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Washer Water inlet valve: What It Does and Signs It's Failing

The inlet valve sits at the back of the cabinet where the hot and cold hoses screw on. It opens when the control calls for water, and on many machines its separate outlets feed different dispenser compartments. Some valves come as an assembly with a flow meter or a water temperature sensor built in.

How it works

Each port has an electric solenoid that opens the valve while it's powered and lets it close when the power drops. A flow meter, where fitted, measures how much water has come in so the control can stop the fill at the right amount.

Signs it is failing

• Washer fills very slowly or not at all with both faucets open
• Only hot or only cold water comes in
• Water keeps running into the tub after you unplug the washer
• Detergent or softener left sitting in the dispenser
• Drips at the back of the cabinet near the hose connections

No-fill, slow-fill and overfill codes, plus flow meter faults, lead back here once the faucets, hoses and inlet screens check out. If the tub keeps filling after you pull the plug, the valve is stuck open.

Can you replace it yourself?

Shut both faucets and unplug the washer, then check the inlet screens first, since a plugged screen acts just like a dead valve. A swap means removing the top and back panels, unscrewing the hoses and moving the wire connectors across one at a time. Some replacement valves don't include the O-ring for the temperature sensor, so you may have to reuse the old one.

Buying the right part

Check whether you need a single valve, a dual hot and cold valve or a full assembly with a flow meter or sensor. Not every valve ships with its mounting bracket.

Error codes linked to the water inlet valve

• F8 E1Not enough water coming inAmana
• F20No water or too little waterAmana
• E17 / F17Water is not coming in fast enoughBosch
• E:30Water level problem (read the number after the code)Bosch
• H9EHot water supply problemBosch
• E28 / F28Flow sensor faultBosch
• E11Water supply problem or slow fillElectrolux
• E11Washer is taking too long to fillFrigidaire
• E35Overfill detectedFrigidaire
• E75Water temperature sensor faultFrigidaire
• H2O SUPPLYWasher is not getting waterGE
• E22Fill took too longGE
• E23Washer overfilledGE
• FEWater level too highGE
• E4Washer isn't fillingHaier
• IEWasher isn't filling with waterLG
• FETub has overfilledLG
• FFWasher is frozenLG
• F8E1Washer is filling too slowlyMaytag
• HCHot and cold hoses are reversedMaytag
• 4CWasher is not filling with waterSamsung
• 4C2Hot and cold hoses are reversedSamsung
• OCWasher is overfillingSamsung
• F8E1Long fill or low water flowWhirlpool
• HCHot and cold hoses reversedWhirlpool

Last reviewed 2026-10-19.