My 10 year old Whirlpool washing machine decided to flood my kitchen on saturday. Fortunately my girfriend saw it and shouted of me so it was stopped before it could really do damage. Luckily I was not out, but I never go out and leave these pieces of crap on anyway as a plumber told me never to as they can cause real problems (this is not the first time I have found out). Anyway the machine appears to be overfilling itself, and simply flooding out of the detergent drawer (it is not a blockage from the detergent drawer into the drum). I have had a look at a guide on the net and it states that it could be a pressure control system fault not detecting the water level due to either a blocked pressure chamber pipe or faulty pressure switch. I guess I know it could be other things just wanted some idea really. I know the pump is working as I got it to empty the piece of crap by forwarding the timer on (it is a very basic machine). I was just thinking of having a go at repairing myself, as I have already had it in many pieces on two other occasions. Once to remove a bra underwire that had came out of a bra (not mine) that became trapped between the outer plastic drum and the inner metal drum. Another time I replaced the machines pump as it was very noisy. I guess the machine is ten years old but it has had pretty light use and is fine except this fault I do not think that I have done it many favours as I often put old pillow covers in it that I use to put on the kitchen chair cushions where my cats sleep. These are covered in cat hair so this could obviously cause a blockage in time I guess
I guess I just wondering if anybody had an idea? Or if I should just junk it due its age and how much a repair man will charge for labour and parts. I am going to junk it if I cannot repair it myself and get a cheap replacement. Obviously a cheap one is going to be crap, as the price of washing machines has fallen a lot and this just cannot be because they are made in sweat shops, crap components is obviously a major contributor too. I am getting a new kitchen fitted next month and as such I am putting the washing machine in the garage where it will cause less grief when it next breaks. So if I am going for another machine I do not care what it looks like as it is going to end up grubby anyway. I have read that Siemens and Miele make very good machines, but you obviously pay for it. I am not in that position at the moment so I am just going to buy a cheapo piece of junk. So what I really needed to know is out of the cheapo crap brands which are the best? Or are they all made by the same manufacturer anyway? As the guide that I have being reading more or less says that buying a more expensive machine from the same manufacturer (one that makes also cheap machines) is a waste of money as you are essentially just paying for the same (same/similar spec) machine with extra features, like faster spin speeds, higher load capacity, better looking, but the machine is essentially still a piece of crap. Whereas a decent entry level machine from a decent manufacturer is likely to be £450 anyway Just wanted some advice really, is it worth having a go at fixing myself, or just junk it? Who if anybody makes decent budget machines? Apparently replacement of machines these days at a young age (I know mine isn't young) is extremley common, as spares are not cheap niether is labour so most people will just junk a washing machine as they can buy a new one for £200 or even less
According to the website I looked at this could be a cause for my washing machines fault
Washing machine is overfilling
A washing machine overfilling, will commonly have water pouring out of the soap dispenser drawer and / or out of the back. However, it is possible for these symptoms to be caused by several other faults not related to overfilling.
In theory, if a washing machine is plumbed in exactly as the washing machine manufacturer describes, and the washing machine overfills, then instead of the water pouring out of the washing machine, it should siphon down the drain. However, in practice, it is very rare for a washing machine to be plumbed in so perfectly, water going straight down the drain is more likely to be caused by a fault in the plumbing (see the section above this one)
If the washing machine is definitely overfilling then turn it off. If water still continues to enter the washing machine then either the hot or the cold water valve must be jammed open. In this situation the water must be turned off at the taps. They should be at the side of the washing machine, but many are fitted under the sink. Some water taps are wrongly situated behind the washing machine. If this is the case you will have to pull the washing machine out. The taps usually have a red and a blue identifier on them to signify which is hot and which is cold although relying on the colours assumes the plumber or installer has fitted them correctly, and I've seen hundreds where the red and blue indicators are the wrong way round.
If it stops filling as soon as you switch the washing machine off then the fault is with the pressure system that controls the water levels.
An overfilling washing machine is most usually caused by a blockage in the pressure chamber or more rarely a faulty pressure switch. A hole in the pressure chamber tubing linking the pressure chamber and pressure switch can cause overfilling. Pressure system faults can be tricky to deal with and the consequences of overfilling can be serious. I can't give specific repair instructions but here's how most washing machines control the water levels.
• There is a pressure switch, which is a small device with several wires on it. This part is always at the top of the machine under the lid. It's round and near to the timer. It's a simple air pressure operated switch but some have 1 level switching, and others have 2 or 3 level switching (different switches operating at different air pressures)
• At the bottom of this pressure switch is a plastic or rubber tubing hose.
• This hose runs down to a pressure chamber which is fitted to the tub.
This is how it works -
• As water enters the washing machine, it also enters the pressure chamber
• As the level of the water rises, it enters the pressure chamber and forces air up the tubing. When sufficient air pressure is reached, the pressure switch will switch on. (Conversely, when the water is pumped away, the air pressure should release and cause the pressure switch to switch back off.)
