The washing machine does not wash away the powder due to operating errors
Wrong detergent compartments selected
Housewives most often encounter this problem after purchasing a new machine. Manufacturers do not always adhere to the classic arrangement of compartments in the cuvette. If you set the main wash cycle and poured the detergent into the soaking compartment, it will remain in place. After all, this process is not involved in the program. Therefore, before putting things into the drum for the first time, you need to carefully read the instructions.
Despite the design features of household appliances, the markings always remain the same. The compartment for the main operation is marked on the inside of the cuvette with the number “1”.
Low quality powder used
Some detergents clump in the tray and are not washed out. This happens in the following cases:
- the expiration date has expired;
- the composition was stored in conditions of high humidity;
- the components of the composition are poorly soluble in water.
The malfunction usually occurs when using new products. If after washing you see dense, rocky lumps in the tray, the first thing to do is change the detergent.
A large amount of powder is used
To cope with complex contaminants, housewives often increase the concentration of household chemicals. At the same time, there is a possibility that it will not be completely washed off during the collection of water.
It happens that the laundry detergent gets wet and its particles stick to the base of the cuvette. While the water washes away the top part of the product, the bottom forms a dense sticky layer. It is enough to remove the tray from the machine, rinse thoroughly, and henceforth follow the dosage of household chemicals.
By what principle is powder taken from the machine?
Most machines are equipped with detergent and softener trays that can be pulled out. The capacity of any machine has several divisions (usually three or four) designed for different washing cycles. Usually there are three of them. The first compartment is filled with a pre-soaking agent, the second with a product to start the main wash, but the third is for liquid conditioner.
There are two different types of trays: with one inlet valve and with several. The first type of containers are found in mechanical devices. They work incredibly difficult: water moves through the compartments thanks to the presence of special mechanical devices. The water flow during washing is controlled using a guide element. Its breakdown is the main reason why the washing machine does not pick up powder. This happens because when the main cycle begins, water flows through the first compartment, while the powder of the second remains untouched.
Washing machines that are produced now are equipped with electronic controls; such devices operate much more simply. They have several solenoid valves installed, which control the supply of water to all compartments of the tank. If powder remains in the tray, the reason may be a broken valve.
The washing machine does not pick up powder from the tray due to water problems
The main problem in this case is low water pressure. It is not enough to thoroughly rinse the detergent from the tray into the drum. When drawing, the liquid is not supplied as a jet under pressure, but flows slowly from the nozzles. There are several reasons why this problem occurs.
Low system pressure
Such a malfunction can be one-time or appear systematically. It appears in the following cases:
- repair work at the water utility;
- high water consumption by residents;
- malfunction of in-house booster pumps (for powering the upper floors).
To confirm the malfunction, you need to measure the pressure in the water supply with a pressure gauge. For normal operation of the machine, 1.6-2.2 atmospheres are sufficient. This parameter is more precisely specified in the instructions. If a stream usually flows from a tap under high pressure, visual inspection is sufficient.
The supply valve is not fully open
If you temporarily disconnected the machine from the water supply, you may not have fully unscrewed the valve after turning it on. It is enough to check in what position the “wing” of the valve or the “flag” of the faucet is located. If necessary, open them completely.
The coarse filter mesh is clogged
To pre-purify water, the machine is equipped with a so-called “pre-filter”. There are small pebbles, grains of sand, particles of scale or rust in the water supply. The mesh traps them and, as a result, becomes clogged over time.
Diagnosing the problem is easy. While collecting water, open the cuvette slightly. If the pressure is very low, and you have already checked the previous faults, you need to clean the filter.
Unscrew the inlet hose from the side of the machine. Using small pliers or your hand, pull the filter cassette towards you. If it has not been cleaned for a long time, it may come out very difficult. Therefore, you need to scroll it slightly.
Important! It is forbidden to use the machine without a pre-filter. Coarse particles present in the water will clog the nozzles and cause more serious damage.
Why does the powder turn to stone?
Any finely ground substance is prone to caking due to the presence of the effect of intermolecular attraction - the smaller the particles, the stronger it is. The process is activated when the room gets wet or has high relative humidity.
Even when using high-quality washing powder, a crust may build up in the tray if the water supply pressure to the machine is insufficient for one reason or another.
Do not forget to clean the washing powder tray, pay attention to how the washing process begins, do not wash if the water pressure in the line is insufficient. These simple rules will extend the life of your machine.
The washing machine does not pick up powder due to mechanical failure
Broken water supply control cable
In mechanically controlled machines, a special damper is used to flush powder from different compartments of the cuvette. If the drive mechanisms break, water is poured through one compartment in all washing modes.
