Introduction

While originally created to be a helpful notification, we understand that having the “add water” message appear when there’s already water in the tank can be frustrating. In this article, we’ll discuss how this occurrence can be interpreted, why it might happen, and what can be done to address it.

What does the “add water” message mean, and why does it appear?

As briefly mentioned above, the “add water” message was designed to be a helpful notification when the water tank is empty during a brew cycle. This is how you’ll encounter it most commonly, and there’s absolutely no cause for concern. All that’s needed to clear it is to add water to the tank.

However, it’s important to note that due to the way the sensors within Aiden work, the “add water” message will also appear anytime water isn’t flowing properly in the water line. This is primarily due to an obstruction, like mineral buildup or external debris.

So, what causes those obstructions?

• Mineral buildup happens when water with a higher mineral content (also known as "hard water") leaves behind solid deposits after being heated or evaporated. It’s a normal part of brewing with water and tends to vary depending on where you live. Over time, those deposits can slow or even block water flow.
• We’ve also found coffee grounds and chaff inside returned units showing this message, even when the tank was full. This suggests that nearby coffee prep might be sending some particles into the water tank area.

What can I do about the “add water” message?

Preventative Measures

The most effective thing you can do to prevent an “add water” message caused by obstruction is to take preventative measures before it ever appears:

Know your water

Knowing the quality of the water you use in your Aiden will be key in determining how often you’ll need to descale. Aiden will automatically remind you to descale every 150,000 ml, but if you know your water is harder, try descaling once every 2-3 weeks instead. Descaling involves dissolving the mineral buildup, so it’s always going to be easier when there’s less buildup, rather than waiting until you potentially need to run the process multiple times to clear it all out.

• How do I know? Many states or cities have their own resources for determining how hard the water is, and these are always the most accurate outside of testing the water yourself. However, this tool is a great way to get a general idea of how hard water is based on ZIP code.
• What if I use a filter? It’s important to note that while standard carbon filters (like those in pitchers or fridges) are great for improving taste, they don’t tackle water hardness very well. Normally, only specific water softeners or filtration systems like reverse osmosis significantly affect a water source’s hardness.

Keep things clean

The best way to prevent external debris from getting into the water lines is to keep the area around your Aiden as clean as possible. Try grinding your coffee on the side opposite the water tank, and be conscious when you’re doing any sort of coffee or food preparation near the tank itself.

Avoid reverse osmosis or distilled water

After the explanation above, it would be easy to think that using water with zero mineral content would be a great way to prevent issues. However, this can actually damage Aiden’s internal components in the long run. If you do need to use RO or distilled water, try adding minerals back into the water by using something like Third Wave Water packets.

Troubleshooting

If you do find yourself dealing with an “add water” message when the water tank has water in it, there’s no need to fret! Check out our article here that’s completely dedicated to solving the issue.

Fellow's commitment

We’d like to stress that our product team is working on improving our products as often as possible. As technology develops and new resources become available, we’ll continue to implement fixes. 

If you run into an issue the troubleshooting above can’t solve, you have any questions about your Aiden, or you have any feedback you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know here! We’re always willing to listen and help.