Washing machine not filling with water: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 103 washing machine jobs our engineers attended for this fault in the last 12 months. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a washing machine will not fill with water, engineers sometimes find there is nothing wrong with the machine at all. The tap that feeds it, often under the sink, may have been turned off or only partly opened, perhaps after the water supply to the home was shut off for a while. A stiff or broken tap can do the same. Engineers also sometimes find a blockage in that supply valve that leaves the water pressure too low to fill the drum.
Other times the fault is inside the machine. The valve that lets water in may be weak and only allow a trickle through, so the machine gives up and shows an error. Now and then a blockage on the draining side stops the machine filling or emptying properly.
To find the cause, an engineer usually runs a cycle and listens for the machine calling for water. They check that the tap is fully on, look at the hose and its filter for debris, test the water flow into a bucket and carry out electrical checks. Clearing a blockage or turning the supply back on is often done there and then. A new inlet valve or drain pump often has to be ordered and fitted at a second visit.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 103
- in the last 12 months
- Confirmed repairs
- 49
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 49%
- about half of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £98 to £178
- including parts and VAT, from 46 repairs
No single cause has enough confirmed repairs behind it yet to show for this fault.
Error codes we see with this fault
- Hotpoint F06: Door lock fault, often the lock not releasing at the end of the cycle.
- Hotpoint H20: Water inlet fault, the machine is not filling correctly.
About the price. £98 to £178 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 46 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the washing machine off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage