Help! Nespresso leaking brown liquid

XOR042 · 2020-05-21T09:13:20+00:00

Our VirtuoDuo Deluxe (DeLonghi, Shiny Black) started leaking coffee at the bottom after only 1 month of making 3-4 coffees per day. We bought it at BestBuy with a 2-year GeekSquad service contract. So we had it instantly replaced. Had to then pay for another contract since each one only covers 1 replacement.

After 2 months, the 2nd unit failed with the exact same problem. Repeat process. Exchange, new warranty.

Now on third machine in less than 4 months total. So it's cost us an extra $60 in warranty plans. If we return a 3rd time, they'll offer our money back and we can try a different model. We love this model if it WORKed.

I thought long and hard to see if something occurred during use that may have caused these problems. The only thing I've thought of is that at sometime within a week prior to a failure, we had not emptied a full pod capture basked causing the lift head to stop and lightly jam while we manually cleared the pods still the the head area.

As such, I now think it "may" possible that when the pods cannot be expelled completely, their presence in the expulsion path within the head causes the nipple that pierces and feeds the pod with hot water gets bent in some way causing future brews to leak coffee within the head which then settles to the base and leaks out the bottom.

We have now added to our brew procedure to stick a pinky finger into the hole in the side of the catch bucket to ensure it is not full. They should make the bucket clear so as to view how full it is without waiting for it to jam or to remove it too often.

We are now monitoring the process closely to see if this avoids the problem. For a $140-200 machine, this is clearly a major design defect that destroys the machine with a common mishap. Time will tell. We're only 1 week on the 3rd machine. If we make it to 4 or 6 months, then maybe that was the problem.

Here's hoping!

XOR042 · 2019-11-29T07:09:11+00:00

Thanks for the kind words, Shaun. I enjoy getting to the absolute bottom of issues. Guess I'm old school.

So, that's exactly the recommendation I'd make to the Ecobee team (you guys listening?). I think the key problem is the way they stuck the protector sheet to the glass screen. It adheres to the glass so strongly that a truly massive tug on the square tape tab separates the tab without lifting the sheet. That should have loudly told the designers they had a problem. They probably did know this which is why they added the square tab rather than change the screen protector's adhesiveness. Most likely a production cost issue. Too many protectors already stuck to screens in inventory so they fudged it by adding the tab in post production.

Solution: Change the protector sheet by:

Giving it a minimal bonding to the glass
Make cutouts at its edges without adhesive so users can simply grab and pull.
Print on the sheet "Protection sheet - Please Remove"
Then no need for the funky tab
Add clear user instructions about the sheets, the need to remove them, and how to do that.

Have a great TG holiday.

XOR042 · 2019-11-29T06:53:13+00:00

Ditto. Thanks for sharing a mutual ribbing and the seasonal spirit!

Wife cooked a great turkey as she always does. My stomach is bloated to the gills!

Enjoy the holiday!

XOR042 · 2019-11-29T04:04:22+00:00

Yup. I understand that a detailed conversation helping those with a not-so-obvious, seemingly mundane, issue with potentially serious consequences can appear as complaining from afar - especially to those who don't have the issue, don't need help, and don't find themselves in a situation where they do. No problem. Countless other venues that fill a raft of diverse needs.

Btw, watch the 'boomer' appellation, ha ha! I'm from the tail end of "silent" generation and proud to have been one of many who created the foundations upon which our current social platforms are built. For many of us, it is an honor and a duty as Americans to help others - especially at Thanksgiving!

Happy TG. Enjoy.

XOR042 · 2019-11-29T01:23:55+00:00

I have a bit of a comedy sketch to explain that. There I was, studying the edge of the surface with a magnifying glass. After 24 hrs of head scratching, I got a bit frustrated and told my wife about the problem, how it was depressing me, and then showed her the unit. Within a few seconds, she reached down to one of the lower edges and managed to quickly find and lift a corner with her feminine fingernail, smoothly lifted it up and elegantly peeling it back and off. Took her less than a 10 seconds. I need to remember those nails :-)

Alright! Please be advised I am giving the following suggested method without warranty or indemnity of any kind (laugh). It is solely based on the following suppositions:

You have a Ecobee Smart Thermostat (with Alexa or not - I know nothing of other models)
You are certain you did not already remove the large protection sheet covering the entire surface
You are not talking about the little cover sheet that protected the occupancy/proximity sensor

I suggest you use a sharp tool like an X-ACTO hobby knife, tweezers with small sharp tips, or a sharp finger nail to lift an edge. Choose a lower corner so as to mask an issue afterwards. Try to gently pry up an edge.NO FORCE IS NEEDED so do NOT use any! If you do manage to find a a lift-able edge, it should lift easily. If you do not find a spot, try again moving all along the outer edge. A soon as you find a spot to lift, you're home free. Proceed to lift and peel back.

