How to Drain A Keurig In 5 Minutes: Our Step-By-Step Guide (With Pictures!)

Do you know how to drain a Keurig coffee maker?

If not, you’re about to!

This step can be daunting as Keurig does not make it easy to access the internal tank.

But if you plan on letting your Keurig sit for 1-2 weeks or longer, you absolutely need to drain it. If you don’t you run the risk of the following:

  • Mold growth
  • Freezing (if stored in a garage or somewhere cold)

Drain your Keurig in as few as 5 minutes!

Learn exactly how to drain both a Keurig 1.0 and Keurig 2.0 brewer with our handy step-by-step guide.

First Try the Super Amazing Simple Method — No Tools Necessary!

I found a person on YouTube who figured out a genius way of draining water from their Keurig 1.0 model. Before you reach for the tools, try this simple method!

The steps:

  1. Empty the water reservoir
  2. Replace the reservoir and trick the Keurig into thinking there’s water (the video shows how)
  3. Brew a serving to empty the inner tanks without sucking in any more water

f that didn’t work, keep reading. We’ll get your Keurig drained in no time!

At The Coffee Maven, we’re Keurig experts!

How to Drain a Keurig 1.0 Coffee Maker for Storage

Time Needed

  • 5-10 minutes

Tools Needed

  • Flat-head screwdriver
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Plastic straw

How to Drain a Keurig 1.0 Brewer: 30 Second Summary

  1. Lift the handle to open the pod compartment and remove the two screws at the 11:00 and 1:00 positions using a flat-head screwdriver. This loosens the top part, which says “Keurig.”
  2. Slide it off, exposing the top of the internal water tank.
  3. Locate the two tubes connected to the internal tank: one is L-shaped facing sideways and the other comes straight out the top. Grasp their zip ties with the needle-noise pliers and wiggle to loosen, then detach the tubes.
  4. Invert the brewer so water can pour out the L-shaped opening. At the same time insert the straw into the opening on top of the tank to aid air in displacing the water.
  5. When done, reassemble the brewer.

Step 1: Lift the pod compartment handle and remove the screws affixing the top

We will not be accessing the water tank through the bottom of the coffee maker. Instead, we’ll be removing the piece on top to access the top of the water tank directly.

Locate the two screws at the 11:00 and 1:00 positions as shown in the photo below. Using the flat-head screwdriver, remove both screws. This will separate the top of the machine — the part which reads “Keurig” on the front — so it can be removed.

step 1 for how to drain a keurig is remove screws

Step 2: Slide off the top of the machine

Gently pull the loosened top forwards and upwards to slide it off the Keurig. This will expose the inner tubing of the coffee maker.

step 2 for how to drain a keurig is to remove the top

Step 3: Detach the silicone tubes from the internal water tank

Locate the two tubes connected to the top of the internal water tank as shown in the image below:

  1. Tube connected to L-shaped opening on back-right
  2. Tube connected to opening coming straight out the top of the water tank

These tubes will probably have zip ties affixing the silicone tubes to the metal water filter attachments. You’ll need to loosen these zip ties to remove the silicone tubes. You can do this one of two ways:

  1. Wiggle the zip ties off the metal attachment using the needle-nose pliers
  2. Snip the zip ties (only do this if you have zip ties to attach later)

With those pesky zip ties neutralized, detach the silicone tubes.

step 3 for how to drain a keurig is to detach the tubes

Step 4: Invert the brewer and pour out the water

Invert the brewer to get water to flow out of the L-shaped opening.

This could be a slow process as the water can’t flow out freely unless there’s a way for air to displace the water being drained.

(Anyone who’s ever poured condensed milk or cranberry juice out of a can is familiar with this phenomenon.)

To speed things up, take a thin straw and place it over the other opening with a detached tube (the one on top of the water tank). This may help improve air flow into the water tank, speeding up the draining process.

Drain until there’s no water left in the tank.

step 4 for how to drain a keurig is to invert and drain

Step 5: Reassemble the machine

When draining is complete, reattach the silicone tubes. If you wiggled the zip ties down, wiggle them back up. If you snipped them off, use new zip ties to firmly affix the silicone tubes in place.

Then reattach the top which you previously slid off, and finally reattach the top part with the screws you had removed.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully drained your Keurig 1.0 brewer!

How to Drain a Keurig 2.0 Coffee Maker for Storage

Time Needed

  • 10-15 minutes

Tools Needed

How to Drain a Keurig 2.0 Brewer: 90 Second Summary (This One’s Longer)

  1. Lift the handle to expose the chrome ring around the top-back of the machine. Detach the chrome ring by unsnapping it from the body.
  2. Shut the handle, flip the brewer over, and use the Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the 6 screws on the bottom.
  3. With the brewer inverted, slide off the tall silver piece on the front corner. Then slide off the front of the machine.
  4. Stand the brewer upright and remove the two screws near the top of the water reservoir side. Then, using a flat, spatula-like object, work your way around the top of the brewer to dislodge the entire top collar of the machine.
  5. The only thing left will be the exterior wrapper around the outside. Remove that, too.
  6. Remove the water intake assembly by detaching the three clips and popping it up. Once out, disconnect the piece from the two tubes attached to it. There’s still some water inside the black piece you just removed. Press the middle and shake to drain it completely.
  7. Remove the screw located near the base of the motherboard, which will allow you to wiggle out an internal filter.
  8. Rotate the brewer around to the other side and remove the screw sitting on top of a white washer. The water tank assembly is now detached. Gently lift and slide it out.
  9. Rotate the brewer back around to the motherboard side and detach the filter (behind the motherboard) from the pump assembly, which is part of the piece you were just wiggling out. Now fully detached, make sure to empty out the filter.
  10. Detach the tube on the very top of the water tank. This allows air to displace the water while being drained.
  11. Finally, detach the tube leading from the pump assembly to the water tank. Water will quickly come streaming out.
  12. There’s still some water inside the pump, so insert a syringe (or maybe blow?) on the entry tube to expel any extra water.
  13. Borrow one of the tubes from the pump and connect the syringe into the entry at the top of the water tank to expel any additional water.
  14. When done, reassemble the brewer.

