Steam valve

Is the steam valve leaking?

Ascaso's warranty is void if the machine has been taken apart by anyone outside the Ascaso Official Technical Assistance Network, or if it has limescale deposits or has not been cleaned (the manual, section 9).

A wand that drips or leaks steam with the knob closed points to a worn or cracked PTFE seat in the steam valve. Owners on the Home-Barista forum also report water leaking through the valve while pulling shots, and knobs broken from over-tightening: the PTFE faces can crack if you close the knob hard.

The valve can be rebuilt with a new seat seal, or swapped whole. Espresso Parts recommends buying the whole piston rather than the seal alone.

Rebuild the steam valve

The method of the US retailer 1st-line, whose photos mostly show the older Dream.

1. Unplug, let it cool and lift the body off.
2. Undo the Allen grub screw in the walnut knob and pull the knob off its D-shaped pin.
3. Take off the large C-clip.
4. Back out the large nut. 1st-line says it may be difficult and a slim adjustable spanner may be needed.
5. Back the stem out and check the PTFE seat seal and its holder.
6. Fit a new piston or seat seal (I.4962). 1st-line says that in some cases it is easier to replace the whole valve.

Ascaso Dream PID: every job