La Pavoni Video Diagnosis: Know the Fault Before You Pay for a Repair
Send a short phone video of the fault. We review it against the known faults for your model and generation, and reply by email with the likely cause, whether it is a home fix, and which part to check.
- Any country
- Reply by email
- Details confirmed before we start
Want a technician instead? Request a repair.
What you get
Our reply is a short written report by email. It answers the questions you need before you spend money on the machine.
The likely cause
What the video shows, matched against the known faults for your model and generation.
Home fix or not
If you can fix it yourself, we point you to the steps. If you cannot, we tell you why.
Parts to check
The part that most likely failed, such as the piston seals, group gasket, sight glass seals, pressure switch or heating element.
Your repair options
What the repair usually involves, and whether a local or mail-in technician is the better route.
"Your Millennium Europiccola lets water spurt up past the piston as the lever goes down, and the lever feels soft. That points to worn piston seals, not the boiler. A Millennium group kit and our gasket guide will fix it at home. If you would rather not open the group, this is a routine job for a lever technician."
How it works
- 1
Tell us the fault
Fill in the form below with your model, generation and what the machine does.
- 2
We confirm by email
We reply to confirm the details and tell you what to film. Nothing starts until you agree.
- 3
Send the video
Paste a share link in the form, or send it as a reply to our email. One or two minutes is enough.
- 4
Get the verdict
We review the video and reply with the cause and the next step. If we need more detail, we ask.
How to film your La Pavoni
A good video saves time and gives a more certain answer.
- Film in landscape with good light, and keep the phone still.
- Start with the machine off and filled. Switch it on and record the heat-up.
- Show the sight glass, and the gauge if your machine has one.
- Pull one shot and keep filming until it finishes.
- Keep the sound on. Hissing, gurgling and clicks tell us a lot.
- For a few seconds, film inside the group with a torch, so we can see your generation.
- Never open the boiler cap while the machine is on or under pressure.
What to film for common faults
| Fault | What to film |
|---|---|
| Leaks at the group or lever | A shot from the side, close to the group, with the lever going down. Then the top of the group where the piston rod comes out. |
| No pressure or a weak shot | One full shot with the portafilter in view, and your hand on the lever so we can see how fast it moves. Then the puck. |
| Not heating | Switch on and film the switch light, the sight glass and the gauge (if fitted) for two minutes. Keep the sound on. |
| Pressure too high or safety valve hissing | The gauge and the safety valve on top of the boiler as the machine heats, until the light goes off. |
| Sight glass, cap or base leak | The machine from the front and the side while it heats, then where the water collects. |
| Steam wand problems | Steaming into an empty jug for ten seconds, then closing the knob, with the wand tip in view. |
| Lever stiff or stuck | The lever going up and down slowly with the machine cold and no portafilter, then once warm. |
Before you film, check the simple causes first. Our troubleshooting guides cover the fixes that need no video.
What a video can and cannot tell us
A video shows what the machine does. It cannot show what happens inside the boiler or the base. Most lever faults leave clear signs: where water escapes, how the lever feels, what the gauge and sight glass do, and what the safety valve does as the machine heats.
- Good fit: leaks at the group, piston and sight glass, weak shots, steam problems, pressure that runs high, a stiff lever.
- Hard to see: electrical faults, faults that come and go, leaks inside the base, and a machine that does not switch on at all.
If the video is not enough for a clear answer, we tell you so. We do not guess.
Request a video diagnosis
Video diagnosis request
Tell us what your La Pavoni does.
Share your model, generation and symptoms. We reply by email to confirm the details before the review starts.
Request received.
We will email you to confirm the details and tell you what to film. Check your spam folder if you do not see our reply.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be in the US?
No. Nobody needs to visit you, so a video diagnosis works anywhere. We reply in English by email.
Can a video always find the fault?
No. Electrical faults, faults that come and go, and leaks inside the base can need a technician with the machine on the bench. If the video is not enough, we tell you so.
Is a video diagnosis the same as a repair?
No. A diagnosis tells you what is likely wrong and what to do next. If the machine needs a repair, we can pass your request to a technician, local or mail-in.
How do I send the video?
Upload it to Google Drive, iCloud or Dropbox and paste the share link in the form. Set the link so anyone with it can view. You can also send the link later, as a reply to our first email.
Does it matter which generation I have?
Yes, because the parts differ. If you are not sure, film a few seconds looking up into the group with a torch. A plastic sleeve means a Millennium machine.