3 methods to unclog and empty Keurig internal tank

You will no longer have to deal with grounds and filters daily when you own a Keurig. Many of us are not very concerned about cleaning the Keurig internal tank. There might be an accumulation of harmful bacteria and mold if you do not regularly clean the Keurig machine & not know how to unclog keurig.

Keep in mind that a Keurig coffee maker is not a very handy machine. Therefore you will have to clean it regularly; otherwise, you will encounter different problems regarding the bad taste of the coffee, and much more. The main specialty of the Keurig coffee machine is that it is very simple to use.

This is the main reason people are dying to get this. But you have to make sure that you are regularly cleaning your gadget to make it up to date and long-lasting. Here we will cover how to empty the Keurig internal tank as well as how to drain the Keurig.

On the other hand, if you do not use your Keurig Coffee maker for a long time, you have to drain the water out of it regularly. You have to follow the step-by-step guide of every method of unclogging and cleaning. Therefore, after reading this post, you will know how to unclog a Keurig and empty the Keurig internal tank.

Step 1: Lifting of the pod compartment handles

In this method, we will lift the pod compartment handle as well as remove the screws that are affixed at the top. This method does not allow access to the water tank through the bottom of the coffee maker. Instead, we will remove the top piece to gain access to the water tank’s top directly.

On the top, there are two screws that you need to locate. After locating, remove these screws with the help of a flat head screwdriver. When these screws are removed, you can easily remove the top part of the machine. This is the front part of the machine.

Step 2: Removing the top of the machine

Likewise, when the screws are removed, the top part is loosened, and you can easily remove it by gently pulling it forward and upward. In this way, it easily slides off the Keurig. After removing the top, the inner tubing of the coffee maker will be exposed.

Step 3: Detaching the silicon tubes

Ensure that you have made the silicone tube from the internal water tank. Two tubes are connected to the top of the internal water tank. These tubes have different shapes in which one tube is L-shaped and is facing sideways. The other tube is present straight out of the loop. At this point, you have to loosen the zip ties so that these tubes can be removed. You can do this in two ways.

Step 4: Pouring the water

During this step, we must turn the machine to put out the water. Since the water cannot escape freely, this process can take quite a while. To drain water, it needs air to displace the water.

You can make the process faster by placing a thin straw over the opening of the detached tube. This tube is located beneath the tank of water. Air can then flow more freely into the tank. The draining process can be accelerated this way. Ensure all water has been drained out of the tank by draining the tubes.

Step 5: Reassembling of the machine

When the training is completed, you have to attach the silicon to use again.
After shaking the zip ties down, you can wiggle them back up to secure the tubes. You should replace the zip ties with the screws that you had removed.

It is a straightforward method without the use of any tool. The time draining the water from this machine through this method only takes about 5 to 8 minutes. Let’s discuss things in detail about how to drain the water from it.
It is a very simple method and an easy one and works very well when you do not have time.

Step 1: Adjustment of the external reservoir

External Reservoir Float Should Be Adjusted. Once the machine has finished brewing, you will see the message “Prime” displayed on the LCD screen. When the Keurig tank is empty, this message appears.

When you have emptied the water tank, adjust the float. You will find a metal disk near the bottom of the reservoir when you look inside. This metal disk measures the remaining water in the reservoir.

As the floating magnet is pulled, it should reach the top of its track. Once it reaches the top, please give it a little push to stay there. Reinstall the lid. For more information on the reservoir mechanism, check your Keurig manual. Keurig will behave accordingly when the disk is in its full position.

Step 2: Let the Keurig begin brewing

First, you have to press the brew button to start brewing. Before you press brew, make sure to put a cup under the spout. You don’t have to put a coffee pod in the machine since you are just draining it.

When your water Reservoir is emptying, you can use this water to make yourself a cup of coffee. As you brew your coffee, it would be ideal if you collected any remaining water from the machine in a cup or jug.

Step 3: Just wait for the “prime” display

After doing the procedure, at this point, you have to check your LED display. Keep in mind that the wing is completed when the machine says Prime. When it is not saying Prime, the Keurig machine is giving the message, add more water. When all this is done, you must perform the procedure again.

