Washing machines.....

[slim_boy_fat]

Washing machines, anyone know anything about them?

Mine, a Hoover New Wave Autowasher 1300 like so,

started leaking water all over the floor, so initially suspecting a leaking hose, I investigated and discovered it was the drain pump which had turned its toes up. No great problem there, on to Google and a new pump sourced and bought off the 'Bay - should be with me by the end of the week.

Now, my question is this. This machine is 25 years old and still functions fine, the only things I've had to do are replace feed hoses and a drive belt. Back in those days, they were designed for cold and hot fill, as opposed to the modern machines which I understand require cold only ......?
Currently, mine is plumbed to feed from the cold mains supply only, but with two hoses to the machine through a Y piece.

Could I dispense with the hot feed hose and simply blank off the 'hot' connection on the machine and still have it function correctly? It'd simplify the plumbing and reduce the potential for leaks in the supply.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I would have expected it to be opening valves etc looking for the hot feed when its brain tells it to, if it has not had hot feed and has been ok then I can't see it making any difference removing the unused pipe and blanking

 

[Cobbler]

I don't think it will fill properly, it's looking for a certain level of water through the hot valve, it doesn't care whether it hot or cold water. If you disconnect the flow to the hot valve, when it's a hot wash it won't fill.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

The hot valve should be fitted with a pressure switch, if it does not see any water pressure it will not function.
Try a hot wash with just the cold water supply plumped in.
It will take to reach operating temperature, but should work.
All new machines come with only a cold fitting. Give it a go.

 

[rtbcomp]

A machine of that age would need both hot & cold, feeds, also the hot & cold are fed to different parts of the soap dispenser so you'll need both. If the hot feed receives cold water the machine's heating element will heat the water for you.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

if it has not had hot feed and has been ok then I can't see it making any difference removing the unused pipe and blanking

It's been fed cold water to the hot inlet, so it 'thinks' it is getting a hot water source - just not up to temp.

I don't think it will fill properly, it's looking for a certain level of water through the hot valve, it doesn't care whether it hot or cold water.

You've confirmed my suspicions, thanks

The hot valve should be fitted with a pressure switch, if it does not see any water pressure it will not function.

A machine of that age would need both hot & cold, feeds, also the hot & cold are fed to different parts of the soap dispenser so you'll need both.

Aye, same as Cobbler's view of things.

Thanks, lads. You're pretty much confirming what I suspected...that it needs a supply to both intake valves, which are motorised. No 'see' water....no workee.

I'll just leave well alone, it seemed that I might 'simplify' things.....but I've been wrong before.

I appreciate the input.

 

[rikrobson]

i stripped a hoover when we replaced ours with a similar model. there was only one water pressure switch. the hot was directed straight to the drum and the colds had a feed to the powder box.
the hot would only work on a "hot" wash anyway 60° and over. if its filled with cold instead it just heats it for longer.
If you only do 30° or 40° its never going to be used

 

[Wedg1e]

i stripped a hoover when we replaced ours with a similar model. there was only one water pressure switch. the hot was directed straight to the drum and the colds had a feed to the powder box.
the hot would only work on a "hot" wash anyway 60° and over. if its filled with cold instead it just heats it for longer.
If you only do 30° or 40° its never going to be used

Could be the hot wasn't piped to the powder to avoid risk of scalding?
I thought the dual fill was just done to save time on the machine having to heat the cold water to temp., as said every machine I've ever worked on just had one pressure switch that started the cycle once there was enough water in the drum.
I'd be surprised if it mattered whether the hot inlet had anything connected since it'd be looking at the water level and temperature regardless of the individual temps of hot and cold.
But I've been wrong before as well

 

[the snooper]

As Wedg1e states there is a pressure switch on the drum that detects the amount of water in there nothing on the valves, if you remove the hot supply altogether on certain programs no water will feed into the machine and if you plumb cold to both the machine will heat the water it's self