Washing Machine Water Fills Slowly – How To Fix

Washer is slow to fill? Water only trickles? When your washing machine is filling up slowly with water or sometimes no water flows at all, it is usually clogged inlet screens, water valves not being fully open, or a solenoid valve water inlet issue. Many times you may hear a buzzing noise or a low hum when the water is trying to fill or if it is slow to fill. On most washers, this will happen on only one water temperature selection. This means that most of the time only the COLD water is slow to fill or the HOT water is slow to fill, not both at the same time. One of the water temp selections will be slow to fill and the other will flow as normal. Test both HOT and COLD water fills to see if both are not filling or it is just one or the other. Determine if the washer has an issue filling with the COLD water fill, HOT water fill, or both HOT and COLD water fill.

Washer fills slowly – What to check – How to fix, repair

FAST FIX – WASHING MACHINE IS SLOW TO FILL WITH WATER:
1. Check the WATER HOSES from the wall to the washer and be sure they are not KINKED or BENT (Kinked water hoses cause water to fill slowly in washer).
2. Check the WATER INLET VALVE for any particles that may be CLOGGED and not allowing full HOT or COLD WATER output (Where the water hoses connect into the washer).
3. Be sure the WATER FAUCET VALVE to the hot and cold water is OPEN (Faucet to washer on wall is not closed – Turn counter-clockwise to open valve).
4. Check the WATER INLET VALVE to be sure the solenoid is working properly (Multimeter needed to test).
5. Check all wiring to be sure wires and harnesses are tight and secure (Loose or damaged wiring on the solenoid WATER INLET VALVE can cause water flow issues).

Water Valves & Water Fill Hoses:
You need to inspect a few things before replacing any water fill valves, inlet valves, or solenoids. These will be a few easy items to check. First be sure the HOT and COLD water valves that supply water to your washer are on and FULLY OPEN. Check the water fill hoses that go from the water valves on the wall to the washer. Be sure the water fill hoses are not bent, crimped, or clogged. Be sure that when you slide your washer back into its place, that the water fill hoses are not becoming bent or crimped behind the washer. Check with a mirror and flashlight once your washer is back in place to be sure your hoses did not get crimped once the washer was slid back in position. If both valves are fully open and the hoses are not bent, the next thing to check is where the hoses thread onto your washer.

Clogged Filter Screens:
There are small inlet screens or filters near the ends of the water hoses that go into the washer. To see if they are clogged, the ends of the water hoses need to be removed. Turn the HOT and COLD water valves off behind your washer. Once off, unthread the water hoses from the back of the washer (leave the other end of the hoses connected to the valves on the wall). Once unthreaded you will see the water inlet valve where water enters into the washer. There will be small circular inlet screens that are sitting in between the hoses and the inlet valve. Most likely there will be some sediment clogging up the small filter screens. If you choose, you can attempt to clean the filter screens (or replace them if they come out) but be careful not to push any of the gunk into the valve. (It is not recommended to clean these screens as you can inadvertently push sediment into the solenoid valves causing them to stick open. If the valves stick open, the water will overfill with water because the solenoids are stuck in the open position. If the screens have massive gunk on them, it is recommended to just replace the whole water inlet valve.)

Washing machine water inlet valve clogged – (screens removed in image)

Water Inlet Valve Bad Solenoid or Clogged Valve:
The water inlet valve has 2 solenoids controlling water fill. A solenoid valve is an electrically controlled component. When a solenoid is sent power, it opens the water valve to let water into your washer. The solenoid valve or the inlet of the water inlet valve may be clogged with gunk or the solenoid is bad. You can test the solenoids for continuity with a multimeter to be sure. Sometimes a buzzing or humming sound will be heard when the water is filling and the water will be trickling in making the water SLOW TO FILL. If this is your case, the valve needs to be cleaned of the gunk so the water can flow into your washer properly.

Here is what a washing machine water inlet valve looks like

If the water inlet valve is not clogged or gunked up restricting water flow, you may have a bad solenoid valve. You can test the solenoids with a multimeter for continuity to be sure. If a solenoid is bad, you should remove and replace the complete water inlet valve. Make sure to also test to be sure the solenoids on the water inlet valve are GETTING power. Make sure the wire harness that connects to the valves are tight and secure. The water inlet valve will have the hookups for the 2 hoses, and 2 solenoid valves that control the HOT and COLD water fill. You can buy a new one online. Just be sure you have your washer model number handy and you can order the part yourself and replace it. Read the instructions that came with your new replacement part to see how to replace the valve in your particular washer. See pictures of washing machine water inlet solenoid valves below and videos of troubleshooting the Washer Fills Slow issue.

Washing machine water inlet valve

Fixing a Washing Machine with Slow or No Cold Water Fill

Washing Machine not Filling with water – test valves

Do you know of other reasons a washer would be slow to fill? Please leave a comment below.