The pressure switch on a washing machine can be found at the top of the machine, and it identifies how much water is in the machine - telling the control board if the machine has been filled or emptied. This video will help you to identify pressure switch faults and the ways to cure them.
The device will have a chamber attached to the bottom of the drum, and a hose connecting up to the switch.
In this video we are going to remove the switch, the hose and disconnect the chamber - so we can take a clearer look at it.
A Little Bit About The Workings Of The Pressure Switch
When water starts filling your machine, air is pushed up the chamber and up the hose by the rising level of water in the drum. The air rises up the hose and activates the pressure switch - this will then tell the control module to activate the wash cycle to begin agitating the clothes.
Once the machine has finished the wash cycle the control board will instruct the machine to start emptying of water. It is then the pressure switch which tells the control board when the machine is fully empty, and then the process of the spin cycle can begin.
There are some common problems associated with the pressure switch, hose and chamber - so let’s take a closer look at these issues, and hopefully, help you identify the issue that you might be experiencing with your washing machine.
Switch Off Your Appliance
Safety First! Please make sure that you have switched your appliance off at the mains before starting your repair.
Cause 1: Over Filling Of The Hose Or The Chamber
Over filling can be caused by a blockage in the hose or in the chamber itself - and is usually down to old detergent building up in the chamber.
A good way of remedying this is to disconnect the hose and blow down it. By doing this you can identify whether there's a blockage in it or not. You can then do the same process with the chamber, and obviously, clean it out if it is required.
Cause 2: Damage To The Hose
Damage to the hose itself can cause problems as well. Your hose can possibly become damaged as sometimes what can happen in some washing machines is that the hose can rub against other parts of the machine, leading it to suffer from holes or other general wear and tear.
It is because of this reason as to why a lot of pressure switch hoses have an extra protective sleeve on them.
If you see any holes or any damage to the hose then you're going to need to replace it - as the pressure switch cannot identify how much water is in the system, and this could cause refilling and in some cases can even cause water to come over the level of the drum.
Cause 3: Water Continues To Be Siphoned Away
Another problem which can be attributed to the pressure switch is if you have a drum half full of water when set to a drain cycle and having turned off the machine, you are finding that the water is still siphoning away.
This is actually due to the drain hose being set too low – so it's position is below the level of the water in the drum.
If this is the problem you have, then it's a good idea to use a drain hose clip to fasten the drain hose into to keep it secure. You can then fix it so that the hose is above the level of the water in the drum - and also just make sure that the drain hose doesn't accidentally fall down.
Cause 4: The Washing Machine Is Not Spinning
If your machine is not spinning it could be caused by a blockage in the chamber - which allows air to enter the chamber and the hose, but then not to leave.
If this has happened the machine will still think that it is full, and so it will not begin the spin cycle.
Another great way of checking if the hose or chamber is damaged is to blow down into the hose after releasing the pressure switch, you should then hear the air bubble the water inside the drum.
Please Note: Do not blow into the pressure switch itself because pressure switches can vary, as they can be linear or analogue, and if you blow into them it could cause damage.
Some pressure switches have to be reset when the machine is moved or before the machine's first use. To do this put two litres of water inside the drum set the machine to a drain cycle and it will automatically reset the machine.
Final Comment From eSpares:
Well hey, thanks for taking the time to look through this video. We hope you have found this video useful in helping you identify the issue with your washing machine - for all related spare parts you can see the washing machine area on the eSpares website.
You can also view lots more helpful articles and videos in our Advice Centre.
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