You’re probably very used to the laundry routine by now and have grown accustomed to the sound of water filling the washer drum up as the wash cycle starts.
However, some owners of Maytag washers have reported that their washing machines will suddenly stop filling up with water for no obvious reason.
This is quite a frustrating problem as the washing machine cannot wash your clothes without a consistent water supply.
Often this is a very simple fix, such as a kink in the water hose or a temporary water supply problem, but other times it can be a component failure that will require a technician to fix.
If this is all a bit confusing, then don’t worry. In this article, we’re going to explain exactly why this problem occurs, as well as how you can get everything fixed and back in working order.
Why is your Maytag Washer Not Filling with Water?
One of the challenges in fixing this problem is that there’s a wide variety of potential causes, so we need to do some investigative work to ascertain exactly what is going on before we dive in and fix it.
Let’s take an in-depth look at the root causes of this problem.
1. There is a water supply problem
Needless to say, having a water supply is pretty vital to the functionality of a washing machine because it’s what is used to clean the clothes. But just a supply of water alone is not enough, washers require the correct volume of water, and it all needs to be supplied at the right pressure.
So if anything goes wrong with the water supply, your machine will not get what it needs to function correctly.
The most common reason the water supply becomes interrupted is a poor hose connection. It’s easy to put a kink in the inlet hose by accident if you’ve recently moved the washer, lowering the water pressure.
Your home’s water connection may have an issue; you should test some water faucets to see if there’s an issue, and you may need a plumber to come out and further diagnose the problem.
The hose connection to the valve may have become loose and is causing a loss in pressure, so by retightening the hose, we can restore the connection.
You should also inspect the inlet hose for any cracks or breaches that may affect the water supply.
It may also be something as simple as the water supply being turned off. We usually turn the water off whenever there is plumbing work being done in our homes, and it’s oftentimes easy to forget we did it.
2. The Water Hose has become Blocked
Another common issue that can occur is that a blockage occurs in the hose, which is either heavily restricting or even completely blocking the supply of water to the washer.
Of course, a kink can contribute to this, and you should ensure the hose is as straight as possible, but more often than not, it’s due to a buildup of something inside the hose itself.
This can be a contaminant stuck in the hose, or if you have hard water, it may be a mineral deposit that has accumulated in a bend.
Whatever the cause, we need to disconnect the hose and unblock it to restore the water supply.
3. Incorrect Installation
For a washer to function properly, it needs to be positioned correctly. Maytag recommends that the drain hose sit at least 30” up from the floor as if it droops or sags too low; it requires too much pressure to pump into the Maytag washing machine.
Likewise, suppose it’s installed too far into the standpipe. In that case, it will cause the wash to siphon off the water as it enters the washer, preventing it from filling completely as the water gets immediately drained as soon as it enters the machine.
Inspecting the current washer drain hose setup and adjusting it to adhere to these installation requirements will usually solve this problem.
4. The Water Inlet Valve has become Defective
The water inlet valve is a small component that opens and closes upon instruction from the pressure switch to supply the machine with water.
Over time, these components can fail or become defective, affecting how the water is supplied to the machine.
Firstly the screen inside the valve should be checked to ensure it isn’t blocked; these filter out foreign objects and debris to stop them from making their way into the dryer, so cleaning this out can sometimes fix the valve.
The water inlet valve should then be tested for continuity; if it’s deemed broken, it will need to be replaced.
Fortunately, inlet valves are quite cheap to replace, and you can do it yourself with just some basic tools.
5. The Pressure Switch isn’t Working
There is a small sensor inside the Maytag washing machine that monitors the water level and instructs the water inlet valve to open and close as needed; you can think of it as the brain of the water supply.
So when this component becomes defective, it can’t send instructions to the water valve to let water into the machine.
This can cause it to not fill up with water and sometimes even stop the machine mid-cycle.
Once again, this component should be tested for continuity; if it’s deemed broken, it will just need to be replaced.
How to Fix a Maytag Washer Not Filling with Water
Oftentimes we can solve this problem by making a few adjustments and cleaning out the hoses and filters, which are all easily done at home with no special equipment. So in many cases, you’ll be able to correct this problem yourself.
It can also be due to a component-level failure which may require a professional to come out and fix it.
Now that you have a better idea of what’s causing the problem let’s look at how to fix it.
1. Restore the Water Supply
Making sure the water supply provides both hot and cold water and at the right pressure is the first step to getting the washer to fill with water.
The first thing to do is check that the water hose is not kinked and has an unimpeded path straight to the washer; if there are any breaches or cracks in the hose, they need to be fixed, and you should also check that the connection points are nice and tight.
Then you should double-check your home’s water supply; if it’s not working for any reason, you should contact a local plumber to ascertain the issue.
Finally, you should double-check that the water valve is completely turned on; it can be easy to only partially turn them on, which can also harm the water flow to the washer.
2. Unblock the Water Hose
Assuming the water hose is not kinked (which should have been addressed previously), we now need to ensure there are no built-up deposits inside the water hose that might restrict the water flow.
Here we’ll need to disconnect the hose from the washer and unblock it; there are various methods you can use here.
If the block is due to a buildup, it can be a good idea to flush it out with a baking soda/vinegar solution to help break down whatever it is that’s clogged it up.
Once that’s done, you should rinse it out thoroughly to ensure none of that solution makes it back into the washer.
There is also a small filter on the water inlet valve, which helps catch anything before it can get into the washer. This can also be cleaned just using an old toothbrush and some warm water.
3. Ensure the Drain Hose is Installed Correctly
The washer needs to be able to expel the dirty water back out to the plumbing system; it does this through the drainpipe.
If this isn’t set up correctly, gravity will create a siphoning effect that will constantly drain the water as soon as it enters the machine, giving the impression of it not filling at all.
So we need to ensure the standpipe is set over 30 inches from the ground to avoid this. Measure from the ground up to see the current height and adjust it accordingly.
4. Replace the Water Inlet Valve
If the water inlet valve has been tested and deemed faulty, then it will need to be replaced.
If you are unsure how to do this, an easy option is just to call Maytag customer support, who will arrange a replacement valve and have someone come out and install it for you.
But if you wish to do this yourself, here’s how to do it:
- Start by ensuring the screens inside the valve are clean, and any debris has been removed.
- Remove the back panel to gain access to the water inlet valve; you can refer to your user manual to ascertain its exact location, as it may differ from model to model.
- Disconnect the electrical connections and remove the mounting screws that hold it in place.
- Remove the old valve and discard it.
- Now you can insert the new valve, install the wires and mounting screws again, and you’re done.
5. Replace the Pressure Switch
Even if the water inlet valve is working, it will not receive the right instructions to turn it on and operate if the pressure switch fails.
Unfortunately, this component is quite difficult to reach as it is situated under the control board.
You’ll have a far easier time by having a professional come and replace this component for you.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
