Maytag washer not filling

Why will my Maytag washer not fill with water?

Watch this video and get DIY troubleshooting tips to discover if the problem is your washing machine water valves, a kink in the water hose or some type of clog.

1. Check that the lid is completely closed.

Washing machines have a safety switch that prevents the washer from operating if the lid is open. If you’re washer isn’t filling with water, make sure the lid is completely closed.

If it is closed, check to see if the strike on the lid is broken, preventing it from making contact with the lid switch. If the strike is broken, it should be replaced.

2. Make sure the hot and cold water supplies are on.

It may seem obvious, but it’s possible the water supply faucet handles aren’t on. Ensure both the hot and cold water faucets are in the “on” position. You may want to move them to “off” and then to “on” again.

3. See if the fill hoses are kinked.

Check the hoses that lead from water supply to the back of the machine and make sure they’re not kinked. If you do find a kink, reposition the hose to remove the kink, and make sure the hoses remain in a position that prevents kinking again.

4. Check if the water inlet screens are clogged.

Sometimes the screens on the water inlet valve become clogged with mineral buildup. Remove the water fill hoses from the inlet valve and use a soft cloth to clean the screens. Don’t remove the screens — this could possibly cause flooding. If the screens are clogged and you can’t get them clean, the water valve should be replaced.

After checking the screens, reinstall the hoses and turn the water back on. Make sure there aren’t any leaks.

Advanced Troubleshooting and Repair Tips

If your washing machine fails to fill with water after basic troubleshooting, there might be underlying issues that warrant repair. One possible culprit could be a faulty water inlet valve. Over time, these valves can become clogged with debris, preventing the free flow of water. A malfunctioning valve requires replacement.

A faulty pressure switch could also cause the washer not fill. The pressure switch monitors the water level in the machine and sends signals to start or stop the filling process. A malfunctioning pressure switch might incorrectly signal that the desired water level has been reached, causing the machine to not fill properly.

Another potential source of the issue could be a malfunctioning control board or timer. If these components fail to communicate the appropriate signals, the washing cycle may not fill or may start to fill but with not enough water to perform a wash cycle.

A blockage or obstruction within the machine's internal hoses or filters could restrict water flow. Sediment buildup or foreign objects might impede the passage of water, necessitating a thorough cleaning or replacement of affected components. In such cases, seeking professional repair services can help diagnose and rectify the underlying problems, ensuring your washing machine resumes its normal functionality.

Here's an advanced DIY troubleshooting video that shows how to systematically check all issues that can prevent a common top-load washer from filling.

Check Water Flow

Check for water flow through the fill hoses by unplugging the washer, turning off the faucets and disconnecting the hoses from the back of the washer. Hold each hose end over a bucket and briefly turn on the faucet. If you don't have any water coming out, check for a clog in the hoses. If the hoses are okay, you could have a problem with your house water supply.

Is water inlet valve working?

Check for continuity through the entire electrical circuit with a multimeter. This will tell us if the cold-water valve is getting the current it needs to open. For safety, always unplug your washer before checking continuity. Shut off the water supply. Pull the plastic end caps off the sides of the control console. Remove the screws at the base of the control console. Pull the control console slightly forward and then swing it up and over the top of the back panel. Unplug the wire harness from the lid switch on the washer's top panel. Release the clips that secure the cabinet to the washer's back panel. Using a slot screwdriver, pry the clips forward to release them. Lift the back of the cabinet and slide it forward to remove it from the washer frame.

Set your multimeter to check resistance. Place one meter probe on the right prong of the power cord and the other on the yellow and red wire connected to the cold water valve. You should see near 0 ohms of resistance, which indicates that you have a clear path for voltage to the cold water valve in the rinse portion of the cycle. Next, check the other side of the circuit. Put your leads on the white wire and the left prong of the outlet cord. You should have continuity through the neutral side of the circuit as well. If you had continuity on both sides of the circuit, then the cold water valve is apparently getting voltage but not opening to allow water flow, meaning you’ll need to replace your water inlet valve.

Check for Broken Wires

If you didn’t have continuity on either wire—on this meter that’s a “1” in the far left corner—then do more checks to find the break in the circuit. If the white wire didn’t have continuity, you’ll need to check each section of wiring until you find the break and repair any broken wires that you find. This video has more information about repairing wires.

Check the Pressure Switch

If the water inlet valve isn’t the problem, the next thing to check is the water level pressure switch. If the yellow/red wire didn't have continuity, check from the power cord to the pressure switch. Place one meter lead on the right prong of the power cord and the other on the pink wire on the water level pressure switch. If you measure no continuity, check between the violet and pink wires on the pressure switch. If you measure no continuity there, then the break must be in the pressure switch. This video will show you how to replace your pressure switch: How to Replace the Water Level Pressure Switch in a Top-Load Washer.

