The inlet valve of an automatic washing machine plays a crucial role – it helps draw clean water from the house's water supply into the tank. If the filter mesh becomes clogged, the element cannot function fully, causing problems with filling the washing machine. To restore the solenoid valve's function, cleaning the filter is often necessary. Let's look at how to quickly clear the blockage.
Where can I find the valve mesh?
Cleaning a washing machine's inlet valve is easy; any homeowner can handle it. The sensor is located just under the top cover of the machine and can be accessed by unscrewing two bolts at the back and removing the panel. To clean the mesh filter, you don’t even need to disassemble the washing machine.All you need to carry out the work are pliers and a screwdriver.
Where is the filter element that affects the inlet valve? Finding the mesh is easy—just look for the connection between the inlet hose and the machine body. This is where the filter is located. Let's figure out how to remove it for cleaning.
Removing dirt from the mesh
The inlet valve can stop functioning properly for many reasons, but the main one is a clogged filter. The element becomes clogged with limescale and simply stops allowing clean water to enter the machine. To clean the filter, follow these steps:
carefully unscrew the plastic nut that secures the inlet hose to the body of the washing machine;
Disconnect the inlet hose. Looking into the fitting, you can see the filter element we need;
Use pliers to pull out the filter mesh;
Use a cloth or sponge to remove any dirt and scale. If necessary, you can also use a soft brush to remove any residue. Then rinse the element with warm water.
put the filter back in place;
Connect the inlet hose to the washing machine, making sure that the connection is made correctly.
If there were problems with water intake, the washing machine usually resumes normal operation after these steps. Sometimes cleaning the filter mesh doesn't help, which means the problem lies elsewhere.
If the valve is faulty
Cleaning the filter element may not be effective because the solenoid valve is faulty. Replacing the element is easy. For front-loading washing machines, you need to remove the top cover. For top-loading washing machines, the sensor is usually located at the bottom of the rear of the machine, and to access it, you'll need to remove the side panel.
Before removing the inlet valve, be sure to de-energize the washing machine and turn off the water supply tap.
The further algorithm of actions will be as follows:
disconnect the wiring from the valve;
Remove the hoses connected to the element. They are secured with clamps;
Loosen the bolts securing the valve to the washing machine. On some models, the sensor is held in place by special clips. In this case, you'll need to pull back the clips, turn the valve, remove the wires, and remove it from the machine.
Installing the solenoid valve is done in reverse order. The element is secured with bolts, the hoses are connected, and the hoses are tightened with clamps. Next, connect the wiring, and replace the top cover. Afterward, you can test the machine's operation by running a test wash.
The inlet valve of an automatic washing machine plays a crucial role – it helps draw clean water from the house's water supply into the tank. If the filter mesh becomes clogged, the element cannot function fully, causing problems with filling the washing machine. To restore the solenoid valve's function, cleaning the filter is often necessary. Let's look at how to quickly clear the blockage.
It would be better if you wrote how to clean the valve itself, and not the mesh at the inlet.
That's true. But then you can't buy it.
Exactly, and even a seventy-year-old grandmother could clean the net...