The small spring that keeps your steam valve tight
Inside the steam and water valve of the Appartamento TCA there is a spring you never get to see. It sits behind the spindle and presses the valve cone onto its seat as soon as you let go of the rotary knob. The gasket and seat do the actual sealing – but only if the spring holds them together with the right force.
When this force weakens, it looks like a gasket problem: the valve keeps dripping after closing, or it has to be turned tighter and tighter. If you only replace the gasket, the problem will be back within a few weeks. This item is the spring with part number A219909449.
When it is due
- The steam or water valve keeps dripping even though the gasket is new.
- The rotary knob has to be closed with noticeably more force than before.
- The knob feels spongy and no longer has a clear point of resistance.
- The removed spring is visibly shorter, bent or corroded.
- The valve is being overhauled anyway – then the spring belongs in the set, not back in the drawer.
At a glance
| Type |
Spring |
| Location |
Steam and water valve |
| Fits |
Rocket Appartamento TCA |
| Scope of delivery |
one spring, without spring support and without gaskets |
| Part number |
A219909449 |
| Installation |
Installation by a qualified technician recommended |
| Brand |
Rocket |
Length, wire thickness and material are not listed in the documentation for this number – so we do not state them. The spring support with number A219909448 belongs to the same assembly; it is a separate item and not included.
Important for installation
The spring sits in a pressurised assembly on the boiler. Switch off the machine, unplug it and let it cool down completely and depressurise before opening the valve. We deliberately do not describe a step-by-step disassembly here. A tip from practice: once the valve is opened, the gasket, spring and spring support should be replaced together – replacing them one at a time usually means opening it up again shortly afterwards.
Who it is for
For anyone with a dripping steam or water valve on an Appartamento TCA who wants to fix it properly rather than turn it tighter. And for workshops that overhaul the valve as part of scheduled servicing.
The springs in the Rocket catalogue
We stock seven springs, and their names sound similar enough to mix them up. They are not interchangeable – if in doubt, go by the part number in your service documentation, not by the name.
Four springs without a model series: A209904332 for the steam and water valve, C219900427 for the coffee brew lever, R299905958 and A999905754. For the last two, our documentation names neither the location nor the machine.
Three springs from the TCA series: A219909449, the spring for steam and water on the Appartamento TCA – i.e. this product, A219909448, the matching spring support and R019908932, the bushing spring.
For none of these springs does our documentation state wire thickness, length or material. Send us your machine's serial number and we will check the fit.
What goes with it
From our workshop in Bern and Zürich
When a steam valve keeps dripping in our workshop, we always replace the gasket, spring and spring support together – even if only one of them looks suspect. This is not a manufacturer requirement but experience: the three parts work against each other, and one new part between two old ones rarely lasts long. We also place the old spring next to the new one for comparison; side by side, the loss of length is immediately visible.
Afterwards we test with steam and with an extraction. Our benchmark is Nutty Delight, for something milder try Cozy Chocolate, for something stronger Very Nutty. Everything under Coffee beans.
Returns excluded
Original spare parts are excluded from exchange and return. They are procured specifically for each order and cannot be resold after installation or a trial fitting on the machine. So before ordering, check the model, year of manufacture and serial number of your machine – or drop us a line and we will clarify the fit together. Your statutory rights in the case of defective goods remain unaffected.
Is the spring support included?
No. The spring support has the number A219909448 and is a separate item.
My steam valve drips – is a new spring enough?
Sometimes yes, mostly not. If a valve keeps dripping, the gasket, spring and spring support have as a rule all reached the end of their service life together. We recommend replacing all three together.
How long is the spring?
Length, wire thickness and material are not stated in the documentation for this number. Order using the part number A219909449.
Is this an electrical part?
No. A spring is purely mechanical. However, it sits in a pressurised assembly – hence the installation note.
Can I look at the part in your showroom?
Yes. We are in Bern at Gerberngasse 44 and in Zürich at Hagenholzstrasse 50b. Bring your machine's serial number and we will put the part next to it.
Questions about the fit? Write to us at [email protected]. We deliver across Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2-4 working days.
