Imagine you’re in your kitchen, looking forward to a peaceful cup of coffee, when suddenly your Keurig starts making weird noises. It’s beeping, clicking, and even making gurgling sounds, leaving you wondering, “Why is my Keurig making noise?” Whether it’s during brewing, when it’s off, or even after being unplugged, it can really disrupt your peaceful coffee time.
You’re not the only one scratching your head over a noisy Keurig. Many coffee lovers have faced similar issues, with their Keurig making all sorts of unexpected sounds.
The good news is that I’ll explore the reasons behind these noises and guide you on how to fix them!
Why Does Keurig Make Noise?
It’s completely normal for your Keurig to make some noise. When you turn it on, you’ll hear sounds as the heating element warms up. Once it’s warmed up, it should be quiet, but you’ll hear noise again when it’s brewing your coffee. Every Keurig coffee maker makes some noise during this process.
However, if you notice your Keurig is louder than usual, there could be a few reasons. It might be sitting on a hard surface, be clogged with mineral deposits, be an older model, or, unfortunately, it might be broken. Here are some specific situations and the noises you might hear:
Keurig Making Noise When Off – If your Keurig is making noise even when it’s turned off, it might be because some parts inside are loose or worn out. Another reason could be a problem with the water reservoir. It’s not uncommon to hear noises when the machine is unplugged or not making coffee.
Keurig Making Load Noise – A loud noise usually comes from a water pump inside that’s blocked by something. This blockage can stop the water from moving through the machine the way it should, and you might get very little coffee or none at all. Also, if your Keurig is making a noise like a motor when it’s pulling in water, it could be because of a pump that’s old and worn out, air bubbles in the water lines, or a filter that needs cleaning.
Keurig Making Clicking Sound – If you hear a clicking sound from Keurig, it might be because of a dirty needle. The needle is the part that makes a hole in the K-Cup to let the coffee out. If it’s dirty, it can make noise. Another reason for a clicking sound could be a valve that’s not working right. This valve helps control the flow of water and can make a loud clicking noise if it gets stuck.
Keurig Making Strange Sound – Some Keurigs, especially the K-mini model, make strange noises after you’ve made your coffee. This is because there’s still some pressure inside that moves water and air around in the tubes of the brewer.
Keurig Making Beep Sound – If your Keurig is beeping after it brews coffee, it could be because there’s a problem with the clock inside or the sensor that checks the water level in the reservoir.
It’s really important to figure out what’s causing the noise and fix it quickly so your Keurig doesn’t get damaged more. I’ll show you how to do this in the next parts of the article so your Keurig can be quiet and make great coffee again.
How To Fix All Keurig Making Noise Issues
Fixing a noisy Keurig doesn’t have to be a headache. It’s actually pretty simple and doesn’t need any special skills. All you need is a little patience and a willingness to do some basic troubleshooting. There are different reasons why your Keurig might be noisy, as I’ve mentioned above, and the way to fix it will depend on what exactly is going wrong.
Here are some troubleshooting tips that I recommend you follow to fix the problem.
Check For Loose Parts
If the noise your Keurig is making sounds like something is rattling or loose, the first thing to do is check for any parts or screws that might have come loose. Make sure to tighten any loose screws or parts and check that the lid is secure and there are no loose pieces inside.
Now, if your Keurig is making too much noise while brewing, consider what it’s sitting on and how it’s positioned. If it’s on a hard or uneven surface like granite or tile, the noise could be because it’s vibrating and rattling during brewing. A simple fix is to place something like styrofoam, a rubber plate, corkboard, or a mouse pad under the Keurig. This will cushion the vibrations and stop it from rattling against the hard surface.
If you prefer a cleaner look, you can use sticky rubber circles on the bottom of the brewer to lift it off the countertop and reduce any rattling. This might not make your Keurig completely silent, but it should make the noise more bearable.
