When washing machines don’t perform up to expectations it can be a very stressful situation, understandably. There are many operations during the wash cycle that are not clearly evident and when the something goes wrong it can be a subtle annoyance or a catastrophic event. The water-fill operation is what I’ll be talking about here.
The common complaint I receive when water is not filling properly, or not enough, is that the washer is taking too long to run or locks up during the cycle. When your washer fills too slowly the washer will “wait” for longer and longer periods for the water to reach the proper level and to satisfy the water fill sensor.
One way to check for this is too choose “cold” fill and stand and watch the washer fill. A flashlight can aid in this inspection. If you are satisfied that the cold water fill is filling properly, abort the cycle and restart it – this time choosing “hot” wash.
This is important to check each water supply because sometimes problems arise during the “rinse” cycle – where only the cold water is used.
One of the most common problems I find is the water supply valve screen as shown in the picture. These can clog with rust and debris especially if your house’s water is supplied from a well.
Here is a picture of a washer inlet valve screen. It is made of plastic mesh and is located inside the inlet valve nipple located in the back of the washing machine. It can be removed with a pair of needle nose pliers and cleaned and washed in running water.
These valve screens are used to filter small particles such as sand, from entering the internal mechanical parts of the inlet valve. If small particles get past this screen it can wreak havoc on the valve and can lead to a costly repair. They are especially important if your home water supply comes from a well. In that case small particles of sand can clog up these screens. If you have a old home you may get rust and corrosion in the water that can clog these screens.
Thank you for reading!
Rich – Western Appliance Repair in Boise and Meridian Idaho
