Washer water-inlet valve opens hot and cold fill paths. Related symptoms include slow/no fill, wrong temperature, overfill or filling while off. Those symptoms do not prove the component failed: verify faucets, pressure, hoses and approved inlet screens. Open both taps fully and check the hoses for kinks.
What this covers
- washing machines
What it does not cover
Differential
Likely causes of “Washer water-inlet valve”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The water taps are closed or the hoses are kinked
What separates it The washer fills slowly or not at all and the taps behind it are partly closed.
How to confirm Open both taps fully and check the hoses for kinks.
- 2
The inlet screens are blocked with sediment
What separates it Flow is weak after plumbing work or in an area with sediment, and the screens are dirty.
How to confirm Turn off the water, remove the hoses and look at the screens.
- 3
The hot and cold hoses are reversed or the supply is not hot
What separates it The temperature is wrong for the setting, and the hot hose is on the cold inlet.
How to confirm Trace the hoses to the labeled inlets and check the supply.
- 4
The valve is stuck, leaking or has a failed coil
What separates it The washer fills while off, overfills or does not fill with clear screens and full pressure.
How to confirm This needs a technician; replacement is a moderate job that involves water and power.
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the fill is slow, absent or continuous and whether hot and cold are both affected.
- The state of the taps, the hoses and the inlet screens.
- Whether water enters with the washer off.
Try in this order
0 of 2 completedTest before you replace
ReversibleVerify faucets, pressure, hoses and approved inlet screens.
Weigh the repair
ReversibleReplacement difficulty for the washer water-inlet valve is moderate; a valve passing water while unpowered generally needs replacement.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Close both taps and disconnect power if water enters with the machine off or overfills.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my washer fill when it is switched off?+
A leaking inlet valve is the usual cause. Close the taps between uses and have the valve replaced.
How do I clean the inlet screens on a washer?+
Turn off both taps and unplug the washer, put a towel under the connections and unscrew the hoses from the back of the machine. The small mesh screens sit in the valve inlets and often have sediment on them; pick them out with pliers or a small brush, rinse them and put them back before reconnecting the hoses.
Can I replace a washer inlet valve myself?+
A confident owner can, with the power unplugged and the water off, but you need the exact part for the model number and care with the wiring connectors. If you are unsure, have a technician fit it, since a mistake can leak or damage the control.
Why does my washer only fill with cold water?+
The hot hose may be on the wrong inlet, the hot tap may be closed, or the hot-side valve may have failed. Check the hose connections and the hot supply before suspecting the valve.
How long do washer inlet valves last?+
They often last many years, but hard water and sediment shorten that. Clean screens and a water supply that is not very hard help the valve last.
What does the inlet valve do?+
It lets hot and cold water into the washer. A failed valve may cause slow fill, no fill or leaking.
What are the signs?+
Slow filling, wrong temperature or water entering when off.
How can I check?+
Clean the inlet screens first, then have the valve tested.