i pour directly into the tank from the back of the unit i don't have that problem. my coffee maker is located under my cabinet so i have to pull the whole unit out from under it anyway to add coffee and water so i am able to see what the problem was. due to its size it may be hard for some (vertically challenge as i am# to see inside the coffee maker but if you tilt it and look you will know what i am speaking about which will cause the spill-over or leakage. *water should also be poured slowly and not dumped into the unit to fast. 