An Amazing Valentine’s Day Gift

Your washing machine goes through a lot of abuse each week. Whether you are a family of two or ten, that machine will need some attention from time to time. The newer machines even ask for help when they need it. Those digital displays that tell you what the machine is doing and how much time is left on the cycle will also give you a heads up when there is something that needs to be done. One such alert is when the inlet valve screen gets clogged up.

If your washing machine isn't filling with water like it should, doesn't want to continue to run as it should or continues to send you error messages on the screen, you might not need to go out and buy a new machine or even replace any parts. The problem could be solved in under a half hour with a little know-how and a few tools.

How do you do clean the water inlet valve screen?

Step 1: Unplug the Washing Machine – you don't want to be messing around with water when the machine still has electricity flowing through it. If you can't reach the plug, shut the power off at your breaker panel.

Step 2: Disconnect the Water Lines – Before you start disconnecting anything – take a piece of tape and tape it over one hose and one connection. This will help you reconnect the hoses to the right valves when you're done. The last thing you want is to fill a load of colors with hot water and have everything bleed together.

Step 3: Check the Screen – Once the hoses are disconnected, you'll be able to look directly at the screen. You might need a flashlight to see things clearly, but it should be clearly visible without any further dismantling of the machine. If you see sediment build-up on the screen, you've found your problem.

Step 4: Clean the Screen – The easiest way to do this is by using a syringe. If you don't have a syringe handy, get your turkey baster. The sediment should be loose enough to easily come off with a few squirts of water and maybe some light scraping with a flat-head screwdriver.

Step 5: Test the Machine – Now, reconnect the hoses and restore the power. Turn the machine on a quick cycle and see if your problems are resolved.

If this doesn't fix your problem or your machine is just too old to worry about repairing, talk with your local appliance store or repair professional for assistance.