How can I stop steam coming out through the cap?

Thank you very much for your tip. My steam buggy fell down from the counter top and the steam started coming off the screw cap, where you fill the water reservoir. I tried to dismantle the whole steam buggy and looked inside and saw there was nothing broken or wrong. Then after hours and hours of playing with it, I saw your post, used a big paper clip and poked through the nozzle and I saw some sediments fall through, ran water through the nozzle and low and behold, my steam buggy started to work as designed. Yes, because of the fall, the sediments got trapped into the nozzle and the steam escape valve was kicking in. Now my trusted steam buggy is good as new. I love the internet and love folks like you, who help others trouble shoot.

the swedish chef
April 2012

I had the same problem.

After some investigation, I found when steam escapes from the cap, it means the pressure release valve in the cap is doing what its supposed to do. The valve allows steam to escape when pressure in the machine builds too much. The cause may be an obstruction in the wand or hose mineral deposits build-up. The machine boils water, so mineral build-up is inevitable. Use vinegar to soak the reservoir occasionally to get rid of the build-up.

1. Turn off machine. Check the cap that its not damaged. If not, go to 2.
2. Remove the wand from the hose. Hold it tip downward, and fill with water. If no water comes out the tip or its slowly dripping out, than there is an obstruction in the tip. Use a straightened paper clip, and push it through the tip to clear an obstructin. Flush the wand. Repeat this procedure until water smoothly flows out. Test machine again. If not resolve, go to 3.
3. Remove wand. Check the end of the hose. Use paper-clip to clear any obstruction at the end.. Test machine without wand. If steam does not flow well, there is an obstruction in the hose somewhere. Dissolve the obstruction overnight with vinegar by using a syringe to inject vinegar into the end of the hose, and hang the hose end up. Rinse out reservoir and test machine.

Moses Chan
September 2007