Have you Ever been on a plane and had a nice cup of coffee? Of course, you have you workaholic you! The only way to stay productive on those long plane rides or make it through the entire lord of the rings saga without missing a scene is to stay well caffeinated. Due to popular demand for the precious brew airlines must keep their galley equipment running in tip-top condition. Like the plumbing in your house where pipes deliver water to your taps and appliances; In airplanes, the pipes in coffee makers and water boilers work tirelessly to deliver much needed refreshments to the passengers. However, there is a hidden issue that might leave you with a bad taste in your mouth – the buildup of calcium and minerals in the equipment, causing malfunctions and other problems.
The issue does not stop at funky tasting coffee. Calcium buildup can also result in leak blockages. You might be wondering… “Isn’t that a good thing?” well not in this case water in galley equipment gets heated up and flows thus moving calcium deposits around. What was blocking a leak today might not be there tomorrow. The result? A sudden, unexpected eruption of scalding hot water on the galley counter, hands, and feet. It is a surefire way to get your name stricken off the list of trusted vendors for supplying faulty equipment.
This can all be avoided by asking your shop: “did you descale the unit”. Descaling removes all the calcium from the pipes and the tank so that you can be sure no dirty water makes it out of that coffee maker/ water boiler into the cups of unsuspecting passengers and it guarantees there are no hidden leaks waiting to surprise a crew member. It takes time to descale the equipment but be very aware it is 100% necessary for keeping the end user happy. So, the next time you discuss galley equipment with a repair vender, remember to ask: "Did you descale the unit?"