Defective K-Cup
After ensuring all parts are tight and the surface is appropriate, and you still hear noise, it might be time to consider the type of K-Cup you are using. A common reason for a noisy Keurig can be using non-official K-Cups. Keurig coffee makers have a special brewing system designed to work perfectly with specific K-Cups that the company has made and approved.
If you decide to use a reusable K-Cup or a different brand, it might not fit right or work well with your Keurig. This mismatch can make your coffee maker struggle and create noise as it tries to brew your coffee.
To steer clear of this issue, it’s a good idea to stick to using only the official K-Cups that Keurig recommends for their machines. This way, you can be sure that your coffee maker is working the way it should, and you can enjoy your coffee without any extra noise.
Descale The Machine
One of the common culprits behind a noisy Keurig is the buildup of mineral deposits, or scale, inside the machine. These deposits can accumulate over time, causing the pump and other internal components to work harder and, consequently, make more noise. Experts often point out that regularly descaling the machine can prevent this issue.
Descaling involves running a mixture of water and a descaling solution, recommended by Keurig, through the machine. This process helps remove the mineral buildup, ensuring the longevity of the machine and its smooth, quiet operation.
Related Post: How to Descale Keurig Slim, Duo, Express, Elite, Supreme, Mini.
All tap water contains various chemicals, minerals, bacteria, and microorganisms. While many of these elements are beneficial for our health, using such water in your Keurig can lead to the deposition of minerals like calcium inside the machine during heating. That’s why Keurig recommends using filtered or bottled water for brewing, as they contain fewer minerals that could accumulate in the coffee maker.
However, even when using bottled or filtered water, Keurig advises descaling the brewer every 3-6 months. Descaling is essentially a cleaning process aimed at removing calcium deposits that can cause issues in the machine. If your Keurig has been in use for more than six months without descaling and is making loud noises, it’s likely due to the buildup of mineral deposits inside. Regular descaling can help maintain your Keurig and keep it operating quietly and efficiently.
Clean the Keurig Needle
A small yet vital component of your Keurig is the needle. It’s responsible for puncturing the K-Cup or coffee pod, initiating the brewing process. If this needle isn’t kept clean, you might start hearing buzzing or clicking noises during brewing.
Addressing this issue is relatively straightforward. A handy tool for this task is a paper clip or any similar pointy object. Gently poke and wiggle it in the holes next to the needle to clear any obstructions. For a more detailed guide on this, you can refer to an article I’ve written on cleaning the Keurig needle.
In some cases, the Keurig might complete the brewing cycle but fail to dispense coffee, accompanied by a clicking sound. This is often due to a clogged exit needle, possibly blocked by coffee grounds.
Here’s a concise guide to cleaning the needle:
- Ensure the brewer is off and unplugged.
- Take out the water reservoir.
- Open the brewer’s head to find the needle holes.
- Use a paper clip to remove any debris from the needle holes.
- Press the edges of the pod holder housing and detach it.
- Separate the pod holder from the housing and uncover the bottom exit needle.
- Hold the lever down, invert the pack holder, and use the paper clip to clear clogs from the exit needle.
- Clean the pod holder, put all parts back together, and run a hot water cycle.
For an alternative approach, Keurig Rinse Pods are available. These are specially formulated for cleaning needles in Keurig machines. Simply insert a Rinse Pod into the brewer, run it, and finish with a hot water cycle to ensure thorough cleaning.
Clear The Reservoir Valve
The reservoir valve in your Keurig coffee maker plays a crucial role in controlling the water flow from the reservoir to the brewing chamber. If this valve gets clogged or blocked, it can lead to the machine making loud noises and brewing less coffee. This happens because the water isn’t flowing smoothly through the valve, creating more pressure and turbulence. By clearing the reservoir valve, you can reduce this noise and ensure the machine works correctly.
Here’s how you can clear the reservoir valve:
- Remove the water reservoir from the machine.
