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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Lindsy,
You may have a control board or timer issue.
If the normal wash cycle works, but the quick wash does not, the board, wire harness, or timer may be an issue.
Check the components and troubleshoot which part is causing the problem.
-RR
I have a Frigidaire gallery series front loader. It works fine on the normal wash cycle, but not on the quick wash. I’ve had it for a while but just recently noticed my clothes were not completely saturated when I use the quick wash cycle?
Ryan Friend,
You replaced the water inlet valve 3 times and still no cold water gets to the washer? Have you checked ALL electrical wires, wire harnesses, etc..
Make sure the water mesh filters in the cold water hose is not clogged.
If you have absolutely everything perfect in the washer, then yes the board may be causing the issue.
-RR
I have a Kenmore elite he3 front loader. I have gone from no knowledge whatsoever to handy manny on this washer over the past two weeks. Same problem: cold water won’t fill. F20 every time it is on cold or hits the rinse cycle. I feel like I have spent more money trying to fix than it would be to replace the whole thing. I have replaced the water valve three times. None work. So, not the water valve. (Water supply is good, valves are brand new, no crud. Hose is clear, as is drainage hose.) I have also replaced the entire pressure switch assembly and the flow meter. The drainage is great. Spin cycle works perfect (if you can trick it to get there). And the on board diagnostics test shows F20 basically from the start. Confirmation that this HAS to be the computer? I’m not replacing it, but it will resolve me to just getting a new washer and make me feel good that I did everything I could.
Gary Weinstein,
Can you give us the model number of your GE washer?
Have you checked the LID SWITCH?
-RR
My g e top loading washer suddenly stopped filling. All the lights are on, there is water going to the machine, I replaced the part where the water comes in, and same thing.
Jan Willoughby,
It MAY depending on the model of front loader you have.
Have you tried running a wash with the water on? Everything okay?
-RR