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.
More about Keith →
Debra,
Is your Maytag Bravos Washer receiving enough water? If not, how low is the water level?
If the washer is not getting the proper amount of water, check the pressure switch and the water inlet valves. You could also have a clogged issue with the mesh filter screens that go in between the water hoses and the water inlet valve.
Let us know what you find.
-RR
I have a Bravos Washer, model MVWV600XW0. It is almost 5 years old. The clothes are getting wet, but obviously not enough water to clean them. We have replaced the water hoses, ran a diagnostic test (said all was good, no errors). But still does not clean the clothes. For a normal cycle that should take 46 minutes can sometimes take 90. Called Maytag, for $350.00 they will come check it, I can purchase a new one for a hundred dollars more. I hope you have some suggestions for me! Thanks!
Thank you for the response. My washing machine is a Haier HWMP55-918. The water valves are fully open and both hoses are not bent or blocked.
I have ordered a new washing machine as I think it might cost me more to get this one fixed than the amount I paid for it. Hopefully the new washer I got will last a while :-)
Thank you again for your help.
Marcella,
If your Haier washer will not let the water in, be sure the washer has water getting to it by having the water valves fully open and the water hoses are not bent or crimped.
If the front panel buttons make weird noises, the control board may be faulty or a wire harness may be loose or damaged.
Can you give us the model number of your Haier washing machine?
-RR
Jennifer Safian,
If the LG washer works on some wash modes but not others, the timer knob assembly may be bad or there may be loose or damaged wire harnesses behind it. Unplug the washer and remove the front plate to determine if there are loose or damaged wires.
-RR
I have an LG washer WM1355HW
It works fine when I put it on “cotton/normal” wash but when I put it on “permanent press,” water does not come in to the machine and the program stops.
My Haier top loading fully automatic washing machine makes a weird noise instead of the normal beeping sound when I press the buttons when selecting the program. It won’t let water in or work when the start button is pressed. All lights are on as normal and no error codes showing. This washing machine is three years old and I’ve never had any problems for the past three years.