An Amana NTW4516 that seems to use little water is behaving as designed: with the Water Level knob on Auto Sensing the washer senses the load and adds the right amount, and the guide states plainly that the load will not be completely under water. Do not add water by hand, because it lifts items off the washplate and cleans worse. If a load really needs more, use the Bulky Items & Sheets cycle or turn the knob to Deep Water Wash, and run the Clean Washer with affresh cycle to optimize the water level after soil build-up.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana NTW4516 top-load washer uses very little water or the water level looks wrong”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Auto Sensing selected
What separates it A shallow fill on a small or medium load
How to confirm Use the Deep Water Wash setting for maximum water
- 2
A load sensed as small
What separates it The sensing spins before the fill because the load is sensed as small
How to confirm Wait for sensing to complete; the fill follows
- 3
Soil build-up affecting the level
What separates it The water level drops over time because soil build up affects the level
How to confirm Run Clean Washer with affresh to optimize the water level
- 4
A clogged screen
What separates it The fill is slow and the Wash light is on because a screen is clogged
How to confirm Clean the inlet screens, and check the water flow again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The Water Level knob setting that you chose
- The cycle that you selected for the load
- When the Clean Washer cycle was last run
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedDo not add water
ReversibleDo not add water, since it reduces the cleaning, and the washer adds the amount it needs.
Choose Deep Water Wash
ReversibleFor large or bulky loads, turn the Water Level knob to it, expecting longer cycles.
Use the Bulky Items & Sheets cycle
ReversibleIt fills with enough water to wet the load before the wash and uses a higher level.
Run Clean Washer with affresh
ReversibleRun Clean Washer with affresh, every thirty washes, with an empty tub, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the supply
ReversibleCheck the supply, making sure that both faucets are on, the screens are clean and the hoses are free of kinks.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Deep Water Wash, Bulky Items and Clean Washer
- Three levers change how much water an NTW4516 uses: the Water Level knob (Auto Sensing or Deep Water Wash), the Bulky Items & Sheets cycle, which fills with enough water to wet the load and uses a higher level than other cycles, and the Clean Washer with affresh cycle, which the guide says optimizes the water level after soil builds up in the basket.
- Why the water is not up to the top
- The guide states that with the Water Level knob on Auto Sensing the load will not be completely under water, that this is normal operation for an HE low-water washer, and that the washer senses load size and adds the correct amount for optimal cleaning. It is the reason a washplate-style washer can look under-filled to owners used to a full-tub agitator machine.
- Extra Rinse and the water level
- On the NTW4516 the Extra Rinse option is chosen with the Water Level knob: with Auto Sensing the washer picks the level for the load and Extra Rinse enhances rinsing, and with Deep Water Wash the washer fills to the maximum level and Extra Rinse does the same. Extra Rinse adds water and agitation, so it also makes a load look better watered, and the guide asks for it whenever fabric softener is added by hand.
- Parts for this problem on the NTW4516 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- water inlet valve, part number W11210459, at $66.77.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the NFW5800 front-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the Wash light stays on, the washer could not fill; call Amana service after checking supply
- !If the level never rises even on Deep Water Wash, call service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Amana's own table of top-load washer codes and resolutions.
Amana's own symptom articles for top-load washers, each.
A dealer listing giving the NTW4516FW's capacity, cabinet size and feature list.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is there so little water?+
It is an HE low-water washer; Auto Sensing adds only what the load needs.
Should I add more?+
No, do not add more water, since the washer adds the amount it needs.
How do I get maximum water?+
Turn the Water Level knob to Deep Water Wash.
Does Deep Water Wash lengthen the cycle?+
Yes, because of extended fill times.
What resets the level after build-up?+
The Clean Washer with affresh cycle.