Miele Waterproof System

[affers]

Hi,

I have a Miele W980 washing machine which is over 11 yrs old. The inlet warning light/buzzer has been activated. We called out a Miele engineer who diagnosed a problem with the WPS valve which is uneconomical to replace. I am trying to fit a standard inlet hose without the waterproof system but the machine is still not filling. Is the valve inside the machine still activated? If so how do I disable it.

Thanks,

Affers

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

WPS stands for water proof system, which has a leak detection system in the base of the machine. Did it leak from the inlet hose? If so you should be able to fit a normal hose but if there's still water in the base of the machine (assuming that's what triggered the fault) then it may still produce the error. According to Miele, as long as a fault is repaired the error code should reset itself. Do you have more details?

[affers]

Hi. Thanks for your reply.

I have been trying to contact the engineer to find out what caused the warning light to trigger in the first place. I don't believe there was a leak. I get the impression that the valve in the external grey box on the inlet hose has been diagnosed as being faulty. There are other (?triple) valves inside the machine that may be preventing the machine from filling.

Can you suggest a way of allowing the standard inlet hose to work?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I'm trying to remember how these hoses work. As far as I'm aware these hoses that supposedly guard against flooding have automatic shut-off systems so if they get an internal leak something causes the hose to stop letting water through to prevent flooding. I can't think of a reason why replacing this hose with a normal one shouldn't work.

Try this, turn off the water supply to the hose. Disconnect the hose from the washing machine and hold it into a sink or bucket. Turn the water back on and see if water runs through the hose at a good pressure.

If no water runs through it then just fitting a normal hose should get the washer running again

If it does then the washing machine must be preventing the water coming in.

[affers]

I tried that. The WPS hose doesn't allow any water through it. Does this mean there's a problem inside the machine?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

The washing machine can't affect the hose especially if disconnected. If no water goes through the hose when it's disconnected then the hose needs replacing. Either with an equivalent Miele hose or any washing machine hose.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Note: Normally, if no water comes through a disconnected washing machine fill hose it isn't wise to assume the hose is at fault. This particular incident is about a special hose (other manufacturers also use similar hoses) where there is a device inside the hose that shuts off the water if it detects and internal link. These hoses are usually pretty thick, often coated in corrugated plastic and with a large device incorporated inside it at one end.

Once activated, no water will come through the hose any more and there is usually some form of indicator on the hose (like a red spot) that appears in order to indicate it has been triggered.

With a normal fill hose, or to make doubly sure, you need to disconnect the hose from the tap too and check to see that water is coming through the actual tap because taps can become faulty and not let water through also - or the water supply otherwise cut off.

[affers]

The tap pressure is fine. The ordinary fill hose doesn't work when connected to the machine I tried connecting the wps hose in reverse into a bucket and the water does flow. What could be preventing the machine from filling through the ordinary fill hose?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

If water supply is restored it should work unless the error code triggered hasn't reset. Is the machine still giving an error? Have you unplugged it since the error?

[affers]

No luck so far. So I gave up DIY and ordered the (expensive!) part for it to be fitted today but was badly let down by the local company who failed to turn up and gave not even a hint of an apology. I would like to name and shame them on this forum if I am allowed?

So unless you can help further with the repair I may have to buy a new machine rather than rely on cowboy repair companies.

Thanks

[affers]

I have to mention the company: M.A Wash-Vac Services of Edgware. Never use them again.