Replacing water intake valve for washing machine
 

Hello. My washing machine won't stop filling with water. The previous
residents of this house left the water faucets open all the time, and I
believe the valve may be broken (of course, there may be another
problem, but this is my first thought). I'd like to replace the valve
and see whether that helps. Before beginning this project, I will turn
off the water at the main shut off valve for the whole house. Please
tell me whether I need to turn off the water heater. It is a gas
powered water heater. I asked several people at the hardware store, and
they said that I do not need to turn off the water heater, but I'd like
to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have any other tips on this
project, please let me know. Thanks.

Leave the valve alone for now. The problem is in the
washing machine. There's a solenoid assembly that is
supposed to stay closed till it gets the voltage to open.
Go to your local library and get a book on appliance
repair that includes washing machines. The repair is
easy, the valve solenoid assembly is not very expensive.
Don't need to turn off the water heater unless you're
going to be running water out without it being replaced.
And you probably need to be calling the "water intake
valve" the "supply valve" instead.
Not still living in the apartment building, Catherine?

"chemqueries" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello. My washing machine won't stop filling with water. The previous
residents of this house left the water faucets open all the time, and I
believe the valve may be broken (of course, there may be another
problem, but this is my first thought). I'd like to replace the valve
and see whether that helps. Before beginning this project, I will turn
off the water at the main shut off valve for the whole house. Please
tell me whether I need to turn off the water heater. It is a gas
powered water heater. I asked several people at the hardware store, and
they said that I do not need to turn off the water heater, but I'd like
to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have any other tips on this
project, please let me know. Thanks.

You have 2 hoses connected to the back of the machine, they are connected to
the fill valve.
Turn off the water for these 2 hoses. Unplug the machine. Replace the valve.
What brand is it?

If water comes into the machine while it's turned off or unplugged then you
need the water valve.





"chemqueries" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello. My washing machine won't stop filling with water. The previous
residents of this house left the water faucets open all the time, and I
believe the valve may be broken (of course, there may be another
problem, but this is my first thought). I'd like to replace the valve
and see whether that helps. Before beginning this project, I will turn
off the water at the main shut off valve for the whole house. Please
tell me whether I need to turn off the water heater. It is a gas
powered water heater. I asked several people at the hardware store, and
they said that I do not need to turn off the water heater, but I'd like
to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have any other tips on this
project, please let me know. Thanks.

Mike,

My interpretation of her post is that she wishes to replace the intake
valve which is inside the washing machine. This is a solenoid valve which
admits water to the machine. She's on the right track here. She doesn't need
to turn off the water heater and she may be able to turn off the water at
the faucets located behind the washer rather than at the main valve.
Probably a good time to look at the hoses between faucet and washer, also.

Dave M.

"chemqueries" wrote in message
oups.com...
. Please
tell me whether I need to turn off the water heater. It is a gas
powered water heater. I asked several people at the hardware store, and
they said that I do not need to turn off the water heater, but I'd like
to hear your thoughts.

No reason to turn it off. You're not draining it and no water will be
flowing through it.

Also, if you have any other tips on this
project, please let me know. Thanks.

You may want to check out www.repairclinic.com

You don't need to turn off the water heater supply. Just kill the pressure in the lines before you open the plumbing up! Tom

Oh, and if the machine won't stop filling with water, it's probably the solenoid valving INSIDE the washer itself! Good luck. Tom

Michael Baugh wrote:
Leave the valve alone for now. The problem is in the
washing machine. There's a solenoid assembly that is
supposed to stay closed till it gets the voltage to open.
Not still living in the apartment building?

************************************************** ***********
Hi. Thank you for your help. I will look for a book on appliance
repair. You are right. I moved away from that dreadful apartment, and
in the process, I've managed to exchange one set of problems for
another.

Ed wrote:
You have 2 hoses connected to the back of the machine, they are
connected to
the fill valve.
Turn off the water for these 2 hoses. Unplug the machine. Replace the
valve.
What brand is it?
If water comes into the machine while it's turned off or unplugged
then you
need the water valve.


