Water entering drum when not on

[Diane]

Our washing machine keeps filling with water, even when not on. 

Not sure if the filling is linked to the dishwasher or not. 

It did flash and beep H2O. I’m assuming it figured there was a water problem but not sure if that is an error code too? 

It will also start a cycle but then just stop, making a whirring noise. If paused, it sometimes starts again, others not. Is this the motor? 

Help! I’ve got two kids and a mountain of washing!! 

[Diane]

I’m not sure if I can fix it (inlet valve?) or if it’s the motor? Or if I need a whole new machine. It is 7 years old. 

Any help would great. Thank you. 

[Whitegoodshelp]

Hello Diane. This question is dealt with in my washing machine faults guide (link at top of page). Try this article Washing machine fills with water when off

H20 error though is when it isn't getting enough (or any water) on fill. Depending on how they are plumbed in and the water pressure if a washing machine and dishwasher were running close to each other at the same time it can cause such problems.

[Diane]

Hi Andy

i just tried it without the dishwasher on. It starts filling with water then just as it should start the programme cycle, it stops. No noise. Nothing. Motor or circuit board? 

[Whitegoodshelp]

Wow that's 3 separate faults. Filling with water when not on is likely to be a water valve, water pressure, or drain hose plumbing fault. H20 Error is usually cause when it's not filling up with water in the allotted time. If fitted with 2 water valve a washing machine can sometimes fill up with water for about 20 seconds or so from one valve but then when it switches to the main valve to flush in the detergent if that valve isn't working the washing machine can just stop dead. 

[Diane]

Oh crikey. Nothing is ever simple lol. 

So it might just be valves that are the problem, rather than giving up the ghost altogether?

[Whitegoodshelp]

The filling with water when not on isn't a serious fault. The H20 error could be caused by a faulty water valve, and that faulty water valve could also account for the washer only filling for 20 - 30 seconds then stopping. But as you can imagine there's no way of being sure what the problem is until someone who knows what they are doing has a good look. If the faults are being caused by the water valve though one way you can help check that is seeing what the washer does on spin dry cycle. If the washer works fine on  a spin only cycle then it is quite likely to be a problem with the plumbing and or water valves. However, if it doesn't work on spin dry cycle properly too then you would need to get an engineer to make sense of it all.

[Diane]

Ok. I think the spin cycle is fine, as when the water appears in the drum I can set the pump out function and that works. Though not tried a full spin cycle. 

Thank you. 

[Whitegoodshelp]

if it spins OK but just doesn't work on wash it's very unlikely to be a motor fault.

[Diane]

Phew. That’s one good thing. Thank you.