Did you know that integrating a capillary thermostat into your commercial coffee maker can enhance your coffee-making experience? Let’s explore how our switches can improve your coffee maker’s performance and share valuable tips for coffee maker repair. Please note, the size and price of your coffee maker will determine the most suitable control systems. For any additional questions, please contact us.
How to Test Your Coffee Maker’s High Limit Thermostat
Before starting any repair work, always unplug your coffee maker and let it cool down completely. This step is crucial for ensuring your safety.
Testing the high limit thermostat in your coffee maker is straightforward:
- Unplug the coffee maker from the power source.
- Remove the wires from the thermostat.
- Perform a continuity test across the terminals on the high limit.
If the continuity test light does not illuminate, the circuit is open, indicating the high limit has triggered. Most coffee makers use a one-shot snap disc thermostat, which you must replace once the high limit is reached. Higher-end models might have a manual reset snap disc thermostat. Simply press the reset button to resume brewing.
For detailed repair guides, click here for a step-by-step breakdown or here for a video tutorial from Whole Latte Love.
Understanding Temperature Control Systems in Coffee Makers
Commercial coffee makers typically use two control systems to manage temperature:
- Temperature Control System: This can be either fixed or adjustable, especially in larger or more expensive units. These systems control the hot water temperature setting in your machine. Lower-priced units often use snap disc thermostats, while newer or higher-end models may use capillary or digital thermostats.
- Snap Disc Thermostats: Common in less expensive units, these thermostats are reliable and easy to replace. For more information, visit the product page.
- Capillary Thermostats: Found in more advanced models, these provide precise temperature control and can be more expensive to replace.
- Digital Thermostats: Increasingly used in newer models for their precision and programmability.
- High Limit Control System: This system prevents the coffee maker from overheating when the pot is empty or if the heater malfunctions. It usually consists of a snap disc thermostat or a thermal fuse.
- Snap Disc Thermostats: These open the power control circuit if the temperature becomes too high, shutting off the unit.
- Thermal Fuses: These serve a similar function and are critical for safety.
Cost-Effective Coffee Maker Repairs
Replacing snap disc thermostats or thermal fuses in your coffee maker is affordable, typically costing under $20 per unit. Capillary thermostats, while more expensive, can cost up to $120 per unit. Determining the operating temperatures of the thermostats is the most challenging part of the repair process, but once identified, they are easy to replace.
