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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I have an Estate top load washer. It will work fine for one load (99% of the time) but after that it will just let water run in but not fill. It doesn’t matter what cycle I put it on, it will continue running water into it but doesn’t fill.
Liz,
It seems to us that you have an issue with the timer assembly. The timer may have bad spots on it therefore it works on some cycles and not others. If you are not familiar with using a multimeter, either call a repair person or buy the timer online and cheap and install yourself following instructions on YouTube or in the package contents. It is not guaranteed the issue is the Timer Assembly but is most likely for the info you have given us without a model number. This may be the Timer you need for your washer… Crosley Washing Machine Timer
-RR
For some reason I cannot locate a model number. There was a sticker on the back the was missing.I assume it was there. We bought it gently used in 2009. The washer will not attempt to fill with water at all. If you place it on spin it will spin…on the heavy wash it will agitate but not the delicate or perm press. When you put the knob where it goes to start the wash it doesn’t seem to “get power” just nothing. Thank you for your help. I tried to look up info on my own but this instance is rare I guess cause I couldn’t find a reason why it would do this.
Liz,
Can you please give us the model number of your Crosley top load washer? Can you please restate your question? Usually, if the washer will not fill with water it will not go into a cycle…
Does the washer fill with water at all? When you choose the cycle that will come on, what EXACTLY happens?
-RR
I have a Crosley top load washer that will not fill with water. It does not even act like it is getting power to it. The only cycle that will come on and try to work is spin cycle and will attempt to agitate in one of the three modes. What could this be? We have only yet replaced the power cord cause the bottom prong looked as if it was broke…but that wasn’t the issue. Thank you for any advice.
Gwen,
You may have an issue with the water inlet valves. This part is where the water hoses go from the wall to the washer. Check to be sure they are tight and not leaking.
-RR
I have a Kenmore washer top load I have hooked up everything. Even checked to see if the water is flowing good to the wall and it is connected to the water valves. When i press start on my washer the green fill sensing light will click on then go off. Washer is making a roaring like sound but there is no water going into my washer but i can hear water on the outside ring of the washer not in the inside were the water suppose to go…