Fracino CON2ELPG Troubleshooting: Common Faults and Fixes

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June 19, 2026

On June 19, 2026

Last updated: June 2026

The Fracino CON2ELPG is a dual-fuel commercial espresso machine, and most faults a mobile caterer hits are simple supply or service problems — not a broken machine. The standard first move is to check power, propane, water, and pressure in that order before you reach for a spanner.

In 30 seconds:

Most CON2ELPG “faults” are a flat 12V battery, a tripped inverter, a closed propane cylinder, or an empty water tank — check those first.
If you run on the inverter, the fuel switch must sit in the propane (“Gas”) position, or the machine tries to draw mains power it hasn’t got and overloads.
Weak steam and slow flow are usually limescale. Soften your water and change the filter every two months to stop it.
Anything to do with internal pressure, the boiler, or the propane train is a COMCAT 2 Gas Safe engineer’s job — not a roadside fix.
If the boiler climbs past 1.5 BAR, isolate the machine and stop. Do not keep trading on a machine that won’t hold pressure.

New to the machine, or just fitted it? Read it alongside our LPG coffee machine setup guide. Half of all “faults” trace back to an install detail that was never quite right.

Why check supply first? The CON2ELPG runs from a 12V battery, a 1000W inverter, a regulated propane cylinder, and a fresh-water tank. If any one of those is flat, closed, or empty, the machine acts “broken” when nothing is actually wrong with it.

Why leave the boiler alone? It is a sealed 14-litre copper boiler running at pressure. Opening it, adjusting valves, or touching the propane train is engineer work. Doing it yourself is unsafe and voids your warranty.

The biggest mistake we see is traders “fixing” a pressure or flame fault in the van to save a call-out. That turns a small service job into a damaged boiler. Know the line between an operator check and an engineer repair, and you’ll trade more days.

Read this first: when to stop and call an engineer

Some faults are not for the operator. Stop trading and book a COMCAT 2 Gas Safe engineer if you see any of these.

Boiler pressure above 1.5 BAR. The boiler works at 1.0–1.2 BAR and is rated to 1.3 BAR maximum. Above 1.5 BAR, isolate the machine and call for service.
A smell of propane, or a flame that lifts, roars, or burns yellow. Turn the cylinder off at the regulator and ventilate. This is a gas-safety job, full stop.
Water or steam leaking from inside the body. A weeping group seal is one thing; water from the boiler casing is another.
The safety (pressure-relief) valve lifting. It is set to release at 1.6–1.8 BAR. If it blows, something upstream is wrong.
Pump pressure stuck above 12 BAR. Isolate the machine — over-pressure stresses seals and the pump.

For what the visit involves and who pays for what, see our Fracino servicing and warranty guide. Everything below the line is a safe operator-level check.

Fault 1: the machine won’t power up at all

What you see: no lights, no pump, nothing. Most likely cause: the 12V supply or the inverter.

Check the battery. A tired or flat 12V leisure battery is the number one cause. Test it under load, not just at rest.
Check the inverter. The 1000W inverter powers the pump and the element. If it has tripped on low voltage or overload, reset it.
Check the connections. A loose battery terminal or inverter lead will cut everything dead.

If power is good and the machine still shows nothing, that is an internal electrical fault for an engineer.

Fault 2: the propane burner won’t light

What you see: the machine has power but won’t heat on propane. Most likely cause: the propane supply or the fuel-selector position.

Check the cylinder and regulator. Is the cylinder open and not empty? Is the regulator the correct 37 mbar propane type? Our LPG hose and regulator guide covers the right setup.
Check the selector switch. The fuel switch sits on the right of the right-hand group. Towards you is electric; away is propane. On the inverter it must be set to propane, or the machine overloads trying to draw mains power.
Check for air in the line. A freshly changed cylinder can need a moment for propane to reach the burner.

If propane is flowing, the regulator is right, and the burner still won’t light or hold, leave the ignition and propane valve to a COMCAT 2 engineer.

Fault 3: weak steam or no steam

What you see: the steam wand splutters, spits water, or barely froths milk. Most likely cause: low pressure, blocked wand holes, or limescale.

Let it warm up fully. From cold the CON2ELPG takes about 30 minutes on propane to reach a steady 1.0–1.2 BAR. Steaming too early gives weak, wet steam.
Clear the wand holes. Dried milk blocks the tip. Soak it in espresso-machine solution to clear the holes — our cleaning and descaling guide shows how.
Suspect scale if it crept up slowly. A boiler furring up over a season loses steam power. Scale is a service-descale job, not a roadside one.

If the gauge won’t reach 1.0 BAR after a full warm-up, stop and book a service. Chasing pressure faults yourself does more harm than good.

Fault 4: slow flow or weak, watery shots

What you see: coffee pours too slow, too fast, or tastes thin. Most likely cause: the grind, the water supply, or a scaled group.

Check the grind and dose first. Nine times out of ten a bad shot is grind, not machine. Dial the grinder finer for slow days, coarser if it chokes.
Check the water tank and pump. A low tank or a struggling pump drops brewing pressure below the 9 BAR target. Never let the tank run dry — it can damage the boiler and voids the warranty.
Check the shower screens. A pitted or clogged screen spreads water unevenly. They are a cheap operator-replaceable part.

Pump pressure should sit around 9 BAR when brewing. If it reads above 12 BAR, isolate the machine — that is an over-pressure fault for an engineer.

Fault 5: the boiler won’t fill, or runs dry

What you see: a fill warning, or the machine struggling for water. Most likely cause: the fresh-water tank, the pump, or the inlet.