After this, you should adjust the upload again and replace the reservoir. After that, you should repeat the brewing process. At this time, the LED display shows the message of “prime” when the second growth is done. It means that your machine is completely drained, and the internal reservoir is now empty.

It is a great method to descale your Keurig, and you should clean it in this way every two to three weeks. Cleaning the machine with vinegar is essential to prevent bacterial germs and mold build-up. Keep in mind that cleaning through this method is called the descaling of the Keurig machine.

Now, the question arises in our minds of how to unclog the Keurig with the help of this method. We can also call it a descaling process in which we run a mixture of water and white vinegar through the Keurig.

How to unclog a Keurig; What you need

A clean dish, sponge, or paper towel dip in water and soap.
White vinegar or Keurig descaling solution Cup to get the drain of the cleaning solution Water.

Step 1: Emptying the machine reservoir

The first necessary thing is to turn off your machine and then empty the Keurig water and remove any filters.

Keep in mind that you will not leave a k cup in the canister during the cleaning cycles.

Then put the vinegar solution and water mixture to run a cycle. Keep in mind that you put equal parts of water and equal parts of white vinegar through the machine. This is a 50/50 mixture where we pour the solution into the reservoir and turn on the machine. Then press the cycle button where the solution goes into the cup.

It is very necessary to descale your machine multiple times. The reason is that it is related to how dirty your machine is. For example, if your machine is too dirty, you have to rescale it more times. Keep running the water and vinegar solution through the machine until you get clean water during the process.

When you think your machine is descaled, you have to rinse the path to prevent any taste or smell of vinegar. It is usually recommended to run 3 cycles of plain water to remove any vinegar left in the tank.

Step 2: Cleaning removable parts and air drying

Then you have to remove and clean all the removable parts in which the lid, water tanks, coffee potholder, and drip tray are included. After removing these parts, wash them with soap and warm water to remove all the coffee oils. Another mold build-up is also removed with the mixture of warm water and soap, especially in the water tank and drip tray.

Step 3: Wiping down the exterior

After washing with soap and water mixture, you clean the parts with a disposable paper towel or sponge. Wipe down all the parts thoroughly from the outside and the inside. Make sure that you carefully wipe down the needles because they might puncture the bottom and top of the coffee pods for brewing. Make sure that the water tank is air-dried.

This video contains some helpful information on how to completely empty water from a Keurig Coffee maker internal tank.

You can use denture tablets to clean the Keurig machine. For this purpose, you require a microfiber cloth and a denture tablet. Then pour half of the denture tablet into the k cup chamber. It will prevent any mold build-up. Make sure that you are running the machine 3 to 5 times and follow the cycle of just water.

The Keurig machine can also be cleaned with citric acid. Take one gallon of water and one table of citric acid crystals. It is a mildly acidic solution and is safe to use for cleaning purposes of the machine. Repeat the same process and descale the machine a couple of times.

It is highly recommended not to use a strongly acidic solution as it might corrode the machine’s metal parts. So you have to run the machine several times with citric acid solution. After that, it should be followed by the cycles of plain water so that all the acid is removed from the machine.

Repeating cycles of plain water is dependent on how badly the scaling is. There might be a few scales and a mug when you start running the water. But it would be best if you continued the cycle until there was no scale in the machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long can water sit in the Keurig?

  You can put the water in the machine for 24 to 48 hours; otherwise, it might cause different problems. To kill any contaminants, you must run a Brew cycle without a coffee pod to boil the standing water. It is good to empty the old water and clean the machine.

  Is it necessary to empty the Keurig reservoir?

  Yes, it is essential to empty the reservoir and also recommended to clean it once a month. If you do not thoroughly clean the machine, it will ultimately cause mold build-up. Regularly cleaning the machine will result in reducing the chances of lime build-up. So you should clean and descale the entire machine approximately every three months.

• How long should the vinegar solution sit in the Keurig coffee maker?

  First of all, you must provide a hot cup of vinegar water. Setting the vinegar solution in the machine for one hour is usually recommended. When one hour has passed, the remaining vinegar solution is into the sink and repeat the cleaning process by running 2 to 3 cycles of water.