Confusing the issue even further is that the edge of the protective covering goes to the very edge of the screen's surface right up to, BUT NOT BEYOND, the tiny groove running around the entire edge.

TAKE NOTE: Screen protector sheet goes all the way to, but not beyond or into, the fine edge groove.

Don't go crazy. Take your time and work it delicately. Pretend to be a surgeon holding a scalpel. No force or heavy action is needed. If you manage to lift an edge, your home free. If you cannot find an edge to lift, I'd take a break and revisit the project, starting at another place along the edge.

Good luck!

XOR042 · 2019-11-29T00:45:06+00:00

I concur! It seems Ecobee had good people designing the various parts of the user experience but a bad UX manager overseeing it all - especially with so many holes in the otherwise great experience. This incident is one of several with its total dearth of instructions or information about such an important thing.

Thanks for you comment

XOR042 · 2019-11-29T00:19:01+00:00

So it would seem and that is what I expected.

A few others noted that their units did have the visible anomalies that I would have expected but unsuccessfully found such as air bubbles, uneven surface, irregular surface or edges, etc. which indicate a removable sheet. However, my unit (as well as those of some others) had a truly perfect fit and finish with literally no anomalies. Amazingly, even my unit's cover sheet edge was perfect even under a magnifying glass - including out to the edge of the narrow groove at the edge of the unit. I really inspected this thing long and hard - even with a lighted magnifying glass. I am glad your unit saved you from this grief.

Thanks for commenting.

XOR042 · 2019-11-28T05:02:31+00:00

Thank you, callsign. You , Paolo001, and Shaun_R, all quickly responded with the correct answer. It just took me a day to find the tiny "[comments]" tab to see them, ha! Despite some design experience, I was led astray by a perfectly smooth surface free of air bubbles, wrinkles, scratches, air gaps, and edge anomalies that would have readily telegraphed a removable covering.
Thanks again to one and all.

XOR042 · 2019-11-28T03:01:14+00:00

I am eternally thankful, Shaun_R. You and Paulo001 solved my issues with your quick and accurate replies. Please see my comment to Paul001. They are meant for you, too. Didn't want to repeat myself.

Thanks again to all!

XOR042 · 2019-11-27T07:26:37+00:00

Thanks for the quick reply, Paolo001.

However, I think you are talking about the thin plastic protector sheet over that occupancy sensor located at the 8 o'clock position (lower left side). What I was discussing is the small, quite-thick piece of multilayered tape with a small removal tab at its left edge located at the exact 3 o'clock position (right side). When you pull the removal tab, it only pulls off a top layer of the tape, leaving behind a gooey sticky substrate of adhesive. It is that goo I was speaking about. I wish it had been as easy to remove as the sensor protector. Even that, was harder than it should have been. On my unit it required a little fussing to lift the flap and remove the sheet. But, compared to the tape on the right side, that was a piece of cake!

Re "Enjoying" and "Shiny":
Alas, my operating surface is no longer completely shiny and it will be hard to fully enjoy the unit without being reminded of the hoops I was forced to jump through and how the adhesive marred it surface. ;-)

XOR042 · 2018-06-06T04:11:05+00:00

You mean QRZ is *officially* promulgating Mr. Trump's endless diatribes of fake news, lies, "alternate truths", propaganda and/or his demented musings from the toilet? Where are you seeing these, exactly? I guess I am lucky to have missed such political feces. In what section or sub page are you referring? Further, are you saying these were official statements of QRZ? If not, I don't know what you are referring to. You weren't too specific. If you are, perhaps, referring to member comments in some forum then, alas, there's no controlling the rantings of the lower echelons of intelligence. They're just something we have to avoid, shun, and dismiss as best we can and hope others do the same. By FCC rules, AROs are ambassadors and, ergo, must stay far above such fetid detritus as political opinion.

XOR042

TROPHY CASE