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 →
Gordon Nodine,
At what point (and after how many attempts) do you hear the hum of the door lock?
Is it possible the door lock is STILL not functioning properly therefore the washers stops intermittently?
Have you tested the door latch lock assembly wiring and harnesses?
Have you tested the water inlet valve?
-RR
I have a GE washer model wssh300g00ww, it starts to fill but shuts off after about 3-4 seconds, a few minutes later it does the same thing, it will do this 3 times, then nothing but the hum of the door lock, when I switch to spin it will drain for 3-4 seconds, stop and a few minutes later do the same thing, it will do this 3 times and then nothing…I replaced the control board and the door lock, same symptoms…the old board would go crazy beeping to the point where I couldn’t follow it to gain codes…I tested the pressure switch with a multi-meter and it seemed to be working, the air tube is not plugged, not sure what to do next…thanks for any help you can offer…
I’m in the same exact boat! I had this issue a few months ago and randomly it started working again. I’m going to try something I just read, well a few different things. Have you had any luck? My boyfriend messed with the washer yesterday but I’m 99% sure he doesn’t have a clue what to do. He says we need a new one. But the washer is fairly new. I’m about to try to master reset it. Unplug it for one minute then plug it in, open and close the door 6 times within 12 seconds. Not sure if it applies to all washers but can’t hurt. Best of luck
I have a Amana front load washer. I am getting error code E1 and F8. Have check water hoses and water is coming thru these hoses. My problem is it washes for about 12 minutes and the error code appears and cycle stops.
Samsung washer model # wf457argsgr/aa
First symptom, on any wash mode, inlet hoses pulse, clothes get de minimisly wet, then pulsing stops, too many suds indicator sometimes indicates, sometimes does not.
Second symptom, on spin only cycle, outbound pump drains the water I added manually via bucket. Same pulsing, and by that I mean it sounds like it wants to spin, but the agitators do not rotate.
I have an EPIC Z Maytag washer. The water dispenser stops and gets stuck about 10 minutes into the cycle and starts clicking. Took the top off and see that the water fill actuator arm gets stuck the third time it fills.
I’ve got a Whirlpool WTW5840SW0 that will not add cold water (but the hot water comes in fine). I replaced the water intake valve but still no change. I’ve checked the hoses and they are good–plenty of water pressure in both and I even switched them so that the cold water attached to the hot water intake. Then the machine only filled with cold water (and no hot). What’s the next step? Is it something else electrical I should check? Physical?