Scale builds from water hardness and volume brewed, not from the calendar. Hard water plus daily use means far more frequent descaling than the manual's generic interval.
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Many manufacturers explicitly warn against it because acetic acid attacks seals and aluminium components. Use the descaler your manufacturer specifies.
It does remove scale, but acetic acid is harder on seals and aluminium boilers and the smell lingers through several rinses. Citric acid based descalers are gentler and clear faster.
A test strip gives you an answer in a minute, and most municipal suppliers publish an annual water quality report listing hardness in grains per gallon or ppm.
Method last reviewed 2026-07-29. Figures are guidance, not a substitute for the ratings printed on your own equipment.