If you are having trouble with your top or front loading washing machine not filling with water, here are some quick fix tips. This guide will show you what to do if your washing machine will not fill with HOT or COLD water. Both of these issues can be fixed by doing a few simple checks.
The main causes your washing machine is not filling with water MAY BE:
1. One of the water valves (hot or cold) supplying the washer with water has been turned off or closed.
2. Your washer has a shutoff valve on the back that may be in the closed position.
3. There may be a water filter on your washer that is clogged and tells the washer computer (control board) to not allow water to enter.
4. A hose or water connector on the back or inside the washer is defective or clogged.
5. The water to your home has been turned off temporarily (the city may be doing work outside and did not notify you).
If the washer is brand new…
Check the back of it to be sure there is not a shutoff valve in the closed position near the water hose connection.
Many of the newer front load HE machines have a shutoff valve and sometimes during shipping it is put into the closed position.
So your problem with your washing machine not filling with water may be as simple as just turning the valve to open.
Your washing machine may have a shutoff valve in the
water connection assembly, make sure it is not closed.
If the washer is not new and is suddenly NOT filling with water…
Your NEWER washer may have a water filter installed.
If so it may be clogged and telling the computer to not allow water to enter.
If your washer has a special filter, clean or replace it and test the washer for water flow.
If there is no filter on your washer then you will need to take further steps to find the problem.
Check to be sure the water supply valves that supply
water to your washer are not closed or off.
To determine if a valve may be shut…
Unplug the washer and slide it out from the wall to leave space to access the water valves.
Locate the 2 water valves (one is for hot water and one is for cold water).
If both water valves are open (hot and cold) then there is a problem in the washer or the water supply hoses.
Check to be sure that somehow the washer water valve has not been shut (may or may not be something on your washer but if so it is located on back of washer).
If you assume water is going to the washer and ALL valves are open, go to the next step below.
The HOT and COLD water lines will connect to the back
of your washer similar to the picture above.
To determine if water is being supplied to your washer…
Turn off the 2 water valves and remove the hoses from the back of the washer (not the wall).
Hold the ends of both hoses pointing into an empty bucket and open the valves.
If water flows then you know the hoses and valves are not clogged or defective. (This procedure will verify water flow to the washer and you can rule out a problem with the hoses or valves located on the wall)
While you have the water hoses disconnected, look into the hose connections on the back of the washer.
Make sure that there is nothing clogging the screen or in the hose connection.
If there is anything clogging the screen or blocking the connection, remove it and reinstall the hoses and test washer.
Some other tips and suggestions…
On most washers, if water flow is going to the machine but the machine will not fill with water, you probably have a bad water valve on the machine itself.
You can remove the water valve or hose connectors and see if there is anything visibly wrong with it.
Sometimes they crack and block water flow to the washer and may leak.
Washers that have a water shutoff valve on the back can sometimes fail in the closed position.
There are also hoses that are in the machine that may be clogged or possibly pinched.
This issue can be fixed yourself but taking the machine apart may be necessary to access all the hoses and water lines.
Feel free to ask us washing machine questions by using the comment form below and we will troubleshoot your issue for free and in a timely manner.
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
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My Maytag top load washer has water running into it but never fills.
Ted Booth,
Yes it sounds as if the timer has a bad spot or possibly there are disconnected wires on the timer. Unplug the Maytag washer and open the control panel. Look at the timer to be sure the wires are secure. Inspect the timer as it most likely has a bad spot on it and therefore causing your issue. If the washer begins to immediately agitate and not fill with water, it is basically skipping the water fill time and going straight to agitate or wash. The washer water inlet valves or solenoids are most likely fine, the timer is somehow skipping the water fill time.
-RR
I have an older Maytag washer that has suddenly stopped filling with water. As soon as I pull out the start knob it begins to agitate without waiting to fill with water. It is set on warm/cold so both hot and cold water should be flowing. So it seems unlikely to me that both the hot and cold fill valves would die at once. Is this more likely to be a timer problem?
Scott,
You have a siphoning issue. Make sure the washer drain hose is in the correct position.
-RR
My washer has water running into the drum/aggiator but it just runs out the drain?
Glenn,
You may have a blocked water hose and reattaching it releases some pressure then therefore works. Check cold water hose for internal blockage. Also, check the water inlet valve to be sure there is no blockage on the inlet screen. Be sure the water inlet valve is working properly by testing it with a multimeter. It may be an intermittent issue. If you have a water pressure switch in your washer, make sure it is not blocked or gunked up as this would cause a water fill issue. Let us know what you find.
-RR
My washing machine (Fisher AND Paykel) sometimes does not fill with cold water on the rinse cycle. If I remove the hose from the wall and then re-attach it, this fixes the issue in the short term. Usually happens if I do 2 loads of washing one after the other. Any ideas for a permanent remedy?? Glenn