Coffee makers can be tricky, and each model has its quirks. For instance, your Keurig K-Duo’s descale light might refuse to turn off, causing confusion.
Luckily, unlike other Keurig models that require a full descale cycle to reset, the K-Duo requires just the press of two buttons.
How To Reset A Keurig K-Duo Descale Light That Won’t Turn Off?
There is a simple solution to fix the descale light that stays on, this is how you reset it:
- Turn on your machine.
- Press and hold the 8oz and 10oz buttons at the same time for 5 seconds. This should switch off the descale light.
If the light doesn’t go off, here’s another method:
- Unplug your machine and leave it for 5 minutes to let it reset.
- Plug the K-Duo back in, and turn it on.
- Once it’s back on, hold the 8oz and 10oz buttons together again.
Even though it’s simple to switch off the descale light on your Keurig K-Duo, it was lit to show that your machine needs cleaning. If you just switch off the light without actually cleaning it, your machine could stop working or gradually start making poor-quality coffee.
Refer to this K-Duo settings guide if you are having any other problems with the settings or the display of your Keurig K-Duo.
Descale Your Keurig K-Duo Regurarly
Despite what some other websites suggest, newer Keurig coffee makers, such as the K-Duo, don’t have a sensor to detect mineral buildup in the pipes or tank. The descale light automatically turns on every three months or after every 250 brews, whichever happens first.
You should clean your coffee maker when the descale light comes on. Usually, when it does come on, there’s likely some mineral build-up.
I wrote a full guide on how to descale your Keurig K-Duo, but here is the short version:
- Add Descaling Solution: Empty the water reservoir and remove the water filter if it’s there. Pour an entire bottle of Keurig descaling solution into the water tank. To maintain a 1:1 ratio, fill the same descaling solution bottle with water and add that to the tank. It’s okay if the tank is not filled to the max.
- Start Descaling Process: Place a large cup on the drip tray. Press the pod button, choose the 12 oz cup size, and press the “K” Button. Discard the liquid in the cup. Then, select the 12 oz cup size on the carafe side, press the “K” button again, and turn off the heating plate. Let it sit for 30 minutes without lifting the lid or unplugging the machine. The descaling solution will clean the heating element and tubes. Note: do not press the “K” button again even if the “add water” light flashes to avoid getting air bubbles in the tubes.
- Rinse and Clean: After 30 minutes, discard any remaining descaling solution, clean the tank with soap and water, and refill it with fresh water. Rinse both the pod and carafe side four times using the 12 oz button.
- Turn Off Descale Light: To deactivate the descale light, press the 8 and 10 oz buttons at the same time for three seconds. Now, you can brew coffee as usual.
This descaling process also cleans the needles of your Keurig K-Duo. After the process, you may want to dry the inside of the lid as it might be wet from steam and water. Descaling improves the overall performance of your machine, ensuring you get great-tasting coffee every time.
How To Turn Off the Descale Light on a Keurig K-Duo Essentials?
If the light on your Essentials is blinking, it indicates that you need to refill the water tank. But if it’s persistently on, it means your machine needs descaling.
The Keurig K-Duo Essentials model is slightly different from the standard K-Duo. Its descale light doesn’t activate after 250 brews or 3 months. Instead, it probably has some kind of sensor similar to the sensor for the add-water light.
The descale light also can’t be turned off by pressing a button combination on the Keurig K-Duo Essentials.
When the descale light turns on for the Essentials model, your only option is to strictly follow the descaling process to turn the light off.
Here is how to descale your Keurig K-Duo Essentials:
- Pour all water out of your water reservoir.
- Fill up the reservoir with white vinegar or Keurig descaling solution.
- Run the vinegar through the K-cup side of the machine by selecting 12 ounces.
- Once that’s completed, top up the reservoir with more vinegar and then run it through the coffee pot side. Again, choose 12 cups.
- After the vinegar has run through both parts of the machine, clean out the reservoir and coffee pot with water.
- Fill up the reservoir with fresh water.
- Run several cycles of fresh water through both sides of the machine to flush out any lingering vinegar.
The descale light should now be off, if it’s not try unplugging your coffee maker and let it sit for a few minutes then plug it back in again.
If the descale light is still on, you have two options. You can either ignore it and attempt the descaling process again in three months, or you can choose to immediately repeat the descaling cycle.
What Happens If You Don’t Descale Your Keurig K-Duo When The Light Comes On?
The first problem you’ll encounter is the buildup of minerals inside your machine. This is especially true if you’re using hard water, which contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium.
These minerals will accumulate over time and form limescale, which can block the machine’s pipes and cause them to function less efficiently.
Over time, the buildup of scale can affect the performance of your Keurig. It may start to brew coffee that’s not as hot, or the brewing process may take longer than usual.
You may also notice that the machine doesn’t brew as much coffee as it used to, or that it needs to be refilled with water more often.
If the machine is not cleaned and descaled regularly, the taste and quality of the coffee may be affected. The accumulation of mineral deposits can result in an off or metallic taste.
Eventually, the mineral deposits could cause your Keurig to break down completely. The deposits could block the water flow or cause other mechanical issues that prevent the machine from working at all.
Conclusion
To summarize, turning off the descale light on your Keurig K-Duo is as simple as pressing two buttons, but don’t forget the importance of regular descaling.
If you face any other problems with your Keurig K-Duo, don’t hesitate to consult the detailed troubleshooting guide I’ve created for the K-Duo.
By being proactive with your machine’s maintenance, you ensure that every brew is just as perfect as the last.
Thanks for reading!