How do you adjust the water level

Over Boiling or constant heating of tank water is an indication of a shorted thermostat (or out of calibration). Call your vendor for service. (especially if this equipment is on loan.)
*** the following is for information only. Repairs should be performed by a qualified Bunn Tech. ***
* VPR's and similar machines REQUIRE a pre-fill and heating period prior to brewing. This means it's sitting on a level table and filled with water until water sprays from the brew head. At this point the unit is plugged in and the heater is turned on (there may be some water discharge from brew head as the water expands). Ready light will come on in about 15 mins.
* To Brew; Place coffee grounds in filter, place in funnel and brew head, clean empty decanter under funnel, slowly pour one full decanter of water (cold or hot) into brew tray. Do not overflow tray. Allow water level to sink before adding more water. Only fill with one pot as an equal amount will come out the brew head and funnel.
* Make sure the decanters are all the same size. do not mix a 12 cup pot with a 10 cup pot. One will over fill and the other will under fill. Make sure they match (in cup volume) FYI; Thermo Air pump pots are usually bigger than one pot. Typical filling only to 3/4th of the container. (I think most are in 2.5 to 3 liter sizes)
* If your not getting a full pot then the brewer was partially empty. The second brew (if done within the next hour) should come out full.
* If your still not getting a full pot then the water is leaking or is boiling off. Does it always steam from the top? Thermostat is shorted. Unplug the brewer and call vendor for service.
* Final; Follow the Bunn set up and care instructions (manuals from Bunn.com for down loading. *FREE*)
Aloha, ukeboy57

PS; There is a slight chance that your thermostat is set too high. There is a dial on the thermostat that can be turned counter clockwise to lower the temperature of the brewing water. Water should be about 190-205 F for coffee. Tea drinkers want 210 F which is too close to boiling point of water. If your in the mountains (+2000 feet) then the boiling temp will lower. Was it possible the brewer came from a low (sea level) location and moved to higher altitude? Then the setting is off and must be set lower (a fine adjustment). But note that if your on the top of a high mountain (like Haleakala, Hawaii) then it has to be set a lot lower and you will only get luke warm brews at 9,000 feet!. Adjust the knob clockwise to get it to boil. Then back it off counter-clockwise a bit till it stops boiling. Make another brew to check if the reheat comes to a boil but stops after a minute or so. It should not boil on longer than 2-3 mins. Back it off a bit more if it does. Brew again to check. If none of this works then you will need to replace the thermostat. If your at a really HIGH altitude location, then you will need a specially adapted high altitude brewer. Call your coffee vendor for advice.

Sorry this brewer is usually set up for a full pot brew. I have reset this for a small (but not half) pot brew as the customer wanted to use a metal carafe (with their own logo). I also tried once to get it to half pot brew but it can get tricky if you actually brew twice to get a full pot (in the same pot).
* there is a siphon action that starts once the boiler tank gets filled to a certain point. From that point it will continue to flow until the boiler is emptied to the level that stops the siphon action and leaves enough water in boiler to reheat for the next brew. Achieving the siphon point may be a larger volume of water for 1/2 a pot but may work for 3/4ths a pot. The 1/2 way mark may be affected by the brewers "level" while placed on a table or sagging in the middle of a weak table.
* Usually if you want a smaller brew then go with a smaller brewer. Though there is a hot water tap that will give you 2-4 cups of hot water (it gets tepid after that) which you can use for the "Mug" style brew. But it does get messy.ukeboy57
* Final, If you don't mind a little more than 1/2 pot brews then ask your vendor to adjust the machine for you. Though a reminder NOT the double brew in the same pot as it will overflow.
Aloha, ukeboy57

VPS/VPR are pour over brewers. Like the 12 cup brewers you find at home, they need to be filled with 12 cups of water (a full pot), heated and then peculated over the coffee grounds and collected in a decanter.
BUT there is one main difference! The VPR and similar COMMERCIAL coffee machines are quick brewers. They usually have a pre-heated pot of water stored inside the machine.
* VPR's and similar machines REQUIRE a pre-fill and heating period prior to brewing. This means it's sitting on a level table and filled with water until water sprays from the brew head. At this point the unit is plugged in and the heater is turned on (there may be some water discharge from brew head as the water expands). Ready light will come on in about 15 mins.
* To Brew; Place coffee grounds in filter, place in funnel and brew head, clean empty decanter under funnel, slowly pour one full decanter of water (cold or hot) into brew tray. Do not overflow tray. Allow water level to sink before adding more water. Only fill with one pot as an equal amount will come out the brew head and funnel.
* Make sure the decanters are all the same size. do not mix a 12 cup pot with a 10 cup pot. One will over fill and the other will under fill. Make sure they match (in cup volume) FYI; Thermo Air pump pots are usually bigger than one pot. Typical filling only to 3/4th of the container. (I think most are in 2.5 to 3 liter sizes)
* If your not getting a full pot then the brewer was partially empty. The second brew (if done within the next hour) should come out full.
* If your still not getting a full pot then the water is leaking or is boiling off. Does it always steam from the top? Thermostat is shorted. Unplug the brewer and call vendor for service.
* Final; If your unplugging when not in use. Then follow the Pre-heat instructions mentioned above prior to plugging the brewer back in. If the tank has been emptied at night or dried up after an idle week. Then there is a chance you may over heat and blow the thermal fuse. Or at best have a half pot short brew as the water dried up.
* Note leaving the brewer plugged in without brewing daily is not a good idea. The water evaporates and eventually drys out the pot. Takes about 1-2 weeks but it does blow the fuse(s) and the unit will need service.
* Final; Follow the Bunn set up and care instructions (manuals from Bunn.com for down loading. *FREE*)
Aloha, ukeboy57

