Low water pressure to washing machine

crazykatz

Please help!!!
To cut a long story short I purchased a new cold fill washing machine having thought my old one was broken. We installed everything as per instuctions but the water is not filling up.
Having investigated, it appears that the cold water pressure on this particular valve that is connected to the machine is quite low. considerably less than the hot water pressure. the cold water valve is dripping a tiny bit too.
Now I am thinking that I may have bought a new machine for nothing if the problems are related and still cannot get the new one to work!!!

Do I need a plumber or can anyone suggest anything?

macman

You bought a new washing machine just because the old one wasn't filling?
I'd start by checking the retailer's returns policy-if you bought online or by phone then you have 7 days under the DSR. If not, you're at the mercy of the retailer's own returns policy.
Sounds like you might just need a new stop valve-is the cold pressure OK elsewhere on the system?
A plumber is needed if it's a supply problem. A white goods repair engineer is needed if it's the old machine at fault.

keystone

Is the cold tank fed rather than mains fed?

Do you really mean pressure or do you mean flow rate?

Cheers

crazykatz

macman wrote: »

You bought a new washing machine just because the old one wasn't filling?
I'd start by checking the retailer's returns policy-if you bought online or by phone then you have 7 days under the DSR. If not, you're at the mercy of the retailer's own returns policy.
Sounds like you might just need a new stop valve-is the cold pressure OK elsewhere on the system?
A plumber is needed if it's a supply problem. A white goods repair engineer is needed if it's the old machine at fault.

the old machine was making a loud clicking noise and wouldn't run or start the wash. just fill up half with water then loud clicking!
when I googled the problem people suggested checking pump filter for blockages and cleaning the actual pump. we did both but to no avail. the machine was fairly old and was part of a fitted kitchen when i moved in. to be honest we had the biggest nightmare getting it out, removing skirting boards and all the cupboard doors to get it out that in the end we were so sick and tired of it all we just thought the machine will probs need replacing soon anyway so invest in a new one plus it was an unusual brand 'Teka' so thought if it needs any parts it will be really hard to get and at the moment the kitchen is totally trashed! However if i had known it might have just been the pressure at fault I would have thought twice.

the water is fine everywhere else on system. If it is the valve is this something that is easy to change?
thanks for your help?

crazykatz

keystone wrote: »

Is the cold tank fed rather than mains fed?

Do you really mean pressure or do you mean flow rate?

Cheers

Mains fed. sorry am not really sure of the difference between flow and pressure but I presume now that you have mentioned it that it is flow rate and as the pipe into the machine is at a height the water flow is not strong enough to reach there.

macman

Kink in the inlet hose?

crazykatz

macman wrote: »

Kink in the inlet hose?

No, :(not that I can see!

keystone

The pressure is the pressure - that won't change. If flow is restricted thats a different matter and thats what the "kink in the inlet hose" question by another poster is all about. Are you sure that you have removed the blanking plug on the inlet pipe of the W/M? Not wishing to be ofgfensive or implying anyting but it does happen. Is the valve on the pipe fully open? Is ther another valve further upstream which is partially closed?

Have you tried removing WM hose from valve and measuring the flow rate from the pipe? Roughly it can be done by sticking a bucket underneath and seeing how long it takes to produce n litres of water. That will give you a litres/min flow rate. How does that compare with another mains fed drawoff point?

HTH for the time being.

Cheers

crazykatz

thanks Keystone, I will check all that out tonight when i get home from work.
fingers crossed I can get it sorted. will let you know!

crazykatz

You were both spot on! After taking a thorough look with a torch. I found that the inlet hose was twisted and kinked underneath the kitchen unit. as soon as I untwisted it, the water flow rate was great. Around the stop valve is leaking slightly too so I am replacing the inlet hose and hopefully should be back up and running soon.
thanks for your help!

macman

Good. So can you return the now surplus new washing machine?