How to Descale a De'Longhi Rivelia

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

A suitable coffee machine descaler, fresh drinking water and a large container to collect the water released during the descaling and rinsing process.

OPEN THE DESCALING PROGRAMME

Switch the Rivelia on and allow it to complete its normal start-up. Open the Settings menu on the display and select Descale. Select Start, then Yes when the machine asks you to confirm that you want to begin the descaling procedure.

EMPTY THE MACHINE

Remove the drip tray and coffee grounds container and empty them completely before refitting them. Remove the water tank and, if a water filter is installed, take the filter out before preparing the descaling solution.

PREPARE THE DESCALING SOLUTION

Empty any remaining water from the tank. Pour 100 ml of descaler into the tank up to level A, then add 1 litre of fresh drinking water up to level B. Refit the water tank securely into the machine.

POSITION THE COLLECTION CONTAINER

Place a large empty container beneath the machine's dispensing outlets. If your Rivelia display instructs you to fit the hot-water spout, fit it before continuing. Make sure the container is positioned correctly before starting, as hot descaling solution will be released during the programme.

START THE DESCALING CYCLE

Follow the instruction on the display to begin. The Rivelia will automatically move the descaling solution through its internal water circuit. Water delivery can start and stop several times during this stage. This is part of the programme, so leave the machine switched on and do not interrupt the cycle.

PREPARE THE RINSE

When prompted by the display, remove and empty the collection container. Take out the water tank and rinse it thoroughly to remove any remaining descaling solution. Fill the tank with fresh drinking water as instructed, refit it securely and return the empty collection container beneath the outlets.

RUN THE RINSE CYCLE

Continue the programme from the display. The machine will now circulate fresh water through the internal circuit to flush away the remaining descaling solution. Allow the rinse to finish completely. If the display requests another refill or rinse, complete that stage as well.

COMPLETE THE PROCESS

Once the display confirms that descaling is complete, refill the water tank with fresh drinking water if required. Refit the water filter or install a replacement where appropriate, then empty the drip tray and grounds container if prompted. The Rivelia is now ready to return to normal use.

Why is my De'Longhi Rivelia asking me to descale?
The Rivelia uses machine usage together with its programmed water-hardness setting to determine when descaling is required. If your water is relatively hard, limescale can build up more quickly and the machine may request descaling more frequently. When the notification appears, run the complete guided programme rather than simply dismissing the message.
Do I remove the water filter before descaling my De'Longhi Rivelia?
Yes. If a water filter is installed in the Rivelia water tank, remove it before adding the descaling solution. Once descaling and all of the rinse stages are complete, the filter can be refitted if it is still within its usable life. If the filter is due for replacement, this is a good opportunity to install a new one and complete the appropriate filter-change procedure.
Why does my De'Longhi Rivelia stop and start during descaling?
Pauses and intermittent water delivery during the descaling programme are normal. The solution does not need to flow continuously and the machine may pause as it works through different parts of the internal water circuit. Leave the Rivelia switched on and allow the programme to continue. Investigate further if the display reports a problem or the machine does not progress to the next stage.

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Engineer Tip

Don't wait for reduced water flow or inconsistent heating before dealing with limescale. Make sure the Rivelia's water-hardness setting reflects the water you actually use, maintain the water filter where fitted and complete the full descaling programme whenever the machine requests it.