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 →
My husband purchased a Hotpoint HSWP1000M4WW a couple of weeks ago. The water will run for about a minute and a half before I even see it in the drum. I can only wash four towels and a few washcloths on the super load. It’s not filling with much water at all. I’ve even had a sheet come out partially dry! The warm setting is cold and the hot is warm. Any info would be appreciated.
Michelle,
Did you use the same hose or actually switch the hose? Possible hose blockage or the inlet where the cold water enters is blocked. Is there a shutoff handle at the washer end where the water goes in?
-RR
I have an old Daytron TWA-1060P washing machine that hooks up to the kitchen sink. It has always been a great machine but all of a sudden filling with cold became so slow that we had to stop. I checked the hose by switching from the cold supply to the hot water supply and that works and I have visually inspected where the water enters and goes into the tub but I do not see any blockages. I have been using the hot supply with cold water but the machine only has a cold water rinse…so I wash 3 times and then put it in spin but it takes a long time to do a load of laundry. Any ideas on what might be wrong and possible fixes would be great.
Thanks,
Michelle
I’ve given up and ordered a new washer. The repair place would’ve taken minimum two more weeks to get the part and get a tech out. Part select said the valve would cost $100. And I’m pretty sure I can’t change it anyway. the model number is 970 c45072 10. The hoses were fine. Right when a cycle should have begun and the washer would normally fill with water, I would hear a click at the lower back right hand side. I am assuming it was the motor from opening up the back. The click sound was I assume when the cycle was supposed to initiate, but it just kept humming and doing nothing for a few minutes, then unlocked and beeped.
Marie,
If the washer will not fill with water it will not go into wash mode. Did the repairman replace the water inlet valve? Concerning the hoses, did you remove them and then reinstall? If so they are most likely not tight. Try tightening them and test again. If the water inlet valve is not working, then the washer will most likely not work on any mode. What is the model number of your Kenmore front load washer?
-RR
JOY,
You may have an issue with your selector switch or timer assembly. Remove and replace as needed.
-RR
My top loading GE washer that is 2-3 years old, won’t fill with cold water on the wash cycle, but it will on the rinse cycle. It will fill with warm and hot. Thank you for your help.