Automatic Coffee Maker

Eric Anderson says:

Thanks Everybody for your comments. I was just messing around and next
thing you know, this silly fix has been viewed over 5,000 times! Have a
Merry Christmas! 

Renee Marks says:

Thank goodness I do not have to buy a new one! Thanks so much!

Kat Hickey says:

This worked!! Thanks for saving us money and trouble!

Steph Purdy says:

Ah! Thank you so much! My Bunn has been leaking for quite a while. I
finally had some extra time to research this. Headed to Lowes to get my
seat washer today! 

Bonnie Wylin says:

Thank you so much. You explained & showed how to fix this problem so well,
even as to what size &ytpe ring you get, & Wichita way to install it. An
idiot like me, blonde needles to say understood it & fixed my coffee maker.
Thanks again , great job

Loren Cooley says:

Hi Eric,
I really appreciate your video showing the repair of an upper leak on your
Bunn Coffee Maker.

The most recent Bunn Coffee maker to fail in our family, #4, has been
passed my way for repair of a leak that appears to come from a leak
somewhere on the lower part of the maker. Do you, or any other person
reading this, know anything about this type of leak and how to repair it.
It seems to be particularly difficult to attempt any type of diagnosis
because the stainless metal bottom plate (the one that faces the
counter-top) is not attached by screws but secured tightly by several
vertically placed, secured, thin pieces of metal that slide through slots
on the bottom plate and are bent at 10 degrees to hold the bottom plate
securely in place. It appears that the only way to access the bottom inner
workings is to be able to bend these vertical plates back by 10 degrees so
that they are straightened out and the bottom will then easily slip off
making the bottom section of the maker’s inner workings visible and
available to fix. So far, I have been unable to bend these metal tabs back
so that I can remove the bottom and see what, if anything, is failing in
the bottom section of the maker.

Every Bunn Coffee maker that we’ve owned in my family (including ones
passed between my grandparents and parents), 5+ so far when all counted,
have started leaking on the lower half – water surrounds the enamel covered
metal hot plate which the glass carafe sits on – water is visible and is
level with the height of the hot-plate and the plastic that surrounds it
and then, also, water is visible on the small ledge where the column that
connects the top part (water heater and dispenser) to the base of the maker
(this is the part that sits on the counter, the bottom side is made of
metal and several small rubber feet logistically placed so that the maker
is sitting correctly, w/o wobbling, on the counter.

The water might possibly come out of the very bottom metal plate that is
both the base/bottom plate of the maker, faces the counter-top and appears
to be held in place by 2-3 stainless/rustproof pieces of metal that are
made of the same material that the bottom plate is made of (the one facing
the counter top) and these metal tabs fit through slots on this bottom
stainless metal piece that creates the bottom of the entire coffee maker
and the pieces fit through these slots and are then bent by about
10degrees, stopping the bottom plate from wiggling, clanking, not seating
completely and also make it very difficult to remove this bottom section to
see why there is water accumulating at the base of the tower and in the
small space between the black porcelain hot-plate and that small space
created by the plastic that surrounds it.

I’ve heard that this is a common leaking point for Bunn Coffee Makers, that
it typically occurs at about the 5-7 year mark (the 3 of 5 makers that have
failed so far have done so at between 4-5 years) and I’ve read that it
involved a small rubber tube that has a connection that fails.

Does ANYBODY know about this type of leak and have successful experience
with repairing it? Bunn operator stated that they knew exactly what was
leaking (small rubber tube/connection) and is charging a fee that starts at
$60 USD to fix it. It seems quite unfair especially when one takes into
account the price to purchase this supposedly top of the line coffee
brewer. It was especially peeving to me when I realized that every,
literally EVERY Bunn coffee maker that we have owned, once it hits 4-5
years of age, has a leak that is so well known by the employees at the Bunn
Customer Service desk that they outright state that this is a very common,
well known failing and that they can even quote an accurate price for an
accurately diagnosed (w/o even seeing the brewer) part needing repair.
Why not simply fix the issue in production or offer free “tune-ups” for
these known issues?
lmc

Loren Cooley says:

Hi, again, Eric and Company, Important info re: this fix for leaking
Bunn Coffee makers. This fix ONLY WORKS FOR THE SQUARE machines, not those
that have a round lid, round face, round back tank area. Bunn assured me
that there is not a gasket kit available for the newer machines and that
the leaking occurs when people do not properly clean the machine with cold,
whole white vinegar ran through the machine, making sure that machine is on
and empty carafe is under drip spout, hot water will be the first pot of
water that one receives. Waiting for 2 hours, then run another full carafe
of cold water and this will force the now steaming hot vinegar (full pot of
whole, white vinegar became steaming hot while in reserve chamber and also,
at the time, while simmering, it removed lime and other mineral build-up
gaskets that are not replaceable for the newer, round face models. I
explained that this has happened to ALL of our Bunn coffee makers, EXCEPT
the one that my Grandmother purchased about 35 years ago and that the 3
year warranting conveniently falls short of covering this problem that the
sales rep admitted typically started in most Bunn Coffee Makers at the 4
year mark.
She sent a $40 coupon for the purchase of a Bunn online on their home site
– but not sure where I am to get the remaining money to purchase a new,
non-leaking one.

If ANY person has successfully fixed a round Bunn Coffee Maker, PLEASE
share your story and, if possible, contact me so that I might be able to
see your fix story and get mine fixed with help and inspiration from
hearing about your adventure in Bunn Coffee Machine leaking repair yarn!
Thank you for your assistance, Eric,
lmc


aleekat73 says:

Note: I did this fix. Still leaked. Pause at the 1:07 mark. My leak was
an large o-ring under the metal cap. You’ll see 6 screws holding the metal
down.(at the pause the screws have been removed) Before you put it all
back together. Remove the plastic large washer in the center. Find a
funnel that fits tight in that hole. Slowly fill with water. If like
mine, you’ll see water leaking under the edge of the metal top. Fix:
remove the 6 screws. Remove the spray head and nut under it. Lift the
metal top off to expose the o-ring. Either replace the o-ring or use some
food safe silicon sealer. Be prepared for lots of lime/calcium build up in
the tank. 

lrexpower says:

Thanks for being so specific on what I needed to buy to fix the Bunn leak.
I am a mechanical idiot, but you saved me $97.

Liz Weddington says:

3 minutes and 36 seconds of pure bliss. #blessed

SHADOWCOMPANY1 says:

Eric I found the same part (seat washer-Price/Phister -fits 3H-8H/C) at
LOWES, priced at $3.57 for two. It was sold under the stores ‘universal’
brand, …with a Danco part no. of 80359 … GREAT EASY FIX !!! Thanks, I’m
sitting here enjoying my first cup of coffee in 6 mos without a wet counter
top…LOL

Alexandria Gratz-Collier says:

What can I say? You were clear and concise and my bunn maker is working
better than ever! I literally have tears in my eyes…THANK YOU.

Eric Anderson says:

I’m a mechanical idiot too, but I do like my coffee!