To confirm this malfunction, it is enough to pour a little detergent into each compartment and run the soaking program. If the composition is washed away from only one compartment, it’s time to call a specialist. For repairs, special spare parts will be needed.
Water supply valve malfunction
In mechanically controlled machines, one valve is installed. If it is faulty, the self-diagnosis system should detect the problem. In this case, the washing will not start at all.
Electronically controlled cars have several valves. A malfunction of one of them is not always amenable to automatic diagnosis. In this case, you will encounter symptoms identical to a break in the water supply control cable.
You should not try to fix the problem yourself. It is better to use the services of professionals.
The control unit does not give a signal
Signs of such a malfunction may vary. The simplest one is an error at the self-diagnosis stage. But program failures can manifest themselves not only in poor flushing of the powder, but also in related problems. There are two primary sources of the problem:
- Failure of the control unit. Expensive repairs and replacement of the control unit will be required.
- Broken or damaged insulation of supply wires. You can remove the cover of the machine yourself and inspect everything visually. If there is no visible damage, call a technician; if you see a break, connect and insulate the wire.
If the washing machine does not pick up powder and you decide to fix the problem yourself, be sure to follow electrical safety rules.
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Reasons requiring specialist intervention
Water inlet valve malfunction
It is not difficult to determine that this malfunction is the cause. The powder will not be taken out of the tray at all. And the machine simply will not draw water or will constantly draw it even when turned off. The only way to stop the water supply is to close the valve. Essentially the machine simply won't work.
The most common way to fix the problem is to replace the valve.
The solenoid valve for supplying water to the detergent and conditioner cuvette does not work
In principle, the fault can be eliminated by the user if he has sufficient technical knowledge (and if he is “armed” with a multimeter). If the qualifications are not enough or the washing machine is still covered by the warranty period, there is no point in trying to solve the issue yourself. Contacting a service center specialist will help.
Finally. Remember that even after eliminating the malfunction, it is important to prevent a recurrence of this or another problematic situation. For the smooth operation of the washing machine, it is necessary to carry out regular preventive cleaning of the filters and water supply system. All recommendations are probably contained in the user manual.
Reasons why the washing machine does not wash out the powder at all
If this happened to a new washing machine, first read the instruction manual and see if you did everything correctly? Because the most common reasons that the washing powder remains untouched and the rinse aid is in place are:
- Washing powder is poured into the wrong compartment. For example, instead of a compartment for regular washing, the powder is poured into a cuvette for preliminary washing.
- Water does not flow due to a closed valve. Check and if this is the case, then simply open the valve all the way.
- The water supply is turned off. In this case, all that remains is to wait for the water supply to resume.
What to check first if there is powder left in the washing machine?
- Is water getting into the machine? This is not difficult to understand: most machines will not start washing at all, and will inform you of an error. Naturally, even if the washing has not started, the powder will remain untouched. What could be the problem - read our article “What to do if the washing machine does not fill with water?”
- Is the water supply valve fully open? Perhaps the tap is not open all the way and because of this the water pressure is too weak. An indirect sign will be that the machine takes an unusually long time to draw water for the standard wash cycle.
- Is the water pressure in the water supply sufficient? If the shut-off valves are open and the pressure is weak, the problem may lie in the water supply system itself. If there is low pressure in all taps, contact the management company that services your home.
- Have you mixed up the dispenser compartments? Read the instructions carefully: sometimes users confuse the compartments and pour powder into the pre-wash compartment instead of the main one. If you choose a program without a preliminary cycle, naturally, the powder will remain untouched.
- Is the powder flush channel into the tank clogged in the dispenser? In this case, water enters the dispenser, but due to a clogged channel, it cannot “carry” all the powder into the drum. To avoid this, it is recommended to periodically remove the detergent tray and rinse it under warm running water.
- Are you overfilling the powder? If there is too much detergent, some of it will remain in the tray. So use measuring spoons: this will save your budget from unnecessary expenses, and you from unnecessary worries about a “non-working” machine.
- Is the powder quality? As practice shows, cheap powders often form clumps and stick to the walls of the dispenser tray. Yes, of course, you can rinse the tray after each wash, but even this does not always help, and the machine cannot wash the laundry efficiently. So choose wisely!
But what to do if the valve is open, you have been washing with powder for many years, you always strictly follow the instructions, no signs of clogged dispenser tray are found, but there is still powder left in the washing machine? It looks like there is some kind of malfunction in your unit.
