Washer not filling with water
A washer not filling with water usually has a simple cause at the back of the machine: a closed valve, a kinked hose, or clogged screens where the hoses connect. Check whether the lid or door is latching, since front-loaders and most newer top-loaders won't fill until it locks. Keep in mind that high-efficiency washers are designed to use little water, so a low fill isn't always a fault. If water is reaching the machine and nothing comes in, the inlet valve has probably failed. Small screens behind the washer catch grit and slowly choke the flow. Cleaning them is often the fix.
How a washer fills
Two hoses run from hot and cold valves on the wall to the back of the washer, where they connect to an electric water inlet valve. When the control calls for water, it opens the hot side, the cold side, or both to set the wash temperature. Small mesh screens in the hose ends or inside the valve inlets catch sediment, and over time they clog.
Most washers check that the lid or door is locked before filling, and many use a pressure sensor to decide when the tub has enough water. High-efficiency top-loaders and front-loaders sense the load and add only a few inches of water, so the clothes may not look submerged. That's normal and is different from a washer that adds no water at all.
Why a washer won't fill
Water can't reach the washer.
Sediment blocks the flow at the hose connections.
The washer won't start filling.
The valve coil or seal no longer opens.
| You notice | Likely cause | Start at |
|---|---|---|
| No water at all | Supply valves closed | Step 1 |
| Hoses pinched behind the washer | Kinked hoses | Step 2 |
| Fill is slow and getting slower | Clogged inlet screens | Step 3 |
| Lid-lock light flashing | Lid or door not latching | Step 4 |
| Fills on hot but not cold, or the reverse | One side of the valve or hose | Step 5 |
| Water only covers the bottom | Normal for HE washers | Step 6 |
| Washer hums but no water enters | Failed inlet valve | Step 7 |
Let's fix it
- Check the supply valvesPull the washer out enough to see the valves on the wall. Open both hot and cold valves fully: turn round handles counterclockwise until they stop, or turn lever handles so they line up with the pipe. If you recently had plumbing work done or the water was shut off, a valve may have been left closed or only partly open. Run a sink nearby to confirm the house has water and normal pressure.
- Straighten the hosesLook for hoses that are kinked, crushed against the wall, or bent sharply where they leave the valve or enter the washer. Straighten them and leave a few inches of space behind the machine. Replace any hose that's bulging, cracked or stays creased.
- Clean the inlet screensTurn both supply valves off and put towels and a bucket down. Unscrew the hoses from the back of the washer with pliers and let the water drain into the bucket. Look inside the washer's inlet ports, and inside the hose ends, for small mesh screens; carefully pull them out with needle-nose pliers or a small screwdriver, rinse them and scrub them with an old toothbrush. Reinstall them, reconnect the hoses snugly, turn the water back on and check for drips.
- Make sure the lid or door latchesFront-loaders and most high-efficiency top-loaders won't fill until the lid or door locks. Close it firmly and listen for the click of the lock, and check whether a lid-lock light is flashing. Clear any lint or clothing caught in the latch. If the lock never engages or the washer shows a lock error code, the or door lock may need replacing.
- Figure out if it's only hot or only coldRun a short cycle on hot and then on cold. If it fills on one but not the other, that side's valve, hose or screen is the problem; check that valve and screen again first. If both sides used to work and now neither does, the inlet valve or its controls are the likely cause. If water is slow to come in on all settings and other faucets are weak too, the house water pressure may be low, and a plumber can check the pressure regulator or main valve.
- Know what a normal fill looks likeOn a high-efficiency washer, the water may only cover the bottom of the tub, and the machine may pause to sense the load before adding more. Check your manual for what's normal and for options like a deep-fill or extra-water setting. If the washer hums but no water comes in at all, keep going.
- Replace the inlet valveUnplug the washer and turn off both supply valves. Disconnect the hoses, then remove the back panel or top panel, depending on the model, to reach the valve. Photograph the wire and hose connections, disconnect them, unscrew the valve, and install the exact replacement for your model number. Reconnect everything, restore water and power, and run a test fill while watching for leaks.
Watch it done
- The washer fills within a few minutes
- Both hot and cold water come in
- No leaks at the hoses
If it still won't fill
If the washer fills but won't drain afterward, see the guide for a washer not draining.
If water appears on the floor after you reconnect the hoses, check our guide for a washer leaking.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): An appliance repair visit usually costs $100–$200. Replacing a washer inlet valve typically runs $150–$300, and a lid switch or door lock $150–$350, including parts and labor.
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Washer filling questions
Why is my washer not filling with water?
Common causes are closed supply valves, kinked hoses, clogged inlet screens or a lid that isn't locking.
Why does my washer only fill a little?
High-efficiency washers use little water by design. If it adds none at all, check the valves and screens.
Where are the washer inlet screens?
In the inlet ports on the back of the washer, and sometimes in the hose ends.
How do I know if the inlet valve is bad?
If water reaches the washer and the screens are clean but nothing comes in when it calls for water, the valve has likely failed.
Why does my washer fill slowly?
Check that both supply valves are fully open, the hoses aren't kinked, and the inlet screens aren't clogged. High-efficiency washers also fill low by design.