Test for a Bad Timer or Wiring Failure

Now, if you measured continuity between the violet and pink wires, the problem is either the timer or a wiring failure in the circuit. Check for continuity on the violet wire between the timer and the water level pressure switch. If there's no continuity on the violet wire then that wire will need to be repaired. If there is continuity on the violet wire, check between the violet wire and the black wire on the timer. If you measure no continuity, you’ll need to replace the timer because it's not allowing voltage through the circuit. This video will show you how: How to replace the timer in a top-load washer.

If you’ve got continuity through the timer, then you must have a break in wiring harness between the timer and the power cord. Find and repair that break.

Let the Washing Machine Experts at Sears Home Services Repair Your Washer

If you've gotten this far in the troubleshooting and haven't found and fixed the cause of the filling problem, it's likely time to have a professional fix your washing machine.

Sears Home Services stands ready to provide trusted expertise to address even the most complex washing machine issues. With a team of skilled technicians experienced in diagnosing and repairing a wide range of appliance problems, we’ll have your washer working again fast. Schedule a service appointment with a washer repair expert today.

What to expect when you experience a Maytag washer not filling issue

How is the not filling problem fixed?

Correcting most not filling problems usually involves replacing the water valve assembly, electronic control board or water level pressure switch. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

Sears Home Services recommendations for a washer that is not filling

When the washer is not filling it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of washer failures.

What to look out for with a washer not filling diagnosis

Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your washer problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

Maytag Washer Not Filling

When your Maytag washer is not filling, check the water supply faucets behind the washer to make sure those faucets are fully open. If you find those faucets shut, open them up to supply water to your Maytag washer.

Clogged inlet screens on the inlet valves of the washer can prevent the machine from filling. Debris and deposits can build up and clog those screens. To access and check the screens, follow these steps:

1. Unplug the washer to disconnect electrical power.
2. Shut off the water supply faucets behind the washer.
3. Remove the ends of the fill hoses from the back of the washer.
4. Check the water inlet screens for debris and/or deposits that can impede water flow into the washer.

When you find those inlet water valve screens clogged, it’s best to replace the water inlet valve assembly rather than trying to clean the screens.

Cleaning the screens can allow debris to end and clog the water valve seat. This can cause an inlet water valve to stick open which will result in a flood of your laundry room and house. Don’t risk a flood, replace the water valve assembly when you find the inlet water valve screens clogged.

What to do When Your Maytag Washer Won’t Fill

Take these troubleshooting steps when your Maytag washer won’t fill.

1. Make sure that the water supply faucets behind the washer are fully open. Open those faucets if you find them shut.
2. Check for water flow through the ends of the fill hoses. Unplug the washer to disconnect electrical power. Shut off the water supply faucets and remove the ends of the fill hoses from the water inlet valve connections on the back of the washer. Place the ends of the fill hoses in a bucket and briefly turn on the water supply faucets to check for water flow coming out of the ends of the fill hoses. If water doesn’t flow from the ends of the fill hoses, have a plumber fix the water supply going to your washer.
3. While you have the fill hoses disconnected, check the inlet water valve screens for residue and deposits that could clock water flow into the washer. Replace the water valve assembly if those screens are clogged. Cleaning severely clogged water inlet screens could also debris or deposit residue to enter water inlet valve and cause it to stick in the open position. Water would fill the washer constantly and cause a flood in your laundry room and home in that situation. Don’t risk a flood. Replace the inlet water valve assembly when the inlet screens get clogged.

If these general troubleshooting tips don’t help, schedule washer repair service and we’ll send a technician to your home to fix the filling failure. A bad water valve assembly, faulty water level sensor, bad electronic control board or wiring failure could be causing the problem when your Maytag washer won’t fill.

Maytag Washer Not Filling with Enough Water.

When your Maytag washer is not filling with enough water, check the owner’s manual for information about the normal fill level in the tub. HE (high-efficiency) Maytag washers use very little water to clean the clothes. In a front-load HE washer, you won’t likely even see water in the bottom of the spin basket. Most top-load HE washers fill less than a ¼ of the tub with water.

If you’ve been using a deep fill washer and you’re expecting an HE washer to use the same amount of water, understanding the water levels in HE washers which are much less than deep fill models will help you determine whether your washer has a fill problem.

When you’re certain that your Maytag washer is not filling with enough water, a problem with the water level sensor could be causing the low fill issue. A defective control board can also be causing your Maytag washer to not fill with enough water.

Schedule washer repair service to have an experienced Sears Home Services technician visit your home and fix the problem when your Maytag washer is not filling with enough water.
A Maytag washer that never fills indicates stuck inlet valves or incorrect water-level sensors. Dry spins can’t remove dirt effectively. Instead of incomplete cycles, consult washing machine service near me. A steady water flow ensures each load is properly saturated and rinsed.