Shower screen and Gasket when to replace?

NHK295M

My ECM Synchronika is just over 2 years old and I wondered at what point I have to swap out the shower screen and gasket?

Do I wait for some form of failure e.g. a leaking gasket, or is this a standard service item that gets replaced at specific intervals like you do with a car oil filter etc.

Thanks

HarveyMushman

I’ve not got the same machine but I tend to do both once a year.

In a home setting it’s unlikely the screen is anywhere near needing a replacement but the gasket, being more perishable, is worth replacing. They tend to harden up and go brittle as evidenced when you pull it out and it might break.

I tend to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, just for the sake of housekeeping. A lot of it is overkill but at least you know you’re taking care of things.

MediumRoastSteam

NHK295M - I ave a Lelit Elizabeth. It had a Cafelat silicone gasket for the past 4 years. Still there, and going strong.

There’s no point changing the gasket UNLESS you damage when removing the shower screen - something I managed to do a couple of times back in the day when I had a Profitec 700.

Just make sure you keep that gasket and shower screen clean by removing it twice a week or so.

edit: Different story for the rubber ones. They will usually go hard after a year, and you’ll notice. As HarveyMushman said, replace those every year or so in a home setting.

Although I think @Doram has managed to get 2 or 3 years out of a rubber gasket on his MaraX, and that’s still going strong!

NHK295M

When I got the machine the original rubber gasket was removed and replaced by a silicone one and this seems to be holding up pretty well, i.e. no leaks or tears in the gasket. Not a mark on the shower screen and I wash gasket and shower screen weekly after the backflush routine. I’ve got 3 spare gaskets and 4 spare shower screens so should stop being tight and change them over but I’m looking for encouragement not too😁

Doram

MediumRoastSteam Although I think @Doram has managed to get 2 or 3 years out of a rubber gasket on his MaraX, and that’s still going strong!

The original rubber group gasket was just fine for me for over 3 years. It was not leaking when I replaced it with a silicone one, but it was starting to get harder (and I had two Cafelat gaskets gaining dust in the drawer from the day I bought the machine…). Bear in mind that I don’t keep the machine on all day, just turn it on for making coffee. So if you do leave it on for prolonged periods it will probably shorten the life of the gasket.

As for the screen itself, as advised above - if you keep it clean and it’s not damaged - I don’t see any reason why you would ever have to replace it (unless you want to try something different, like an IMS instead of a mesh screen. I probably had the original screen on a Silvia for ~20 years. Soon after changing the screen to IMS - I sold it ;-).

NHK295M

4 years is good going👏

NHK295M

Thanks very much for all the replies, it has put my coffee mind at rest👏