My Whirlpool Top-Load Washer Isn’t Filling With Water

When appliances malfunction, it’s always stressful, and it can be difficult to know where to start when something goes wrong. If your Whirlpool top-load washer isn’t filling with water, don’t give up and call in a plumber or appliance technician right away. There are some easy DIY fixes you can attempt before hiring a professional. Let’s get started with some of the most common ones. 

This guide applies to popular models of Whirlpool washers, including:

2LA5700XMW0

2LA5700XMW1

2LSR5233BN0

2LSR5233BQ1

2LSR5233BW0

2LSR5233BZ1

3CA2000XMW0

GHW9100LW1

GHW9100LW2

GHW9150PW0

GHW9150PW4

GHW9200LW0

LSQ8243HQ0

LSR7233EQ0

LSR8233EQ0

LXR9245EQ1

WFW72HEDW0

WFW9150WW00

WTW4800XQ2

WTW4800XQ4

WTW5000DW1

Reset Your Washer

A great first step whenever any appliance experiences issues is to try a reset. Sometimes, if your appliance has experienced a power surge or glitch, it can malfunction temporarily but work fine after being reset. Here’s what to do. 

• Unplug your washer from the power. 
• Wait at least two minutes for the electricity to fully discharge and the washer to fully reset. 
• Restore power to your washer. 
• Run a test cycle to see if the washer starts filling up. 
• If the washer still isn’t filling with water, try one of the next steps in this guide. 

Check the Water Supply

This is pretty obvious, but if your washer isn’t connected to a water supply, it won’t be able to fill with water! This issue is most likely to occur if you’ve recently installed your washing machine or had work done on it. If this is your issue, the machine may make a noise but no water will flow into your machine. Here’s what to do:

• Check that both of the water supply hoses are connected to the water source. 
• Make sure that both of the water supply valves are completely open. If you’re not sure, try turning the valves in the opposite direction of where they currently are and then running a test cycle. 
• Check the other faucets in your home in case there’s an issue with your entire home’s water supply. 

Check for Hose Kinks

Once you’ve checked that the hoses are connected and the valves are open, make sure you carefully inspect the hoses. If the water supply hoses are kinked, bent, or pinched, then water flow into the washer drum will be severely restricted and may prevent it from filling. 

Checking for kinks is easy. Simply pull the washer away from the wall to access the hoses. Carefully inspect them for kinks or bends. If you find any, straighten them out. When you put the washer back in place, ensure the hoses are not pinched against the wall as this can affect water flow. 

Inspect the Water Inlet Valves

The water inlet valves control the water that flows through the water supply hoses and into your Whirlpool washer. If the valves are broken or clogged, then your washer won’t be able to fill with water, even if the valves are set to the ‘on’ position. Here’s what to do:

• Unplug your washer from the power outlet. 
• Turn off your home’s water supply to prevent water from pouring onto the floor. 
• Disconnect the water inlet valves connect to the supply hoses and inspect the valves for damage or blockages. 
• Take out the water inlet screens from the valves and check for buildup. If you live in an area with hard water, the screens can be prone to calcium buildup. 
• If the water inlet screens are clogged, soak them in white vinegar for half an hour, then clean away the buildup with an old toothbrush. 
• If the debris or buildup can’t be cleaned, you can purchase replacement screens online. Just make sure they’re compatible with your washer. 
• Put the cleaned or new screens back in place, and then reattach the hoses. 
• Restore the power and water supply to your washer, and then run a test cycle to see if the washer is filling properly. 

Check Your Home’s Water Pressure

If the water inlet hoses are connected properly and the valves appear fine, you might have a problem with the water pressure in your home. Whirlpool washers require a certain level of water pressure to function and without sufficient pressure, the drum will take a long time to fill. If this is your issue, the washer will have some water flow, but it may be much slower than usual. Here’s what to do:

• Check the other faucets in your home to see if they have normal pressure.
• Contact the company that supplies your water to see if there are known issues with the water supply. 
• Call in a plumber to evaluate the situation. Making adjustments to the water pressure in your home is beyond the capabilities of someone without plumbing experience.  

Look at the Lid Switch

The lid switch lets your Whirlpool washer know if the lid is open or closed. For safety reasons, it prevents the washer from working if the lid is left open. However, if there’s a problem with the lid, it can mean your washer doesn’t operate, even if the lid appears to be fully closed. If this is your issue, your washer won’t fill with water, even though nothing is obstructing the water supply. Here’s what to do:

• Open and close the washer lid, listening carefully for a clicking sound. This indicates that the lid switch is working. 
• If you can’t hear a click, inspect the lid switch. It may be bent, broken, or clogged. 
• If the lid switch appears dirty or clogged with debris, thoroughly clean it and then try again. A dirty lid switch won’t connect properly, which can cause operational issues. 
• If the lid switch is bent or appears broken, it’ll need to be replaced. Source a replacement part, ensuring it’s compatible with your washer model. Then unplug your washer, remove the faulty switch, and install the new switch in its place.