VPS/VPR (VP17-3 are the same except it has 3 lower warmers) are pour over brewers. Like the 12 cup brewers you find at home, they need to be filled with 12 cups of water (a full pot), heated and then peculated over the coffee grounds and collected in a decanter.
BUT there is one main difference! The VPR and similar COMMERCIAL coffee machines are quick brewers. They usually have a pre-heated pot of water stored inside the machine.
* VPR's and similar machines REQUIRE a pre-fill and heating period prior to brewing. This means it's sitting on a level table and filled with water until water sprays from the brew head. At this point the unit is plugged in and the heater is turned on (there may be some water discharge from brew head as the water expands). Ready light will come on in about 15 mins.
* To Brew; Place coffee grounds in filter, place in funnel and brew head, clean empty decanter under funnel, slowly pour one full decanter of water (cold or hot) into brew tray. Do not overflow tray. Allow water level to sink before adding more water. Only fill with one pot as an equal amount will come out the brew head and funnel.
* Make sure the decanters are all the same size. do not mix a 12 cup pot with a 10 cup pot. One will over fill and the other will under fill. Make sure they match (in cup volume) FYI; Thermo Air pump pots are usually bigger than one pot. Typical filling only to 3/4th of the container. (I think most are in 2.5 to 3 liter sizes)
* If your not getting a full pot then the brewer was partially empty. The second brew (if done within the next hour) should come out full.
* If your still not getting a full pot then the water is leaking or is boiling off. Does it always steam from the top? Thermostat is shorted. Unplug the brewer and call vendor for service.
* Final; If your unplugging when not in use. Then follow the Pre-heat instructions mentioned above prior to plugging the brewer back in. If the tank has been emptied at night or dried up after an idle week. Then there is a chance you may over heat and blow the thermal fuse. Or at best have a half pot short brew as the water dried up.
* Note leaving the brewer plugged in without brewing daily is not a good idea. The water evaporates and eventually drys out the pot. Takes about 1-2 weeks but it does blow the fuse(s) and the unit will need service.
* Final; Follow the Bunn set up and care instructions (manuals from Bunn.com for down loading. *FREE*)
Aloha, ukeboy57

Check programming.This is very simple;turn switch on and hold brew switch until you here 3 clicks to start brew timer .When desired level is reached turn off on/off switch on front panel to set brew time.Check brew level now.

If u haven't cleaned it out using 3/4 vinegar to 1/4 water, some times this will happen. after running this thru ur coffee maker, (u won't believe the junk that comes out), then run full pots of water to rinse out (2x's). This should help it perform better.

First brew a pot without water, to find your current level. Next open the faucet and check the water flow, if it has a nice flow no stopping or spurting, then your water connection is good. Now adjust the brew level, the adjustment instructions are on the inside of the front panel. If after making adjustments you get the same result then the solenoid is blocked.

Remove the brew basket and water defuser (sprinkler head) it should come off with a 1\2 turn.
Place your measuring pitcher or empty pot in place.
Turn the main power switch off in back of unit.
Press and hold the Brew(full pot) button.
While holding the Brew(full pot) button turn the main power button in back to on.
Once the red light flashes over the Brew(full pot) button release it, then press it once to start the brew cycle.
Let it flow until desired level in pot or measuring pitcher.
Press the Brew(full pot) button once to Stop.
Press the Brew(full pot) button once again to lock the settings into memory. Memory will store the settings even if machine is unplugged.
Half pot button is automatically set.

There is a brew timer on the left side of your machine near the heater switch. you need to remove an access panel to access it. turn this down a little, let the water heat up, then try another brew. Adjust as needed, brewing another pot between each setting.

Most likely you have some lime-scale build-up. When you brew a pot, it only brews the same amount of water that it takes in. When the inlet is restricted with scale, not enough water is let in for a full pot. You've adjusted the timer, so when you clear the inlet, you should set it back down so you don't overflow the pot.
It also could be just something cought in the inlet orifice (result is the same). Either way, start where the water is connected to the machine and go from there. Sorry I can't be more specific, scale is an elusive devil.
In the future, try using soft water.

Good luck