15 Common Keurig Problems (and How To Fix Them Fast)

A coffee maker is a common household appliance and one that many Americans rely on to start their day. Of course, it’s frustrating to find out that your coffee maker is not working.

This is actually what Keurig owners experience more often than you might expect. Keurig is the best when it comes to convenience. When it comes to quality, not so much. Fortunately, most Keurig problems are easy to fix.

Today we’ll talk about how you can fix common Keurig problems. These solutions work for most people.

Of course, for some more serious issues, you will need to call Keurig Customer Service. Either way, we’re going to solve this. I’ll try to help as much as I can with the tips below.

Related: Keurig 2.0 Series Troubleshooting Tips.

Keurig won’t turn on

Test to make sure that the brewer is plugged correctly. Plug in a different appliance to make sure it works in the same outlet. If it doesn’t work, it could be an issue with the outlet.

Plug in the brewer into a different kitchen outlet to see if it will work. Ensure that the power button is pushed to turn on the brewer. On Keurig 2.0, tap the power icon on the lower right of the screen once.

If the brewer still won’t power on and you’ve done this test, call Keurig customer service so they can troubleshoot your machine.

Keurig won’t brew

When Keurig says descale but won’t brew, you should descale the brewer.

If you’re not getting the descale message but your Keurig is not brewing or pumping water, try these fixes:

1. Unplug the brewer and plug it back in.
2. Lift and put back the water tank to make sure it’s placed properly.
3. If it still won’t work, the tank is placed properly and there’s enough water in the reservoir, try cleaning the reservoir. Hand wash with mild soap and non-abrasive cloth and rinse thoroughly. Check and clean the hose/ valve at the bottom of the tank and on the machine where the tank goes. This valve can sometimes get clogged and cause problems.
3. Clean top and bottom exit needles using a paper clip to make sure they are not clogged with grounds.
4. Try the tap method: remove the tank, turn the machine upside down and tap the bottom a few times.

If nothing of these works, it’s time to call Keurig Customer Service.

Keurig not dispensing water

A really common issue with Keurig coffee makers is problems with water flow. If your Keurig is not dispensing water, it’s not making a full cup or you’re getting coffee grounds in a cup, you should try cleaning your machine. Especially the k-cup holder and the exit needles.

It’s also a good time to descale your unit if you haven’t done it recently. Here’s a detailed guide on how to clean and descale Keurig coffee maker.

Keurig keeps turning off

If your Keurig keeps shutting off, check the Auto ON/OFF option and make sure that the timer has not been set. Here’s how to disable auto off on Keurig.

If Keurig keeps shutting off while brewing, there’s no easy fix and you will need to call support.

Keurig not heating

If Keurig isn’t heating the water the reason is usually a water pump or the heating element. If the water pump is not working properly, the heating element shuts off to prevent overheating.

Usually, the water pump can cause problems if it’s clogged. So it’s a good idea to clean your machine – especially the valve at the bottom of the tank and on the machine where the tank goes.

You can also try holding the brew button for a few seconds to help it start working. Sometimes resetting your machine can solve this issue.

If the water pump or heating element stopped working completely, contact support.

Keurig says add water but it is full

If there’s enough water in the water reservoir, the reservoir is placed properly, but you’re still having “add water” issues, try cleaning the reservoir.

Remove the water reservoir and discard the water. Hand wash it with mild soap and non-abrasive cloth and rinse.

Also, check and clean the valve at the bottom of the tank and on the machine where the tank goes. The valve can sometimes get clogged and this can cause problems.

Fill the tank again to the MAX fill line (you can use tap, bottled or filtered water, do not use softened water) and return to the unit. Make sure to clean both exit needles as well.

Keurig won’t stop pumping water

If Keurig won’t stop pumping water, try this fix: unplug the machine, remove the reservoir, turn the machine upside down, shake slightly and tap the bottom a few times. I know it sounds silly but it usually solves the problem.

Don’t use distilled water and switch to tap, filtered, or bottled water. It’s not recommended to use distilled or softened water in Keurig coffee makers because it usually causes these problems.

Empty the tank, rinse well and fill with a fresh tap, filtered, or bottled water.

Keurig descale light stays on

When descale light turns on, it’s time to descale your coffee maker. If descale light stays on after descaling, it is possible that buildups haven’t been completely removed so you can try repeating the process. If the descale light stays on even after you’ve done it twice, you will need to call Keurig support.

Keurig Duo descale light stays on: To turn off the descale indicator light once you have completed descaling your brewer, press and hold down the 8oz and 10oz buttons together for 3 seconds.

Keurig leaks

If Keurig leaks while preheating, the machine might be clogged. Try cleaning both exit needles and the k-cup holder. Also, check the valve at the bottom of the water tank to make sure it’s clean and looks fine.

You can also try the tap method: turn it off, remove the water tank, turn the machine upside down shake it a bit and tap the bottom a few times. Put everything back. If nothing is clogged but the machine still leaks, it’s probably the hose or valve inside the machine and you will need to call support.

When Keurig is leaking water from the bottom, the problem is usually either the rubber band at the bottom of the water reservoir (just under the water filter) or the tear on the hose or seal inside the machine.

If it’s an o-ring, you can easily replace it with a new one. Here’s a great tutorial on how to replace the o-ring on the Keurig machine. If it’s the hose or the seal inside the machine, you must disassemble the machine which I don’t recommend. In that case, I recommend calling Keurig customer service for further assistance.

Keurig trips breaker

If you live in a newly constructed home with AFCI/GFCI breakers, and you just got the latest Keurig model, there is a big chance that your new coffee machine will cause problems.

For some reason, newer Keurig models Keurig K-Cafe and K-Elite can cause problems in new homes. There’s no fix for this, most people simply return the unit.

Coffee grounds in cup

Do not use softened water in Keurig machines. If you always get a messy result and coffee grounds in the cup, try switching to bottled or tap water. Keurig doesn’t recommend using softened or distilled water in their machines.

Fill the reservoir with bottled/ tap water, run a few brew cycles without inserting the k-cup to rinse the machine and then make the coffee. This should solve the problem.

Regular cleaning is also important. Make sure to clean the brew head from time to time and keep your machine nice and clean.

Keurig coffee tastes burnt or bitter

If your Keurig coffee tastes bad all of the sudden, thoroughly clean the k-cup holder, exit needles, and also the area around the holder.

If Keurig coffee tastes bitter or burnt or has an unpleasant aftertaste, oil buildups might be the reason. This is why it’s important to clean coffee grounds and oils from all parts that come in contact with coffee on a regular basis.

Also, check the expiration date on your k cups to make sure it’s not because of the coffee.

Here are a few tips on how to make better k cup coffee at home.

Keurig Support

If none of these solutions work or you don’t see a specific issue listed, please contact Keurig Customer Service for further help.

Keurig Customer Service help is available 7 days a week at 866-901-2739.

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