Hoover 1100 Water Level Sensor

[Curious]

My friends hoover washer dryer 1100 wont stop filling up when on a fill cycle, she has been told by a friend who had the same problem (and called out an engineer) that the water sensor needed cleaning. She also told her its not a difficult diy job. The problem is she doesn't know what she's looking for, has no manual. So to stop her tearing her hair out could you please help

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Never take the lid (or back) off a washing machine without ensuring it is totally disconnected from the electric supply.

At the top of the washing machine under the lid is a small round pressure switch with a handfull of wires. At the base of the pressure switch is a small plastic tube which runs down into the washing machine to a pressure chamber bottle. This pressure chamber can get blocked.

Note that this pressure system controls the water levels in the washing machine, so if you get an air leak where the tube fits onto the pressure chamber bottle the machine will start to over fill. Make sure it's tight when refitting. (If not I usually cut off several millimetres to get fresh tubing)

[Curious]

We found the pressure chamber bottle with a bit of sludge in it. We washed it out and replaced it. It stops filling on a small wash but she daren't risk it on a full cycle. Thanks for the advice as always you're the best

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Cheers :-)

It should be OK now. Test on a full wash with no clothes in and just keep a close eye on it. The worst that could happen is you see the water level go above halfway up the door glass and when if gets to the top you'd need to turn the washing machine off and put it onto spin to drain the water.

If it completes a full wash and the water never goes above halfway up the door glass then it's cured. Just keep an eye on it during the next 2 or 3 washes.

Related extra information - How does a washing machine control water levels?

Here's how a washing machine controls the water levels.

How washing machine controls water levels

Related:

Out of balance loads in modern washing machines

Quoted from Washing machine won't spin or drum won't go round

"Many modern washing machines have electronic out of balance detection. If your washing machine reached the end of the cycle and turned off without doing a fast spin. There is a possibility that the load was out of balance. If you suspect this could be the problem, make sure it wasn't just a bad load by trying it again with another load, or open the door and redistribute the clothes before trying again. You could try taking the washing out and putting the washing machine back onto a spin program. If it seems to spin OK now, it could be that the load was not balanced properly. Before calling an engineer out, if the drum turns OK on wash but it just won't do a fast spin, make sure it isn't just an awkward load that the washing machine is refusing to spin".


Finally A blocked pressure chamber can also cause overfilling. This can happen if instead of the air pressure jamming the pressure switch ON, water can't get passed the blockage to enter the pressure chamber in the first place so it never activates the pressure switch at all. This will cause the washing machine to overfill.

(Related: Washing machine is overfilling | Common faults on pressure system)