I have a bunn vpr

[ectofix]

The water shouldn’t boil since the thermostat should only go to 202°.

 

Sounds like the tank boiled down below the spigot.  If so, then it could be a bad thermostat.  You said you bought it used.  Its failings might be why they sold it. 

Additionally, with it being used, there’s probably a bunch of scale in the tank. 

 

That machine is a relatively cheap commercial brewer.  Getting a qualified tech to service it may easily surpass the cost of a new one.  Hopefully you’re handy with tools, a VOM…and can determine how to properly do a chemical descaling of it.

[ectofix]

Here’s some manuals to help you out:

INSTALLATION & OPERATING GUIDE 

SERVICE & REPAIR MANUAL 

ILLUSTRATED PARTS CATALOG 

 

FWIW: Descaling it is NOT a necessity since scale will settle to the bottom.  However, it can be an issue.  That brewer is just a basic pour-over one.  The main concern you’d have is to regularly remove the spray head and run a deliming spring up through the sprayhead tube.

[guest]

I’m good with tools/meters,  I had the tank out yesterday but didn’t want to pull it apart just yet until I got some feedback thanks for the manuals.

[fixbear]

I have a few questions for you.  You filled it till water came out the spray head into a decanter. Right.  Now you turned the power on, and heard the heater warming the water and a small bit of water also came out the spray head from expansion.  Good.  Now you say it boiled, but that would mean you would have a bunch of steam coming from the fill cover and the high temp limit would have opened. Now, after you plugged it in and it got to temp, did you pour a decanter of water in to start the brew process? 

 

Pour over machines are a displacement brewer. To brew one has to add a decanter of water to displace the hot water in the tank.  The fill tank has a tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the tank so that only hot water from the tank comes out the spray tube. 

[guest]

No I didn’t pour in another pot to displace………..  you may have fixed my problem, no problem……..  I’ll do it today after work.   but I can tell you right now based on what I saw a pot of hot water will be dispensed I’m sure of it.  

Thank you will let you know.

Bill

[fixbear]

I suspected this may be the case.  We tend to assume that users are familiar with the operation when they buy commercial equipment and have serious problems.  Glad we could help..

[guest]

worked just fine,  Operator Error!!!!

Thanks again for setting me straight.