Step 1: Detach the chrome ring behind the pod assembly

In Step 4 you’ll remove the top of the brewer, but you can’t do that until you remove the ring shown below. It’s fastened to the top of the brewer by five snaps and can be removed by pushing in and up with a little force.

step 1 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is detach chrome ring on top

Step 2: Remove the 6 screws from the bottom of the brewer

Ultimately you’ll remove the entire front and side paneling of the coffee maker. To do that, you’ll need to remove the bottom.

Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the 6 screws (or however many are on your Keurig 2.0 brewer).

step 2 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to remove the bottom screws

Step 3: Remove the front of the brewer

With the bottom removed, it’s time to detach the front of the brewer.

If your model has the silver plastic piece show on the left in the image below, remove that first. Once that piece is removed, the front panel slides out in similar fashion.

These pieces are attached with hooks that need to be pushed laterally (to unhook) before being pulled outward. You may need to apply considerable force, especially to the front panel shown on the right.

step 3 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to remove the front panel

Step 4: Remove the screws on the top of the water reservoir side, then remove the top of the machine

Remember when you removed the chrome collar in Step 1? That comes into play here.

Turn the brewer to the water reservoir side and locate the two screws near the top. Remove these screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Once removed, the only thing holding the exterior of the machine together are some plastic snaps. Use a flat, spatula-like object to wedge between the top and side of the brewer and begin to pry it upwards. You may need to use some force. Work your way all the way around until the entire top of the brewer has been separated.

step 4 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to remove more screws

Step 5: Remove the exterior wrapper to expose all internal components

The only thing obscuring your full access to the brewer’s internal components is the exterior case wrapping around the sides and back. It’s affixed to the base of the machine with plastic snaps. With some force, unsnap the exterior from the base to remove it.

step 5 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to remove the exterior case

Step 6: Unclip the water intake assembly and drain it

Now it’s time to begin working on the machine’s inner components.

First, remove the water intake assembly by disconnecting the two tubes attached to it. They’re held on by plastic barbs.

Once removed, press the middle of the black intake piece to drain. Give it a good shake to get as much water out as you can. When done, set this piece aside.

step 6 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to unclip the water intake assembly

Step 7: Remove the screw near the base of the motherboard, freeing the internal filter

There are two screws holding the entire water tank, pump, internal filter contraption together.

This is the first screw.

Locate the screw at the base of the green motherboard and use your Phillips-head screwdriver to remove it.

Note: The screw being removed here is a little smaller than the other screws removed to this point. Keep it separate so you know which it is.

step 7 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to remove the screw near the base

Step 8: Remove the single screw holding the water tank and pump assembly to the machine

Rotate the brewer around and locate the last remaining screw connecting the entire water tank, pump, internal filter assembly to the base. It has a white plastic washer.

Remove this screw using your Phillips-head screwdriver. Once removed, gently slide the whole assembly outwards to unhinge it.

Be careful not to damage any of the wires!

step 8remove the screw connecting the base to the assembly for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to

Step 9: Detach the filter from the pump assembly and drain the filter

With all internal components freed from the base, it’s time to start detaching them one by one to drain the stored water.

First, separate the internal filter from the pump assembly by gently (but firmly) detaching the silicone tube indicated in the image below.

Water will begin to drain out.

step 9 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to detach the pump assembly

Step 10: Detach the tube on the top of the water tank

Before draining the water in the tank, remove the tube connected to the top. This will allow air in to displace the water draining out the bottom.

step 10 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to detach the tube connected to the water tank

Step 11: Finally, detach the tube leading from the pump assembly to the water tank

After 10 tedious steps, it’s finally time to drain the brewer!

Detach the tube connecting the water tank to the pump assembly. Water will immediately begin flowing out of the tube, so be ready to direct it over a sink or into a collecting vessel.

step 11 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to detach the water tank tube

Step 12: Pump the remaining water out of the pump assembly (Optional)

Optional but encouraged, use a syringe to pump any remaining water from the pump assembly.

You’d be surprised how much water might be lurking in there.

If you don’t have one of these (I didn’t) you can find one at any pet store. They’re used to give doses of medicine. Here’s a bunch of cheap ones online.

step 12 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to pump out remaining water

Step 13: Pump the remaining water out of the water tank (Optional)

Also optional but encouraged, connect the syringe to the top of the water tank to pump out any remaining water in the tank or lines.

Note: The plastic piece used to connect the syringe to the water tank was borrowed from the pump as seen in Step 12.

step 13 for how to drain a keurig 2.0 is to pump out remaining water

Step 14: Reassemble the machine

Congrats! You’ve successfully drained water from your Keurig 2.0 brewer’s internal components. It is now safe to store your machine.

Related: How to Descale a Keurig 2.0 Brewer

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About The Coffee Maven
bryan de luca
Bryan De Luca

I'm Bryan but most people know me as The Coffee Maven. I grew up outside Boston, Massachusetts and received my Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Providence College. My first introduction to coffee was during my college days, when I used it as a source of caffeine to fuel late-night study sessions, but soon I became obsessed with the chemistry of coffee. How did changes to water temperature or contact time affect its taste? Why do beans from Africa taste fruity while beans from Indonesia taste spicy? I launched The Coffee Maven in February 2017 to explore these questions and help others brew their perfect cup. Welcome to my site, and thanks for reading!