La Pavoni sight glass leaking or cracked
Most likely cause
Replace the two rubber seals every time you take the sight glass out, and the glass itself if it is cracked. Refit the fittings finger-tight; Kanen Coffee warns that over-tightening cracks new glass. Moisture inside the glass is normal.
Parts differ by generation. Not sure which you have? Check in two minutes.
How it is held
Kanen Coffee describes the sight glass as held by two compression fittings, top and bottom, with rubber gaskets. Leaks come from those gaskets hardening, or from a cracked glass.
The fix
- Switch off, unplug, let the machine cool fully and release any pressure through the steam wand.
- Drain the boiler below the bottom fitting.
- Undo the fittings and remove the glass. Stefano’s repair terms warn that an old glass can break when it is removed, so have a replacement ready.
- Fit new gaskets every time, and a new glass if the old one is cracked or cloudy.
- Reinstall finger-tight. Kanen warns not to force it: over-torque cracks fresh glass.
La Pavoni’s parts list names the glass and both seals for the lever family, so check the kit you buy includes the seals.
What is normal
Moisture or condensation inside the glass is normal, per the older US Europiccola manual.
Parts for this job
La Pavoni sight glass kit
Listed for: La Pavoni sight glass replacement
A new glass and seals in one kit.
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Related
Questions owners ask
There is condensation inside my sight glass. Is it leaking?
No. The older US Europiccola manual says moisture in the sight glass is normal.
Sources
Kanen Coffee repair notes; Espresso Machine Repair by Stefano; Older US La Pavoni manuals; La Pavoni manuals, parts lists and product pages.