Facing a leaky Ninja Coffee Maker? Navigating this hiccup is easier than you think.
Here’s a concise guide to troubleshooting and fixing the issue, ensuring uninterrupted brew moments ahead.
How To Fix A Ninja Coffee Maker That Is Leaking?
Here is the short answer to what to do if your Ninja Coffee Maker is leaking: Ensure the drip stop lever is closed and all components are correctly in place. Clean or replace the O-ring on the water reservoir outlet spout.
Regularly empty a full drip tray, and ensure all screws are tightly secured. Check for internal issues like damaged or disconnected tubes, and reach out to Ninja’s customer service if needed. Ensure the filter basket isn’t overfilled and use a medium coffee grind. Lastly, clean a clogged ground basket outlet.
Let’s get into some more detail below!
Ensure The Drip Stop Is Closed
The drip stop lever is designed to prevent your Ninja coffee maker from dripping onto the hot plate when you remove the carafe during the brewing process.
So, when you take out the coffee pot, ensure that the drip stop lever is in the closed position.
After using your Ninja for a long time, this spring might get bent or clogged. This can stop the valve from opening or closing right. This means coffee could either fill up too much in the basket or spill on the hotplate when you remove the pot.
To fix it, scrub the valve from below with a brush and vinegar. Then, rinse it with water.
Check If All Components Are Properly In Place
If there’s water leaking from the bottom, it’s probably from the water tank. Remove it. When putting it back, make sure you hear a “click”. This means it’s set correctly and should prevent leaks.
Here are three more things to check for correct placement:
- Ensure the carafe lid is positioned correctly.
- Make sure the carafe is under the dispensing spout.
- Confirm the basket is inserted correctly.
Clean Or Replace The O-Ring On The Water Reservoir Outlet Spout
Turn off and unplug your coffee maker. Remove the water container and any filters.
There is a small rubber ring called an O-ring at the bottom of the water tank around the outlet. It prevents water from leaking out.
If there’s any dirt or debris around the O-ring or in the hole, it could prevent a tight seal.
Clean The O-Ring
To clean the O-ring and the port, use a soft cloth or sponge that won’t scratch. Wet it with vinegar.
Carefully clean the O-ring and the outlet valve with a damp cloth or sponge. Leave it for about 30 minutes.
Next, pour some water over it to rinse out the vinegar. Replace the water tank. Then, make a 10 oz cup to remove any leftover vinegar.
Replace The O-Ring
If this O-ring is damaged or missing, it can also result in leaking.
Inspect the O-ring for any damage or wear, as even a tiny crack can cause leaks. If it’s damaged or not there at all, then it needs replacing. You can buy a new O-ring on Amazon. Install the new one where the old one was.
If the O-ring isn’t damaged or gone, ensure it’s rightly positioned in its groove. If it’s out of alignment, that might be the leak source. Remove it, clean the groove with a soft cloth, and then reseat the O-ring, making sure it fits snugly all around.
A Full Drip Tray
The drip tray that comes with the Ninja Dual Brew is quite small, so it can fill up quickly with water and overflow on the countertop.
Always keep an eye on the water level and empty it before it leaks.
The Screws Need To Be Tightened
Over time, the screws in your Ninja coffee maker can get loose. If they get too loose, your coffee maker might start to leak. This happens a lot with many machines.
You might see leaks at the dispensing spout, or near the container that holds the coffee. If the screws there are loose, water or coffee can drip out.
To fix this, usually, you’ll need a Phillips screwdriver. Check the machine, especially the bottom, coffee dispensing spout, basket holder, and water container. If you see any loose screws, turn them to the right until they are tight.
Be careful not to tighten them too much, or you might damage the coffee maker.
Something Inside The Coffee Maker Is Leaking
A common reason your Ninja Coffee Maker might leak is due to internal problems like a punctured tube or a connection that’s come undone. This can be from regular use or rough handling.
Damaged Tube: The Ninja Coffee Maker has tubes inside that move water and coffee. If any of these tubes get a hole, the machine could leak. This usually happens with regular use or if it gets hit hard.
Disconnected Tubes: Over time or if the coffee maker is handled roughly, these tubes might disconnect from where they should be. If they’re not attached right, this can cause water or coffee spills.
Getting into the inside of the Ninja Coffee Maker to fix these things can be tricky if you don’t have the right tools or know-how.
If you’re not good with tools or fixing things, it’s a good idea to contact Ninja’s customer service. If your coffee maker is still under warranty, they might fix or replace it for free.
The Filter Basket Is Leaking
When the filter basket is leaking it could be the amount of coffee, the coffee grind size or a clogged grounds basket:
Too Much Ground Coffee In The Basket
If you add too much coffee to the Ninja coffee basket, there may not be enough space for water.
This becomes a problem at the start of the brewing process when the ground coffee ‘blooms’. ‘Blooming’ is when the coffee grounds expand after it first comes into contact with water.
Using too much coffee also makes water pass through it slower. This can make water pile up in the basket and it could spill over.
The Grind Size Is Too Fine
The size of your coffee grind matters a lot. If it’s too fine, water moves through it slowly, which might cause leaks or spills.
If the grind is too rough, water goes through quickly. Your coffee might taste bland since the water doesn’t absorb much flavor.
Most automatic coffee makers, like Ninja coffee makers, work best with a medium grind.
The Ground Basket Is Clogged
The outlet of the grounds basket can become clogged with mineral deposits or coffee residue. This clogging can prevent the water from flowing out quickly enough, causing the basket to overflow.
To address this, clean the outlet spout of the filter basket using vinegar and a brush. If the mineral buildup is severe, allow the spout to soak in a vinegar solution.
Conclusion
In wrapping up, taking care of our beloved coffee machines is as essential as the brew they serve up each morning.
Whether it’s ensuring the proper placement of components, addressing a simple O-ring issue, or diving deeper into internal challenges, proactive maintenance can go a long way.
With this guide, your Ninja Coffee Maker should be well on its way to serving leak-free, perfect cups. So, here’s to many more smooth, uninterrupted coffee moments ahead!
If you are experiencing any other problems with your Ninja coffee maker, be sure to check out the in-depth troubleshooting guide that I wrote specifically for Ninja coffee makers.
Thanks for reading!