ECM Synchronika: How to Drain the Boilers

Learn how to drain the boilers of the ECM Synchronika semi-automatic espresso machine. Need to store or ship your Synchronika? This video takes you in detail through the boiler draining process. Includes how to open and close the machine to perform the procedure. Learn how to drain newer machines with a coffee boiler drain valve and how to drain older Synchronikas which did not have one. Also covers hot and cold methods of draining the service (steam) boiler.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Remove Housing Panels
02:09 Draining the Boilers
02:40 Draining the Coffee Boiler
04:58 Coffee Boiler Older Synchronikas
08:43 Draining Steam Boiler
12:09 Install Housing Panels
Talk to our experts via chat or email: www.wholelattelove.com/contac...
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[@martinschwarz7945]

Nice video! I like to switch my Synchronika to FILL mode right before draining the Brewboiler so I don´t have to worry about damaging the heatingelement inside. it is done by holding down both the plus and minus button on the PID before switching the machine on. Then turn it on. After the machine has been turned on I let the buttons go and use them to go through the menu to the point FILL and switch it ON. Then just turn the machine OFF and you are done. The next time you switch the machine on it will be in FILL mode (like the first time you filled the boilers) and there is no chance damaging the heating elements.

[@TheYankeesarebeastly]

As a Synchronika owner these vids have been very helpful. Thank you very much.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Our pleasure and thank you for sharing he comment! Marc

[@cjgetreal]

I have a newer Synchronika and the steam boiler has a drain valve as shown on the Profitec 700 draining video. One oddity that I had is the brew boiler would not drain even with the valve open. I ended up removing the flow control head as shown in this video and then the brew tank drained as shown. Great video! Really appreciate the work - makes it so much easier to work on your own equipment without being intimidated by lack of knowledge.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey cj, Thanks for the kind comment! Yes boiler needs a way of letting air in to let the water out 😉

[@marshallgoldberg8376]

You guys are the best! I don’t have an ECM, but I can see now that I can fully empty the boilers without opening the case at all.

[@shadab8190]

Guys you're the one who made me a coffee lover🙏😘 thanks whole latte love.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey S, Thanks for the comment! Marc

[@matthewaitken124]

Thank you Brian and Marc! Nice timing as I am planning to descale the synchronika in the coming days. Cheers from Germany!

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Our pleasure!

[@mjmjersey]

I received my Pro 700 about 3 months ago I was hoping since I bought the filtration system I wouldn't have to descale it when do I need to descale and clean the Brew group I always flush it out after I make coffee

[@dominiqueparrish7473]

This is such a useful series for prospective buyers and owners! Can you please do the same series of videos with the Rocket Appartamento so we can see HX machine internals and how to work on the rocket?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey DP, It's a slow process but we plan on continuing the series with similar content on prosumer level machines from other manufacturers. Marc

[@AnOtterCoffee]

Awesome video! Love this series.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey AOC, Thanks for the comment - ther'es more to come in thje series! Marc

[@hagar852]

One thing to note.. machines prior to 2019 will not have that drain plug on the brew boiler. Thus the procedure for draining the brew boiler on the older machines is much different, but Whole Latte Love has that video in their archive showing that process.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey Rock, Thanks for the comment. Just to be clear we do show the brew boiler draining process for older machines in this video as well. Marc

[@adrianmichaelsmith]

You can simply empty the synchronika steam boiler with the machine Cold without issue, using a foot pump or cycle pump with Schrader valve connector. Simply remove your steam nozzle and attach the pump to the steam wand. It's a snug fit but it fits. Open your water valve on The Synchronicka. Open the steam valve and pump away. As the water valve is fed from the bottom of the boiler it will completely empty the boiler. No tipping of the machine required. NOTE this method is for a COLD machine only.

[@anotherguycalledsmith]

@8:25 There is a saying in German, concerning threads and/or valves „Nach zu, kommt ab…“ (something like ”After shut, comes off…“ ;-)

[@mjmjersey]

Brian you are the man. You and Marc make a great team..... Hey you guys didn't tell Todd to go kick rocks did you? Lolol

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey michael, Thanks for the comment and Lol - no way, we love Todd a whole latte! He's been hard at work on other projects like hanging out at Coffee Fest in Portland this week! Marc

[@mjmjersey]

@@Wholelattelovepagelol I know I was just kidding. Thank you for responding guys have a great day. Talk to you guys soon

[@brisckets]

Can I use this procedure and use Urnex Dezcal to descale the Synchronika?

[@Coffeeinthusiast1]

Question about emptying the steam boiler periodically to refresh the water in it, do I need to run the water thru the brew head as well? Only emptying the steam boiler is what I’m asking about. Thank you!

[@Wholelattelovepage]

HI ce, You do not need to run thru the brew head.

[@shaibn]

Why is the water that came out, murky? Is that rust inside the boiler? Can coffee back-fill into the boiler?

