Keurig Won’t Stop Pumping Water: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

As someone who used to rely on the convenience of Keurig machines at my old office job, I’ve dealt with my fair share of minor issues over the years. One of the most common problems I encountered was when the Keurig wouldn’t stop pumping water continuously through the machine.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the main reasons your Keurig keeps pumping water and won’t stop, along with the best solutions for each cause…from easy fixes to more complex troubleshooting. Trust me, with a little bit of patience, you can get your Keurig working again in no time.

Why Does My Keurig Keep Pumping Water?

Before jumping into the fixes, let’s go over the main reasons your Keurig machine won’t stop pumping water:

A small electronic glitch: This is the most common reason. Some minor disruption in the electronics causes the pump to get stuck in the “on” position.
The water reservoir plug isn’t seated correctly: If the plug at the bottom of the water reservoir doesn’t make a tight seal, the machine could continuously pull in water.
Your Keurig needs a full reset: Sometimes turning it off and on again doesn’t do the trick, and you need to reset the entire machine.
Faulty water pump: If your pump is busted, your Keurig might keep pumping water nonstop until it’s replaced.

Now let’s get into the step-by-step solutions for each issue. Start from the top of the list, where the solutions are easiest, and work your way down if you can’t seem to fix the problem.

1. You Might Have a Minor Glitch in the Electronics

Sometimes…electronics just glitch out. There’s not much you can do to prevent it, but, thankfully, fixing it is usually pretty easy.

Given this is the most likely culprit for your Keurig continuously filling, try this first:

Turn off your Keurig machine and unplug it from the power source.
Wait 10-15 seconds.
While holding the power button, plug it back in.
If that doesn’t work, unplug the machine again, release the power button, and plug it back in.
Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to reset the machine. This forces a hard reset.
If it’s still pumping water, unplug it again, wait a minute, and try one more time.

With any luck, this will clear up any small electronic glitches and your Keurig will go back to normal. The reset essentially clears out any erroneous signals stuck in the machine’s brain telling it to keep pumping water.

2. The Water Reservoir Plug Might Not Be Seated Properly

If you find water continuously pumping through your Keurig, the water reservoir might be to blame. That plug in the bottom of the reservoir might not be seated properly, which leads to water continuously flowing into your machine.

Here’s how to fix it:

Lift the water reservoir straight up and out of the machine. Empty any remaining water.
Examine the rubber plug/seal at the bottom of the empty reservoir. Make sure it’s fitted properly in place.
Press the plug up and down a few times to reseat it. You should feel it pop firmly into place.
If needed, clean the seal with a damp cloth to remove any debris.
Refill the water reservoir, being careful not to dislodge the plug.
Lower the filled reservoir back into the machine, again being careful not to knock the plug loose.
Test it out! The sealed plug should stop excess water from entering the machine.

If the plug continues to get stuck, you can descale your Keurig machine to loosen any gunk that might be causing the issue.

3. Your Entire Keurig Machine Might Need a Reset

If your Keurig continues pumping out water uncontrollably even after the reset in step one above, it might need a more thorough reset. This is also a simple process, but it takes a bit longer.

Here are the steps:

Unplug your Keurig completely and leave it unplugged for 30 minutes. This gives the machine a chance to reset itself fully.
After 30 minutes have passed, plug the machine back into the wall outlet.
Lift and lower the handle as if you were going to brew a cup of coffee. This will prime the internal pump.
Try brewing a cup of coffee. The extended reset may have done the trick.
If it still won’t stop pumping water, you’ll have to move onto the last resort of replacing the internal pump.

4. Your Water Pump Might Be Faulty

If you’ve tried everything else with no luck, the reality is your Keurig’s internal water pump is likely damaged or worn out. When these small pumps fail, they can get stuck in the “on” position, continuously pumping water through the machine.

To fix the issue, you’ll need to replace the water pump. There are a few options:

Contact Keurig customer service: If your machine is still under warranty, Keurig will repair it free of charge.
Buy a replacement pump: Keurig sells replacement parts, so you can try installing it yourself. This isn’t for the mechanically challenged!
Send it in to Keurig for repair: Even if it’s out of warranty, Keurig can replace the pump for a fee.
Buy a new machine: If your model is outdated and parts are scarce, it may be time to buy a new Keurig machine.

I recommend trying Keurig customer service first, especially if your machine is still covered by the warranty. The repair experts can efficiently replace the faulty pump and identify any other issues to get the coffee flowing again.

DIY repair is doable but challenging. And if the machine is outdated, spending money on a repair might not be worth it when a shiny new Keurig is calling your name!

Wrapping Up: Keurig Won’t Stop Pumping Water

While a Keurig that won’t stop pumping water can be annoying, armed with the right information, you can troubleshoot the problem and get your morning coffee flowing again. Start with the simple reset tricks, and work up to replacing parts if needed. Here’s to many more cups of joe from your Keurig!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Keurig keep pumping water even when it’s turned off?

If your Keurig won’t stop pumping water, it’s likely due to a small electronic glitch. To fix it, unplug your Keurig, wait 10-15 seconds, plug it back in, and hold the power button for 5 seconds. This forces a reset and clears any stuck signals telling the pump to remain on continuously.

I emptied the water reservoir but my Keurig is still pumping out water, what’s wrong?

This points to an issue with the rubber plug/seal at the bottom of the reservoir. Make sure it’s fitted properly in place. Empty the reservoir and press it up and down a few times to reseat it tightly. Refill the reservoir carefully without dislodging the plug. This should create a tight seal to stop excess water from entering the machine.

My Keurig won’t stop pumping water after I tried resetting it. What should I do?

The next step is to unplug it for 30 minutes to allow a full internal reset. After 30 minutes, plug it back in, lift/lower the brew handle to prime the pump, and try brewing again. If the extended reset doesn’t work, the internal pump is likely damaged and needs replacement. Contact customer support for a repair or replacement part, or consider buying a new Keurig machine.

How do I know if I need to replace the water pump in my Keurig machine?

If your Keurig continues pumping water despite troubleshooting by resetting the machine and ensuring a tight seal on the reservoir plug, or water won’t come out of your Keurig at all, the internal pump is probably worn out or faulty. Replacement pumps can be ordered directly through Keurig. Consider contacting them for a warranty repair or to have them professionally replace the damaged part.