Great information. I’m about to shut down my cabin for the winter and your video saved my boiler from frozen water damage. 13+ years and Silvia is still pulling great shots. I’ve only had to replace the water pump. Awesome machine.
If I'm not planning on using the machine for a while, how can I purge the water from the hose that drains into the resevoir? there always seems to be some water stuck in that hose, and I would not like to have that water sititng there for a month or 2.
Nice video, thanks for the info. I have a Isomac Venus II single boiler machine, I guess the procedure is the same for it. Would you recommend draining the boiler when going away for holiday for 3 weeks, or should I just let the water in the boiler and run a couple of reservoirs of fresh water through it when I come back?
Hi Chanets, Here's how we drain a Gaggia Classic our Tech Shop: Remove the auto-frothing wand if attached and slide a piece of long rubber tubing onto the steam arm. Make sure the tube is going into something, like a sink. Open the steam knob. switch the steam and brew buttons on and immediately flip the machine onto its top. Water will start coming out and in about 15 seconds or so, it will spit and sputter. Once it does that, the machine is completely drained. Turn all switches off, flip machine back, close knob, remove tubing and the machine is drained and good to go for storage, shipping, etc.
Hi Steve, Probably would not damage but water might be rather yucky in there! Best practice is to drain boilers when machine will be stored long term. In your shoes, I'd fire up the machine and quickly run a couple of reservoirs full of water through. First water that comes out might give you an indication of how good or bad things are. Following that I'd descale. Hope that helps!
Great information. I’m about to shut down my cabin for the winter and your video saved my boiler from frozen water damage. 13+ years and Silvia is still pulling great shots. I’ve only had to replace the water pump. Awesome machine.
Hi MC, Awesome - thanks for taking a moment to leave your comment. Just closed up our camp on the lake a few weeks ago.
Marc
Thank you for great, detailed video. I'm looking for how to drain Rancilio Silvia Pro boilers. It looks like is not so simple as it was before.
If I'm not planning on using the machine for a while, how can I purge the water from the hose that drains into the resevoir? there always seems to be some water stuck in that hose, and I would not like to have that water sititng there for a month or 2.
Hi RG, Thanks for the question. I'd remove the reservoir, lay machine on its side and give the hoses a good shake!
Thanks for the video. I’m about to put my machine in a storage unit that will experience freezing temps.
Glad I could help
Nice! Thanks a lot for this!
+ascosta You are welcome!
thanks guys. this is priceless
Hi VT, You are welcome and thank you for the comment!
Cheers!
And what if the heating element is shot and you can't turn the pump on because it trips the circuit breaker?
Hi LF, If you will be replacing the element, remove it and turn machine upside down to drain.
Nice video, thanks for the info. I have a Isomac Venus II single boiler machine, I guess the procedure is the same for it. Would you recommend draining the boiler when going away for holiday for 3 weeks, or should I just let the water in the boiler and run a couple of reservoirs of fresh water through it when I come back?
Hi Luka, You should be fine running a couple reservoirs through.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage thanks for the tip! Cheers!
Can we drain the Gaggia Classic boiler in the same way?
Hi Chanets,
Here's how we drain a Gaggia Classic our Tech Shop:
Remove the auto-frothing wand if attached and slide a piece of long rubber tubing onto the steam arm. Make sure the tube is going into something, like a sink. Open the steam knob. switch the steam and brew buttons on and immediately flip the machine onto its top. Water will start coming out and in about 15 seconds or so, it will spit and sputter. Once it does that, the machine is completely drained. Turn all switches off, flip machine back, close knob, remove tubing and the machine is drained and good to go for storage, shipping, etc.
Thank you!
Chanets
You are welcome - we love helping a whole latte!
Would it damage the silvia if you didn't drain it and let it sit fir 4 years in a basement with water in it?
Hi Steve, Probably would not damage but water might be rather yucky in there! Best practice is to drain boilers when machine will be stored long term. In your shoes, I'd fire up the machine and quickly run a couple of reservoirs full of water through. First water that comes out might give you an indication of how good or bad things are. Following that I'd descale. Hope that helps!