[@ahmedelmorsy8429]

Thank you for all your videos, it’s very technical, yet simple and to the point and I’m benefiting from it big time. I bought ECM synchronika 2022 version with pre-installed flow control valve without original mushroom valve in the box. I have two questions, first, the flow rate test I have for 1/4 and 1/2 flow control open gave me 4.2 gm/sec and 6.6gm/sec water flow. Is this normal or in the high side, if in the high side, what could be the fix for it? Second, not knowing the original mushroom water flow rate, how could I guess so that I can adjust the flow control to give me same flow rate for original mushroom plug?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey a, Stock flow rate with original mushroom is ~11g/s. Your flow rate is high at those valve positions. When your flow control is properly adjusted (more on that), open to 1.25 turns for the stock flow rate. My guess is the sleeve on the spindle of the flow control has dropped down a bit preventing you from completely closing off the flow. Here's a link to article with more info and graphs of flow rates at various valve positions. Also has graphs of some flow profiles: www.wholelattelove.com/blogs/articles/intro-to-calculating-flow-rate-on-e61-group-machines And here's a video which shows you how to properly setup the flow control sleeve on the spindle coming out of the top of the flow control device - video cued to point of calibrating: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKnLYpyhYtSlfKM Hope this helps!

[@ahmedelmorsy8429]

Wow. You guys are awesome. I didn’t expect to get a comprehensive answer that quick. Thank you so much for the help.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

@@ahmedelmorsy8429 Our pleasure! Enjoy your machine!!!☕

[@rinky_dinky]

Hey gang , I've got a question , instead of draining my boiler once a month or so , can I draw out say 2 cups (400ml)of hot water from the hot water wand everyday ?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi EJ, Yes you can and that's a good habit to get into. For those who only steam and never draw water out minerals will concentrate in the boiler. This can happen even if your source water is relatively soft/low in minerals. Marc

[@rinky_dinky]

@@Wholelattelovepage cheers Marc

[@adrianmichaelsmith]

Plumb in your drain and then you can easily empty your steam boiler as frequently as you desire after a brewing session with the machine turned off ☕😎

[@freevin51]

Great video! How can I get one of those ECM shirts to go with my Casa V?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Vince, Thanks for the comment. No ECM shirts available at the moment but we do hope to have them in the future - Marc wants one too!

[@Alessio8]

At 4:40 you recommend running water through the group head "every time you start the machine" due to the lack of a water level sensor in the brew boiler. Do you mean every time you start the machine AFTER draining boilers? Or every time you turn on the machine? Thanks

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi AG, Yes, only needed after draining draining boiler. You do not need to do on every startup.

[@Alessio8]

@@Wholelattelovepage Great. Thanks for the tip!

[@TimKeir]

What would be considered long term storage while away on a holiday? 1 month, 3 months, 6 months? Just wondering at what point it’s necessary to fully drain using this method? Cheers

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey Tim, Thanks for the question. If machine may experience freezing temps while stored definitely empty the boilers. If storing longer than 1 month I'd empty the boilers. Under 1 month I'd leave them filled and flush the boiler and HX section prior to putting back into service. To flush run water from the group head for ~45 seconds. To flush steam/hot water section of boiler heast the machine up fully, turn off and open the hot water valve letting water flow out until it stops. Then turn machine on and repeat.

[@khoang82]

When you remove the mushroom valve with an adjustable wrench, doesn’t metal-metal contact scratches the valve?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Always that possibility. Do be careful or pad nut to prevent scratches.

[@ashwinpejavar7225]

Do the new profitec pro700 & pro600 also have this drain valve? Can I use a similar process?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi AP, Thanks for the question. Yes, New Pro 600 & 700 have the boiler drain valve. Marc

[@ashwinpejavar7225]

@@Wholelattelovepage Thanks for responding. You guys are the best!!

[@Sammiecheeks16]

Is the profitec pro 600 the same way

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi SA, Probably. Depends when the Pro 600 was made. More recent Pro 600's have the drain on the brew boiler. Older 600's do not. For older models you'd remove the E61 mushroom and tip the machine up and drain the brew boiler through top of the E61 group. Marc

[@Wides911]

How to descale the ecm synchronika external ? The normal descal is not allowed by ecm

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Wides911, Descale the external? Did you mean internal? You are correct, ECM does not recommended descaling of the Synchronika unless done by a machine technician. There's risk that scale particles can dislodge during descaling and plug internal components. Best thing to do is filter/treat water used in the machine to reduce calcium which causes scale. The best filters exchange calcium with magnesium. This provides the mineral level needed for good flavor and protection from corrosion while preventing scale. BWT Water & More has a variety of products which do calcium to magnesium ion-exchange. Learn more about them in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3STeJeFgN1_oJY

[@Wides911]

@@Wholelattelovepage No, I mean that all components should be disassembled for decalcification and then decalcified externally in a bucket or something similar. Continuous decalcification is repeatedly discouraged because of the formation of calcium citrate and possible acid residues, the poorer control for lime (visual inspection) and accordingly no adjustment of the dose of the decalcifier (keyword: heavy metals, etc.) and the possibility that chunks of lime will not completely dissolve and could clog valves but also that, for example, the upper part including the entire level probe cannot be descaled with continuous decalcification, etc. it should also happen again and again with hot continuous decalcification that the heating coil could be damaged ... how do you see that or do you handle it? With the Synchronika, the decalcification is not listed in the manual as with many other ECM machines, but is referred to the dealer/workshop

[@jaehocho9718]

is it recommened to empty the brew boiler first then empty the steam boiler?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi there. I recommend emptying the steam boiler first and then waiting for the machine to cool before draining the coffee boiler. --BRIAN

[@jaehocho9718]

@@Wholelattelovepage thanks for the reply. I just bought a lightly used ECM Synchronika. Obviously the FIL message didn't come on and I let the machine heat up. Wondering if that would have overheated the machine. As long as the previous owner didn't drain the boilers I should be ok?

[@Michaelcoffee]

Mine has no plug out there is not. I can not fine this lol

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Mc, older Synchronikas do not have the boiler drain.