If a Kenmore 796 front-loader fills slowly or not at all, Kenmore's table lists the causes and remedies: the water supply faucets are not open fully (open them), the hoses are kinked, pinched or crushed (be careful when moving the washer), the water inlet filters are clogged (clean them), water pressure to the faucet or house is too low (check another faucet), and the water supply is connected with leak-limiting hoses, which can trip falsely and prevent the washer filling; Kenmore does not recommend leak-limiting hoses. The display shows the IE fill error when the washer does not fill properly, and the inlet valve filter screens can be plugged by hard water scale or sediment.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 796-series front-load washer will not fill with water or fills too slowly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Faucets not fully open
What separates it IE shows and the fill is slow because the faucets are not fully open
How to confirm Open both faucets fully, and start the cycle again
- 2
Kinked, pinched or crushed hoses
What separates it There is a trickle because the hoses are kinked, pinched or crushed
How to confirm Straighten the hoses, and start the cycle again
- 3
Clogged inlet filters
What separates it IE shows on the display because the inlet filters are clogged
How to confirm Soak the filters in white vinegar or lime scale remover and rinse
- 4
Leak-limiting hoses
What separates it The washer will not fill because leak limiting hoses are fitted
How to confirm Replace them with standard hoses, and try again
- 5
Top-loader (796.3143): low water pressure or a closed faucet
What separates it The washer fills slowly or shows an error and stops
How to confirm Turn both hot and cold faucets fully on and test another faucet in the house for pressure
- 6
Top-loader (796.3143): clogged inlet filter screens
What separates it Fill is very slow even with good pressure at the faucet
How to confirm Turn off the faucets, unscrew the hoses and clean the inlet filters in white vinegar
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether IE showed on the display
- Whether leak limiting hoses are fitted to the washer
- The pressure at other faucets in the home
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedOpen the faucets
ReversibleOpen the faucets, and make sure that both are fully open, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the hoses
ReversibleCheck the hoses, and make sure that they are not kinked, pinched or crushed, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clean the inlet filters
ReversibleClean the inlet filters, by removing the hoses, taking out the filters, soaking them in vinegar, rinsing and refitting.
Flush the hoses
ReversibleFlush the hoses, by running several gallons through them into a bucket before reattaching them.
Check pressure
ReversibleCheck the pressure, by trying another faucet in the house, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check faucets and hoses
ReversibleMake sure both hot and cold faucets are fully on, the hoses are connected to the correct valves (hot to hot, cold to cold) and there are no kinks. Kenmore says extremely low household pressure and hot and cold hoses reversed both cause fill and temperature faults.
Clean the inlet filters
ReversibleTurn off both faucets and unscrew the hoses. Remove the filter screens from the water valves, soak them in white vinegar or a lime scale remover, rinse and press them back. Flush the hoses into a bucket before reconnecting them.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Hoses and fittings
- Kenmore says only new, high-quality inlet hoses should be used when installing the washer, because aftermarket hoses are not guaranteed to fit or function correctly and could cause leaks; subsequent damage to the product or property is not covered by the warranty. The top-loader lists hot and cold hoses, part number 26-59025, with two seals per hose as the required accessory sold separately.
- Hot and cold
- If the hot and cold hoses are reversed a hot water rinse can set wrinkles in garments, so check the inlet hose connections when clothes come out creased. Flushing the hoses before reattaching them clears sediment that would otherwise plug the freshly cleaned filters straight away.
- Fill notes
- The 796.3143 is an energy-efficient washer, so the wash temperature settings may differ from a non-efficient washer. If the water level looks low, that is normal for a high-efficiency washer; Kenmore says cleaning performance is not compromised. Only Kenmore-supplied inlet hoses are guaranteed to fit and seal correctly.
- Parts for this problem on the FRONT (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- water inlet valve assembly, part number AJU75152601, at $143.80; the 6501kw2002b rotor position sensor assembly i, part number 6501KW2002B, at $55.29; inlet hose, part number 4738ER1004B, at $41.94.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the 796-series top-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If IE returns after cleaning the filters and confirming the supply, call Kenmore Customer Care on 1-844-553-6667
- !If a hose leaks, shut off the water and replace it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Kenmore's own manual for the 796 top-loader.
LG's own list for the maker of the 796 platform: IE inlet, OE drain, dE door, UE unbalance, LE motor rotation and PF power failure to confirm the display letters the Kenmore guide's scan could not show.
LG's own top-load list, which carries the same IE, OE, UE, dE, LE and PF letters used by the 796.3143 top-loader.
Kenmore's own manual lookup, where the model number identifies the original platform.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does IE mean?+
The washer is not filling properly; check the supply, hoses and filters.
Should I use leak-limiting hoses?+
Kenmore does not recommend them; they can trip falsely.
How do I clean the inlet filters?+
Soak them in white vinegar or lime scale remover, rinse and press them back in.
Can I run without the filters?+
No; a valve could fail to open and cause flooding.
Why does the washer show an error when it does not fill?+
The inlet filters may be plugged and the washer flags the fill fault.
Can a cold basement stop it filling?+
Yes, allow a frozen washer to warm up first.