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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Clare,
We need to know which washing machine you are referring to. Can you give us the model number of your washer?
That is an error code normally for a Whirlpool Duet Washer…
If you have a Whirlpool washer… The Whirlpool Washer F01 error code is a communication error between the Central Control Unit (CCU) and the EEPROM. Usually to fix this failure the CCU board will need to be replaced.
-RR
I was putting a load on when I noticed the timer stopped. The key symbol was displayed and when I paused the cycle. The key symbol did not turn off even after being left for sometime and the door wouldn’t open. After a while it displayed the F01 fault so I unplugged the machine and left it 10 mins and turned it back on. Fault code gone, key symbol still present. Door won’t open. Again I left it for a while and the F01 error came back. Switched it off and left it. Took the back off to look at the circuit board to see if it’s anything obvious (couldn’t see anything). Left it for a bit then it started saying no water check supply (fault message now gone but key symbol still on). Check water supply and it’s fine. Took the lid off and opened the door from the inside (green lever). After washing was taken out I closed the door again and the machine sounded like it was starting up and water could be heard entering the machine. But only for about 2 seconds then check water supply message again. The clock had also gone down by a minute. Every time I released the lock and the locked it again it did the same.
Lisa,
Please supply us with your Maytag Top Load Washer Model Number so we may assist in telling you which part may be at fault. Have you tried unplugging it for about 5 minutes to see if that can or will reset the control board?
-RR
My Maytag Top Loader washing machine takes a long long time to fill with water or it will start filling right when we start it. It also will not complete all the cycles once it stops washing it will drain but not spin so we have to turn it to drain and spin and that doesn’t always work. I have to keep turning it off then on waiting for the lights to stop blinking. I can put water in it and it will drain, but the washer will not fill, it keeps clicking and it will stay on the sensing.
Macrina,
There are many different types of GE washers, please give us the model number of your GE washer so we can further assist.
In the meantime, try unplugging your washing machine for 5 minutes to see if that may reset any issue the main electronic control board may have.
-RR
My GE washer makes a sound like it is washing but, no washing is done. It delay stops and makes a sound at the same time shows door locked.
Danielle VanSickle,
Can you tell us the exact model number of your Whirlpool H2O Cabrio? We can assist further from there.
-RR