Gaggia Accademia (Pre 2022): Refill Water Tank Error
by Whole Latte Love
2 min read
Updated: May 12, 2025
If the Refill Water Tank message displays when there is indeed water in the reservoir, it will either be a problem with the quality of the water in the reservoir or the sensor. This is different from flow issues like an E05.
Gaggia Accademia (Pre 2022): Refill Water Tank Error
Possible Causes of the Refill Water Tank Message:
- The most obvious cause would be that the reservoir is empty. If nothing is wrong, refilling the reservoir will clear the error.
- Water completely free of mineral content will not be detected by the water sensor. This may apply to Reverse Osmosis (RO) or distilled water. We do not recommend using untreated RO or distilled water in your espresso machines directly.
- Dirty parts in your machine can interfere with how the sensor operates as it is trying to detect the presence of certain minerals. This can also potentially cause the error to not come on at all when the reservoir is in fact empty. Hand washing is recommended for the reservoir and cleaning products should never be sprayed on or inside the machine directly. Regular dish soap and water is recommended.
- Sensor failure can cause this error, but be advised that replacing the sensor may not resolve the issue. Problems with wiring, the power board, or physical damage to machine parts could also cause this sensor failure.
To test your sensor in the machine, hold the palm of your hand or a damp paper towel over the location of the sensor. Ted is pointing that out in the picture to the right. Click the link to see the video on force priming your machine. To be clear, force priming will not help with a refill water tank error. The force priming video will only help demonstrate how to try and trick the water sensor.
The Tech Menu can also be used to test the sensor. The water tank box will light up when water is detected. We do not have a video on the replacement specifically, but you'll find that Capacitive Water Level Sensor right on the opposite side of the water reservoir wall once the panels of the machine have been removed. The sensor can be seen where this video starts up. Return to the beginning of the video to see how the panels can be removed. Pump replacement is NOT related.
Warranty Disclaimer: Failure of normal wear and tear items such as group gaskets, seals, and shower screens are not covered under warranty. Issues due to scale build-up, coffee oil build-up, or lack of maintenance are not covered.
