Even with careful handling and compliance with all operating rules, sophisticated household appliances periodically presents surprises to its owners in the form of unexpected breakdowns, malfunctions and strange behavior. Washing machine is no exception. After several years of stable work, sometimes there are problems, the reasons of which can not be established from the first time.
In this article, we will tell you about a fairly rare breakdown - the automatic set of water that is started when the washing machine is turned off. For the reasons of this malfunction and how to solve it, see below.
Causes of the
The reason that the appliance starts to collect water while in the off state, there can be only one - a breakdown of the solenoid valve that is responsible for the water supply( this valve is also called the fill or inlet).It is a small plastic piece with a metal plate, working on the principle of a water tap.
When the washing program is started, a signal is sent from the control unit to the priming valve. Under the influence of voltage around the valve an electromagnetic field is formed, as a result of which the valve is opened and water is collected. When the required amount of water enters the tank, the valve closes automatically.
The fill valve is located under the top cover( if the front-loading washing machine) or behind the side panel( if the device is loaded vertically), so it is easy to find it if necessary.
Like any other element of a complex mechanism, this part can break at the most inopportune moment. If the valve jams in the closed position, water set will not be possible, but if the inlet valve jams in the open state as a result of a breakdown, the machine will continuously recruit water, even if you disconnect it.
What should I do?
Once you have detected a malfunction of the drain valve, stop the water supply immediately. Disconnecting the washing machine from the electricity network here will not help - you should close the water pipes, otherwise the flood can not be avoided.
Damage intake valve - this is not the case when you need to always refer to a professional repairman, to cope with the problem you can and on their own.
So, the broken water recoil valve is to be replaced, but for this you must first remove it. To get to this part, you need to remove the panel under which it is located( top or side, depending on the type of loading).After finding the valve, disconnect all hoses and wires going to it. Then unscrew the bolts securing the valve( or unfasten the latches) and remove the defective part. To gently pull the valve you need to turn it slightly.
Instead of a broken device, replace it with a new spare part. Then follow the steps in reverse order. To make it easier for yourself to get started, take photos of each stage, then you can easily collect everything as it was without problems.
See the following video tutorial for more details.
Prevention and advice
- In order not to flood the bathroom, and with it the neighbors' apartment, you can install an additional tap on the "input" to the washing machine, with which you can block the water supply. Once the unit has completed the washing process, close the tap. So, even in the event of a breakdown of the fill valve, no water will flow into the tank.
- If you are in doubt, the fact that the fill valve is really faulty can be verified by checking it with special equipment. Remove the valve and connect a water supply hose to it. Make sure that the valve does not allow water to pass through. Then apply in turn the voltage to each of the valve sections. From that section, which is under tension, water must flow. If this does not happen, then the item is defective.
- Another way to test the operation of a solenoid valve is to use a multimeter( an instrument with which electrical equipment is diagnosed).Connect the instrument's probes to the metal plates on the valve, and place the device in the resistance measurement mode. If this figure is between 2 and 4 kOhm, then the valve is faultless.
Additional recommendations for connecting the washing machine to the water supply can be obtained by watching the next video.
