ascaso Duo before I discovered the leak!
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
The Lelit guage is powered (light) and not the normal Orman gauge, so you might find the glass can be removed for cleaning….but I think better to use your warranty. It’s a safer machine to ship than most. Or ask for a replacement gauge to be sent.
Thanks Dave. I am waiting for a response from the supplier so I can ask them. The original box is in France (I have two Elizabeths but only kept one box as I thought it unlikely I would need to return either for service).
Is it easy to remove the gauges? It looks as if the mounting frame will lift out after the upper steel tag is bent upwards. If so I could easily clean the glass on both gauges if they are removable or fixed into the front of the machine rather than to the gauges. I could ask Lelit if no one has tried this.
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
MBdoc Yes it’s easy, you have the right idea. It’s the same as removing the LLC which I have done a few times.
Great news.
The fitting needed about ¼ turn to tighten it and the smaller nut about ⅛ turn. Switched back on and nothing on the cold dental mirror. The left rear corner also scarcely warm now. Left on with the top cover on while we go out for lunch. Optimistic that all will be well. The glass on the gauges also looks pretty clean now so maybe nothing needed to be done there.
Thanks again for all suggestions and advice.
If it happens to the one in France I should be able to fix it easily.
I might just check and tighten the fitting anyway as a pre-emptive precaution as it’s pretty easy to do.
I used a 19mm socket which, after removing the connector, was easier than the awkward method with an open spanner on the Lelit video. The socket wasn’t quite deep enough but if dropped onto the fitting the extension sat just far enough in to hold well enough.
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
After lunch and a couple of hours all enclosed it’s dry as a bone inside. Apart from having lost the screw for the side panel (can’t think how as I put it in a safe place) for which I easily found a replacement all is well and if it recurs an easy fix.
Odd that this seems to be a common enough problem for Lelit to make a video especially to deal with this. I suppose it loosens with thermal movement but I would have though a drop of threadlock during manufacture would have prevented this.
Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum
