Farberware coffee urns have been popular for decades, producing coffee quickly in large amounts that serve groups, board meetings, and receptions with efficiency. Though many older Farberware models served well for decades, consumer complaints have been on the rise in recent years. However, before writing off a troublesome coffee urn, invest some time in troubleshooting your appliance. A properly working coffee urn may be just a good cleaning away.
Clean your coffee urn according to the instructions. Some problems in coffee production or dispensing may be related to clogged parts or built-up coffee grounds. Check the stem to ensure it is clear, and wipe away all residue and grounds. If you have hard water, check also for lime build-up. Clean the spigot thoroughly as well.
After cleaning, follow instructions for filling and operating the urn to check if performance is improved. If it is not, move to the next step.
Troubleshoot the malfunction by assessing what the coffee urn is failing to do. If it does not dispense properly, the problem is likely related to the spigot or washer between the urn and the spigot. If the coffee is hot on brewing but quickly grows cold, a new heating element may be needed. If it is not percolating correctly, the coffee itself may be ground too finely.
Consult your owner's manual for instructions on basic replacement techniques. Owners should be able to replace basic parts without specialized knowledge. Always make sure your coffee urn is unplugged before working on it.
Review replacement parts online. Reference model numbers and cup capacity to ensure the parts will be compatible with your coffee urn. Replacement items like power cords, pumps, base assemblies, handles and heating elements are available online. While several websites offer replacement parts (see references), other parts are reported to be difficult to obtain, so double-check model and serial numbers.
Follow written instructions for part replacement, ensuring that parts are correctly assembled and installed before testing the repaired urn. Have any required small tools readily at hand for installation.
If, after cleaning, troubleshooting, and replacing parts, the Farberware coffee urn still fails to function, contact Farberware customer service or consult local repair shops.