I just received new Lelit Mara X v2 and it makes constant “breathing” sound.

I would appreciate your opinion if this is normal behavior for Mara X and if not, your help if there is a easy fix for this problem or if I should take the machine back.

If I understood correctly from Daves video on youtube sound goes in sync with water and air movement from tube coming from vacuum breaker.

Would be interested to know as well if your machine is mostly totally silent when its turned on or if there are any constant noise coming?

Below are pictures and videos which show that problem might come from vacuum breaker although I could not observe leaks on top of the boiler.

It seems that with the “breathing” sound there is movement in tube coming from the vacuum breaker. I have attached image and a video below which shows movement of water and air in that tube.

tube from vacuum breaker where water and air move in sync with “breathing” sound

I dont know if this might be related but when the machine is warming up theres initially some condensation in vacuum breaker as well which makes noises but it disappears mostly. When machine starts to breathe it has mostly turned into condensation.

water causing bubbling sounds in vacuum breaker tube? when warming up

picture of the tube connection below

OK the first thing. These are very short video cuts, with no context.

  • In the first video how long had the machine been up to pressure and switched on?
  • Is it definitely coming from the vacuum breaker tube, your so close I can’t see, I think from your photo it is as the other one is dry (safety valve)?
  • is it still doing this after 30 minutes?
  • Have you disabled the energy saving mode where the machine cools down a bit after 20 or 30 minutes of non use?
  • in the second video, IF that is when it’s coming up to pressure before the vacuum breaker seals, then that’s completely normal. Once up to pressure it should slow down and stop (it takes a little while) because the liquid water in the tube evaporates away from the hot metal after the valve has closed, so there might be some bubbles. Then it should stop?
  • what’s the steam pressure showing on the gauge, what temperature have you set the steam boiler to?
  • How long have you had the machine and was it brand new when you got it.

It could well be a defective vacuum breaker (it can happen), but that depends on your answers to my questions. It’s fortunately an easy fix taking 5 minutes once the lid is off.

Oh I just noticed you posted the same question on HB, just to let you know, they don’t like cross posting (or used not to). I don’t care either way. However when you solve it, just make sure you let both forums know the solution.

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    DavecUK thank you for your help. I will try to get better videos of the piping. Meanwhile answers to your questions are below.

    As someone suggested on the home-barista forum I also tried emptying the boiler today but it did not unfortunately help. Though I had a brief monent today when this came up less frequently.

    Is it definitely coming from the vacuum breaker tube, your so close I can’t see, I think from your photo it is as the other one is dry (safety valve)?

    I believe so. I will add another video which shows the tubing better.

    is it still doing this after 30 minutes?

    Yes, it usually starts around that time. Though today it briefly went away for some time and appeared as longer less frequent ”breathes”

    Have you disabled the energy saving mode where the machine cools down a bit after 20 or 30 minutes of non use?

    I disabled it today but unfortunately no help.

    in the second video, IF that is when it’s coming up to pressure before the vacuum breaker seals, then that’s completely normal. Once up to pressure it should slow down and stop (it takes a little while) because the liquid water in the tube evaporates away from the hot metal after the valve has closed, so there might be some bubbles. Then it should stop?

    It continues after that and even some time after I have shut down the machine.

    what’s the steam pressure showing on the gauge,

    Steam pressure has been between 0,5 to 1,5 bar when this has happened

    what temperature have you set the steam boiler to?

    I have seen this appear in both lowest and middle settings for temperature and in brew and steam mode.

    How long have you had the machine and was it brand new when you got it.

    I have had the Mara for a couple of days and just received it. Its brand new from factory.

        Erics - if it’s a brand new machine, contact the retailer and explain the problem. Tell them about your investigations. They might ask you to take the machine back or, hopefully, they will send you a new vacuum breaker for you to replace it with.

        Good luck.