Zanussi 1257S W/D Fills Up When Off

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I saw that this problem has happened to 2 other posters on this forum, but that was back in January.

We got our machine in October last year, and the problem occured only a few weeks later. The machine fills up regardless of whether it is left off or in standby - even with the door left open! The filter has been cleaned, so that's not the problem.

We have now had the valve replaced twice, and the problem recurred each time. THe last thing we did was have the whole damn machine replaced - and yes, it's filling up. We were told by Zanussi that the fault must be with our water pressure; but we have had that checked by our plumber, and also spoken to our local water board, and it seems that our water pressure is within the limits that Zanussi quote for this machine. We have a dishwasher that's working perfectly, and our previous washing machine had no problems - but that was quite old and had a mechanical valve, I guess.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what to do? If the two posters who I saw had this problem - Spuddly and Breezer, I think - are reading, could you tell me if replacing the valve fixed it for you?

Thanks for any help you guys can give.
 
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khkruz said:
Does anyone have any suggestions about what to do? If the two posters who I saw had this problem - Spuddly and Breezer, I think - are reading, could you tell me if replacing the valve fixed it for you?

Thanks for any help you guys can give.

nice of you to remember my name, but i dont have a problem with a washing m/c (i do however try and solve those problems)

i need more info.

you say the m/c fills
how much filling are we talking here ? (how far up the inner tub)

what colour is the water? *

is the m/c left plugged in and switched on or off?

* this is important
 
when you say you cleaned the filter, have you a filter(a small mesh that fits in the inlet pipe where it screws onto the water pipe) installed? If this has been omitted then it is possible that contaminents are blocking the solenoid valve from closing properly? Is the filling up quite rapid or over a long period?
 
Thanks Kendor and Breezer, I will try to answer your questions.

The machine fills all the way - if left, it fills completely and starts to leak slightly, and drain out of the back.

The liquid is clear in colour, and doesn't smell - it's clean water.

The machine is left plugged in. Sometimes it's left on, sometimes off - it doesn't matter, it still fills.

The filling up is rapid. If I leave it plugged in, I have to drain it on the way to bed, and then when I rise in the morning. If left for more than, say, 10 hours without draining, water will start to slowly seep onto the floor.

We do think there is a mesh in the position you describe, Kendor, but I will have to check. What I was referring to was the filter in the bottom right of the machine, under the drum. If the machine gives a 'filter blocked' error, this is the filter that you are instructed to remove and clean. This we have done, so I don't think that this particular filter is the problem. I will look for the other one next time we pull the machine away from the wall (which will probably be tomorrow).

Thanks for all your help. Any ideas / advice will be much appreciated!
 
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if its filling up that much it IS the water fill valves

i was thinking it could be water coming back up through the waste pipe, but not if it is clean water.

the mesh referd to is on the inlet side of the fill valves.

believe it or not washing m/c fill valves rely on water prsssure to keep them shut or open.

the solenoid moves a "rod" which covers a small hole in a disc, when uncovered the water goes through the hole equalising the pressure and the disc "pops" letting through the main water flow.
release the rod and the reverse happens.

But if water pressure is too low the disc can not pop back 100% to seal the main flow.

check to see if the pipes are not bent/kinked (get new pipes if they are) seeing as this is not 1st m/c i would suspect water pressure is too low through pipes or solenoid valves. it is true a small piece of "grit" can hold valve open enough for m/c to over fill but 99.9% of fill valves have a small inlet screen to prevent this.

to prove without doubt turn the fill valve taps off, if it still fills (unlikely since it fills at night) this will show if it is coming in through the waste
 
HI Breezer, and thanks for all your help.

It definitely is water pressure, based on what you've said. And that agrees with what Zanussi have said too.

Now I need to work out what to do long-term! Lots of questions occur to me:

* Can I get some sort of pump that could regulate the water pressure?
* Do I have to give up on this machine entirely? And, if I do, how can I ensure that whatever machine I buy to replace it can actually cope with the level of water pressure we have?
* Is there any reason why the problem takes some time to occur? When we've had the valve replaced in the past, it has taken about 6 weeks before the problem has recurred. Since it works OK for a while, I'm wondering if there's something I can do to make it *keep* working!

I'll be really grateful for any advice you can give. I paid a fair bit for this machine, mainly because it's the only *metallic*, non-built-in washer/dryer that I could find. I'll be gutted to have to buy a new one, but I'll be even more gutted if it has to be something that I don't like. :eek:)
 
you could get a pressure reducing valve from any good plumbers merchant
 
Isn't his problem that the water pressure is too low already?
 
The water board have confirmed that the cold water pressure is ok but what about the hot? If it's a bungalow then the pressure may be too low and it's filling through the hot hose. I've only had Hotpoint and Hoover machines but if the flow is too low you may need to remove the flow regulator from the inlet connection.
Perhaps the reason that the new valve works for 6 weeks is related to the hot water connection and limescale is getting through the filter and holding the valve open as breezer has already suggested. With low hot pressure anyway the diaphragm fails to seal.
 

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