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Anti scale filter

Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
edited January 1970 in Espresso Machines
Hi all.

The anti scale filter in my machine needs changing but they are proving hard to find, I have managed to find one seller in Australia.

Generally speaking are they something that just needs a clean or should they be replaced every so often?

Thanks, Sue.
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Comments

  • Koffee_KosmoKoffee_Kosmo
    If you can take it out then you can clean it Go get yourself some CLR or similar product use a glass / cup and cover the filter with CLR until the scale dissipates Rinse well and refit KK
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    Thanks KK, I am going to go and give it a closer look. As embarrassing as it is I think it is actually mould :/.
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  • Koffee_KosmoKoffee_Kosmo
    on 1504509691:
    Thanks KK, I am going to go and give it a closer look. As embarrassing as it is I think it is actually mould :/.
    Then use bleach I clean my tank in this manner on occasions- as sometimes my low water sensors play up from still water Just rinse well KK
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    Brilliant, thanks so much  :). I currently have it soaking in Cafalat after emptying out the little beads. I'll go on the hunt for some bleach.
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    cafalat should do the trick its a food grade bleach so i reckon just give the filter a good rinse / soak afterwards and you should be good to go!
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    It was Cafetto I had it soaking in, I was getting my "Cafs" mixed up  :P. I found some bleach this morning so am trying that now, it's been soaking for around 1/2 an hour and looks not much better. Strange. I'll leave it longer and see how we fare. Thanks all :).
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  • kofekittkofekitt
    Are we talking about the in tank water softener cartridge found on the end of the intake hose? If so, they shouldn't be soaked in bleach or any cleaners - you can sometimes regenerate the softener cartridge using rock salt or kosher salt, but its usually just easier to replace them, they are about $12-50 , send me a PM if you need to know where . They are also only good for about 30 litres, (10 tank fulls) much less than people think . Usually a much better option is to get a proper water filter, or even Brita/BWT cartridge jug
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    I picked up a new second-hand Sunbeam Cafe Series coffee machine recently and the anti calcium filter was blocked so I just ended up removing the cartridge altogether and machine seems to be working perfectly now after a bit of a clean and descale p
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    on 1504582819:
    Are we talking about the in tank water softener cartridge found on the end of the intake hose? If so, they shouldn't be soaked in bleach or any cleaners - you can sometimes regenerate the softener cartridge using rock salt or kosher salt, but its usually just easier to replace them, they are about $12-50 , send me a PM if you need to know where . They are also only good for about 30 litres, (10 tank fulls) much less than people think . Usually a much better option is to get a proper water filter, or even Brita/BWT cartridge jug
    That's the one. I have regenerated it before with rock salt. Somehow it has got mould in it where I can't clean it so I have been soaking it. It is looking better. I managed to find one seller so figured they were really a part to be replaced if I couldn't find them. I do use a Brita jug as well.
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    on 1504662655:
    I picked up a new second-hand Sunbeam Cafe Series coffee machine recently and the anti calcium filter was blocked so I just ended up removing the cartridge altogether and machine seems to be working perfectly now after a bit of a clean and descale p
    I was thinking of removing it too but wasn't sure if just removing it is safe.
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    it says so in the instruction manual that I read also I'd you're using filtered water already and descaled your machine once every 12 months it really shouldn't be a problem p
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    on 1504669111:
    it says so in the instruction manual that I read also I'd you're using filtered water already and descaled your machine once every 12 months it really shouldn't be a problem p
    Thank you CG. I am just assuming you leave it off, no mods needed?
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    yeah I managed to download a copy of the manual then I looked up the part about replacing the filter and it said rusty you can also leave it off so that's what I did!
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    on 1504678350:
    yeah I managed to download a copy of the manual then I looked up the part about replacing the filter and it said rusty you can also leave it off so that's what I did!
    Brilliant, thank you :).
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    no worries my machine is going great guns now especially after a descaled with white vinegar as well ! p
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  • _maatt__maatt_
    Are you certain it's mold and not just carbon from the Brita filter? I used to get this in the filter and the bottom of the water reservoir in my Sunbeam using a Brita jug. Mold needs air to grow, so it's very unlikely it would grow inside a fully submerged filter imo, especially if the water is pre-filtered (so won't contain spores or nutrients).
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    on 1505090972:
    Are you certain it's mold and not just carbon from the Brita filter? I used to get this in the filter and the bottom of the water reservoir in my Sunbeam using a Brita jug. Mold needs air to grow, so it's very unlikely it would grow inside a fully submerged filter imo, especially if the water is pre-filtered (so won't contain spores or nutrients).
    unless the machine has been unused for awhile and the filter has been exposed but, and correct me if Im wrong here, I think that we're talking about the liquid anti calcium filters that come built into the sunbeam cafe series water tank? The machine that I picked up recently was about 12 months old but I dont think that it had been used for awhile and the fluid in the filter appeared to have hardened and it was blocking the water supply to the machine, so I just simply removed it altogether after referring to the instruction manual and the manufacturer's specifications! ACG
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    on 1505090972:
    Are you certain it's mold and not just carbon from the Brita filter? I used to get this in the filter and the bottom of the water reservoir in my Sunbeam using a Brita jug. Mold needs air to grow, so it's very unlikely it would grow inside a fully submerged filter imo, especially if the water is pre-filtered (so won't contain spores or nutrients).
    Good point and the thought did cross my mind as well. The machine is in daily use, usually 1-3 cups a day, occasionally it may have a day off. I actually ended up buying some replacement filters, one to use and a couple of spares.
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