• This then cuts the power to the water valves and passes it on to the timer which starts washing.
Thanks for any help
I guess I just wondering if anybody had an idea? Or if I should just junk it due its age and how much a repair man will charge for labour and parts. I am going to junk it if I cannot repair it myself and get a cheap replacement. Obviously a cheap one is going to be crap, as the price of washing machines has fallen a lot and this just cannot be because they are made in sweat shops, crap components is obviously a major contributor too. I am getting a new kitchen fitted next month and as such I am putting the washing machine in the garage where it will cause less grief when it next breaks. So if I am going for another machine I do not care what it looks like as it is going to end up grubby anyway. I have read that Siemens and Miele make very good machines, but you obviously pay for it. I am not in that position at the moment so I am just going to buy a cheapo piece of junk. So what I really needed to know is out of the cheapo crap brands which are the best? Or are they all made by the same manufacturer anyway? As the guide that I have being reading more or less says that buying a more expensive machine from the same manufacturer (one that makes also cheap machines) is a waste of money as you are essentially just paying for the same (same/similar spec) machine with extra features, like faster spin speeds, higher load capacity, better looking, but the machine is essentially still a piece of crap. Whereas a decent entry level machine from a decent manufacturer is likely to be £450 anyway Just wanted some advice really, is it worth having a go at fixing myself, or just junk it? Who if anybody makes decent budget machines? Apparently replacement of machines these days at a young age (I know mine isn't young) is extremley common, as spares are not cheap niether is labour so most people will just junk a washing machine as they can buy a new one for £200 or even less
According to the website I looked at this could be a cause for my washing machines fault
Washing machine is overfilling
A washing machine overfilling, will commonly have water pouring out of the soap dispenser drawer and / or out of the back. However, it is possible for these symptoms to be caused by several other faults not related to overfilling.
In theory, if a washing machine is plumbed in exactly as the washing machine manufacturer describes, and the washing machine overfills, then instead of the water pouring out of the washing machine, it should siphon down the drain. However, in practice, it is very rare for a washing machine to be plumbed in so perfectly, water going straight down the drain is more likely to be caused by a fault in the plumbing (see the section above this one)
If the washing machine is definitely overfilling then turn it off. If water still continues to enter the washing machine then either the hot or the cold water valve must be jammed open. In this situation the water must be turned off at the taps. They should be at the side of the washing machine, but many are fitted under the sink. Some water taps are wrongly situated behind the washing machine. If this is the case you will have to pull the washing machine out. The taps usually have a red and a blue identifier on them to signify which is hot and which is cold although relying on the colours assumes the plumber or installer has fitted them correctly, and I've seen hundreds where the red and blue indicators are the wrong way round.
If it stops filling as soon as you switch the washing machine off then the fault is with the pressure system that controls the water levels.
An overfilling washing machine is most usually caused by a blockage in the pressure chamber or more rarely a faulty pressure switch. A hole in the pressure chamber tubing linking the pressure chamber and pressure switch can cause overfilling. Pressure system faults can be tricky to deal with and the consequences of overfilling can be serious. I can't give specific repair instructions but here's how most washing machines control the water levels.
• There is a pressure switch, which is a small device with several wires on it. This part is always at the top of the machine under the lid. It's round and near to the timer. It's a simple air pressure operated switch but some have 1 level switching, and others have 2 or 3 level switching (different switches operating at different air pressures)
• At the bottom of this pressure switch is a plastic or rubber tubing hose.
• This hose runs down to a pressure chamber which is fitted to the tub.
This is how it works -
• As water enters the washing machine, it also enters the pressure chamber
• As the level of the water rises, it enters the pressure chamber and forces air up the tubing. When sufficient air pressure is reached, the pressure switch will switch on. (Conversely, when the water is pumped away, the air pressure should release and cause the pressure switch to switch back off.)
• This then cuts the power to the water valves and passes it on to the timer which starts washing.
Thanks for any help
I really do not know what caused it to overfill with water on that only occasion and it is obvious it has an intermittent fault. From what I have read it is either the pressure switch that send a signal when close the water valves (in this case it was rinsing so it was the cold water valve that was open), or possibly the cold water solenoid valve has stuck open. Not being a plumber I do not know which is the most likely to have failed. I feel as though I at least need to replace some part if not both, although the parts are a bit of a rip-off, also I have managed to find a pressure switch on the internet but no cold water fill valve, I guess I should use the phone also. I am soon going to move this machine into the garage as I am having a new kitchen fitted and want it's space for a dishwasher. Once in the garage it is not a problem if it decides to overfill (well it is but it will not do any harm). Just wondered if any plumbers had any idea which part is most likely to develop an intermittent fault out of the level pressure switch or cold water inlet solenoid valve?