- Locate the valve where the tank meets the brewer. It is a small piece that water flows through.
- Using a toothpick or paperclip, gently clean around the valve to remove any debris or buildup that may prevent it from functioning properly.
- Reinstall the reservoir back into the machine.
- Run a water-only brew cycle to flush any remaining debris from the machine.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=oTy16OBTeDw%3Fsi%3Dk0Z3NTllUQCHeYY_
Clear Possible Air Blocks
If your Keurig continues to make noise, an airlock in the water line might be the culprit. An airlock is a blockage that stops water from flowing freely, which can occur when there’s insufficient pressure in the water line or a kink is preventing proper water flow. This blockage can make your Keurig noisy as it struggles to push water through.
An indication of an airlock is when your Keurig is noisy and either doesn’t make coffee or produces very little. This could mean the water pump is clogged. To address this, you can use a tool like a turkey baster that can suck up and pump out water.
Here’s a simple way to clear a possible air lock:
- Open the Reservoir Lid: Start by opening the lid of the water reservoir.
- Use a Turkey Baster: Take a turkey baster or a similar tool and suck out some water.
- Clear the Blockage: Gently blow the water into the top side of the black nozzle located under the water reservoir. Repeat this a few times to remove any blockage in the valve.
- Wait Before Trying Again: Once you’ve done this, close the lid and wait about 5 minutes before trying to use the machine again.
Advanced Issues Causing Noise in Keurig Machines
Sometimes, the noise in your Keurig machine might be due to more advanced issues that are not as straightforward to fix. These issues might require a bit more attention and, in some cases, replacement parts. It’s essential to identify the root cause to address the problem effectively and ensure your coffee maker runs smoothly and quietly.
Keurig Making Noise But Not Brewing
A particularly perplexing situation is when your Keurig makes the usual brewing noise, but no coffee is dispensed. This could indicate a clog somewhere in the coffee maker. If you’ve already attempted the unclogging methods mentioned earlier and haven’t seen success, there’s another technique you might want to try, especially for older Keurig models.
Older models of Keurig have a small overflow dispenser located above the water tank. When there’s even a slight clog inside, the machine tends to expel water or air from this overflow dispenser.
A straightforward solution to this is to cover the overflow hole with your finger and then press the brew button.
Doing this forces all the water and air to pass through the coffee maker, which can help remove any internal blockages.
Old or Damaged Keurig
Another possible reason for a Keurig making noise is that it is an older model that does not have quiet brewing technology. A damaged or old machine may have worn parts that no longer function properly, causing the noise. An old brewer may have reached the end of its lifespan and need to be more efficient and reliable. If the machine is too old and has seen its best days, it’s better to replace it before it causes any further damage.
Replacing the machine with a new Keurig can help improve your coffee’s overall performance and quality. It is important to consider the features that you are looking for in a new machine, such as size, brew strength, and the variety of coffee pods it can use.
5 Top Keurig Coffee Makers
In recent years, Keurig has introduced “quiet brew technology” in their newer models, which helps reduce noise during brewing. If your Keurig is an older model making a lot of noise, it may be because it has a newer feature. It is worth checking these newer models with reduced noise.
The Last Thing You Can Do
If you’ve diligently tried all the solutions discussed above and your Keurig coffee maker continues to make unusual noises, there’s a possibility that something inside the machine is broken. In such cases, your most reliable option is to reach out to Keurig customer support. They might be able to suggest another fix or, if your machine is still under warranty, offer to repair or replace your Keurig.
Conclusion
Dealing with a noisy Keurig coffee maker can be quite a hassle, especially when all you want is a peaceful start to your day with a warm cup of coffee. However, it’s reassuring to know that many of the noises your Keurig makes can be addressed with simple, straightforward solutions.
From checking for loose parts and clearing the reservoir valve to descaling the machine and reaching out to customer support, there are several steps you can take to restore the quiet operation of your coffee maker.