Refill the tank. Obvious, but easy to miss in a rush. Keep an eye on the level through the day.
Check the pump primes. If the pump runs but no water moves, it may have lost prime or the inlet filter may be blocked.
Never keep running it dry. Running the boiler without water can damage the element and is not a warranty fault.

A level probe furred with scale can also misread the water level. That is an engineer fix, and another reason to soften the water.

Fault 6: leaks and drips

What you see: water under the machine or around a group. Most likely cause: a worn group seal or a blocked drip-tray drain.

Group head dripping or hissing. The group gasket (seal) hardens with use and is a routine wear part. A worn seal is an easy service replacement.
Water pooling in the tray. Check the drip-tray waste pipe isn’t kinked or blocked before assuming a leak.
Water from inside the casing. Stop and call an engineer — that points to the boiler or internal plumbing.

A safe first-checks routine

When the machine misbehaves, work through these operator checks in order before you call anyone. It takes about five minutes and solves most problems.

Check the 12V power. Confirm the leisure battery is charged and the inverter is on and not tripped.
Check the fuel selector. On the inverter, set the switch to the propane (“Gas”) position so the machine doesn’t try to pull mains power.
Check the propane supply. Make sure the cylinder is open and has propane, and the 37 mbar regulator is connected properly.
Check the water. Top up the fresh-water tank and confirm the pump is priming.
Let it warm up and read the gauge. Allow about 30 minutes on propane and check the boiler settles at 1.0–1.2 BAR.
Know when to stop. If pressure climbs past 1.5 BAR, you smell propane, or water leaks from the body, isolate the machine and call a COMCAT 2 engineer.

Spares you can keep in the van

A few cheap operator-serviceable spares save a trading day. Keep these to hand for the Fracino CON2ELPG.

Water softener or filter cartridges. Change every two months minimum — the single best thing you can do for the boiler.
Shower screens. Cheap, quick to swap, and they affect every shot.
Steam-wand tip and a wand cloth. So you can clear blocked holes on the spot.
Group brushes and detergent. Clean kit prevents most “faults” in the first place.

Group seals, gaskets, valves, the element, and any internal part are fitted at service. They aren’t roadside jobs.

When it’s a warranty or service job

It’s worth being plain about how Fracino cover works. Warranty is back-to-base. There are no engineer call-outs to your pitch for the smaller and mid-size machines — the unit goes to the workshop.

Collection: around £95.
Return: around £115.
Round trip: roughly £210 before any parts or labour — and you can drop the machine to the Fracino workshop yourself to skip the collection fee.

Limescale damage and running the boiler dry are wear-and-neglect issues, not warranty faults. An annual service by a COMCAT 2 Gas Safe engineer keeps the cover valid and catches scale before it bites. The full picture is in our servicing and warranty guide.

Quick fault finder

Symptom	First thing to check	Operator or engineer?
No power at all	12V battery and inverter	Operator
Won’t light on propane	Cylinder open, selector on propane, 37 mbar regulator	Operator
Weak or no steam	Full warm-up, blocked wand, likely scale	Operator, then engineer if scaled
Slow or watery shots	Grind, water tank, shower screens	Operator
Won’t fill / runs dry	Tank level and pump prime	Operator
Pressure over 1.5 BAR	Isolate immediately	Engineer
Propane smell or yellow flame	Turn off at the regulator, ventilate	Engineer
Water from inside the body	Isolate and stop trading	Engineer

Frequently asked questions

Why won’t my Fracino CON2ELPG light on propane?

Usually the propane supply or the fuel switch. Check the cylinder is open and not empty, the 37 mbar regulator is connected, and the selector is set to propane. If propane is flowing and it still won’t light, the ignition or propane valve needs a COMCAT 2 engineer.

My steam is weak — how do I fix it?

Let the machine warm up fully first; it takes about 30 minutes on propane to reach 1.0–1.2 BAR. Then clear any dried milk from the wand holes. If steam stays weak after that, the boiler is likely scaled and needs a service descale.

What boiler pressure should the CON2ELPG run at?

It should settle at 1.0–1.2 BAR, with 1.3 BAR the rated maximum. If it climbs past 1.5 BAR, isolate the machine and call an engineer. The safety valve is set to release at 1.6–1.8 BAR, so a lifting valve means something upstream is wrong.

The machine has power but the pump won’t push water. What’s wrong?

Check the fresh-water tank is topped up and the pump is priming. A blocked inlet filter or lost prime stops water moving. Never keep running the boiler dry — it can damage the element and isn’t covered by warranty.

Why does my machine overload when I switch it on?

Almost always the fuel selector. On the inverter the switch must sit in the propane position. If it’s set to electric, the machine tries to draw mains-level power the inverter can’t supply, and it overloads or trips.

Can I replace parts on the CON2ELPG myself?

Only operator parts: shower screens, the water filter or softener cartridge, and the steam-wand cloth. Group seals, valves, the element, and anything inside the boiler or propane train are fitted by a COMCAT 2 engineer at service.

How do I stop these faults happening?

Soften the water and change the filter every two months, clean the machine daily, and never run the tank dry. Most CON2ELPG faults are scale or supply problems, and good habits prevent both. Our cleaning and descaling guide covers the routine.

Do lever machines have the same faults?

The supply checks are identical — power, propane, water, pressure. The difference is the group: a lever machine uses a manual piston rather than a pump-driven group. The Fracino FCL2LPG buying guide covers the lever range.

Keep it simple, keep it trading

Most CON2ELPG problems come down to power, propane, water, or scale — all things you can check in five minutes. Learn the safe checks, know the line where an engineer takes over, and a fault rarely costs you a day. The Fracino CON2ELPG starts from £3,249, and a little know-how protects that investment.