Hi. Thanks for your help. I should have been more specific. Apparently,
before I moved in, the hot and cold water knobs controlling the two
hoses at the back of the machine had been left on or open. The previous
residents turned the water off by pushing the
pull-to-start/push-to-stop knob on the machine itself rather than
turning the hot and cold faucets off. When I tried to use the machine,
I turned the machine on by pulling up on that knob. I assumed that the
machine would fill to a certain point, and would then stop filling when
it was ready to go to the next phase of the cycle, but it just kept
filling. I turned the hot and cold knobs to the hoses off and the
machine stopped filling. The brand is Kelvinator.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
No reason to turn it off. You're not draining it and no water will
be
flowing through it.

You may want to check out www.repairclinic.com


Hi. Thanks for your reply. I checked out the repair clinic link. It's
very helpful.

Thanks to all of you for your replies. This is definitely one of the
better Internet newsgroups!

chemqueries wrote:
Ed wrote:
You have 2 hoses connected to the back of the machine, they are
connected to
the fill valve.
Turn off the water for these 2 hoses. Unplug the machine. Replace
the
valve.
What brand is it?
If water comes into the machine while it's turned off or unplugged
then you
need the water valve.


Hi. Thanks for your help. I should have been more specific.
Apparently,
before I moved in, the hot and cold water knobs controlling the two
hoses at the back of the machine had been left on or open. The
previous
residents turned the water off by pushing the
pull-to-start/push-to-stop knob on the machine itself rather than
turning the hot and cold faucets off. When I tried to use the
machine,
I turned the machine on by pulling up on that knob. I assumed that
the
machine would fill to a certain point, and would then stop filling
when
it was ready to go to the next phase of the cycle, but it just kept
filling. I turned the hot and cold knobs to the hoses off and the
machine stopped filling. The brand is Kelvinator.

Hi,

Something that may help to split up the possible trouble makers...
http://www.applianceaid.com/washer_overfilling.html

jeff.
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.applianceaid.com/

Appliance Repair Aid wrote:
Hi,
Something that may help to split up the possible trouble makers...
http://www.applianceaid.com/washer_overfilling.html
jeff.
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.applianceaid.com/

Hi Jeff.

Thank you for those links!

chemqueries wrote:
When I tried to use the machine,
I turned the machine on by pulling up on that knob. I assumed that
the
machine would fill to a certain point, and would then stop filling
when
it was ready to go to the next phase of the cycle, but it just kept
filling.

You mean it never went to the agitation cycle even though it was full
to the point of overflowing? That sounds less like the solenoid valves
and more like the water level switch, or maybe something else like the
timer/controller. So let's rule out the valves.

Begin with the washer empty. Now test the "cold" solenoid valve. Turn
the hot water hose off at the knob/valve that supplies the hose, and
turn the cold water knob on. Cause the washer to fill, and cycle the
temperature knob from "hot" to "cold" and back again a few times. If
the water alternates between start and then stop completely, you know
the "cold" solenoid is OK.

Now test the "hot" solenoid valve. Turn the cold water hose off at the
knob/valve that supplies the hose, and turn the hot water knob on.
Cause the washer to fill, and cycle the temperature knob from "hot" to
"cold" and back again a few times. If the water alternates between
start and then stop completely, you know the "hot" solenoid is OK.

Once you have proven the solenoids are the problem or not, you can be
sure if you need to replace the solenoid valve(s) or look elsewhere.

%mod%

if your concerned about the water heater, just turn the control to 'pilot'.
this will prevent the gas heater from burning and you will not have to
relight the pilot light.

just don't forget to turn it back on when you finish.

"chemqueries" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello. My washing machine won't stop filling with water. The previous
residents of this house left the water faucets open all the time, and I
believe the valve may be broken (of course, there may be another
problem, but this is my first thought). I'd like to replace the valve
and see whether that helps. Before beginning this project, I will turn
off the water at the main shut off valve for the whole house. Please
tell me whether I need to turn off the water heater. It is a gas
powered water heater. I asked several people at the hardware store, and
they said that I do not need to turn off the water heater, but I'd like
to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have any other tips on this
project, please let me know. Thanks.