Softener won’t empty during cycle but will if I pull out draw and put it back in again
Had this issue intermittently with a Hoover washing machine but now it seems to be a permanent feature.
The draws have been scrubbed and scrubbed, can’t see any blockage. The cycle completes with no error messages. But when I open the draw the fabric softener is still there but when I close the draw again it drains. I thought maybe the draw was coming out a little during the cycle (because it seems odd it drains after I re-shut it) so I tried tapping it shut but it’s not that. I’ve tried looking up this fault but not found anyone having same problems.
Never had a problem like this with any other washing machine.
To add the pre and main wash draws empty fine.
I want to rule out anything simple just in case or something I might be doing.
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Hoover washing machine softener drawer not emptying unless drawer is moved
- The problem
- On a Hoover washing machine, the fabric softener compartment remained full at the end of the cycle, while the pre-wash and main-wash compartments emptied normally. There were no error messages. Pulling the drawer out and pushing it back in caused the softener to drain.
- Likely cause
- The strongest diagnosis was that the softener compartment was not being flooded properly during the rinse, so the siphon was not starting. Suggested causes in the discussion were a blocked nozzle or jet above the dispenser, or a faulty water solenoid feeding the softener section. A less certain possibility mentioned was the cycle aborting before the softener stage.
- What fixed it
- Recommended action was to check and clean the top and back of the dispenser housing and the holes/nozzles above the drawer for detergent or mould blockage. If these were clear, the accepted reply indicated the next suspect was the water solenoid supplying the softener compartment. The thread was marked solved, but no final repair confirmation was provided.
- Checks to try
- Drawer already scrubbed and no obvious blockage seen
- Pre-wash and main-wash compartments emptied correctly
- No error messages reported
- Advised to inspect and clean the top/back of the dispenser housing
- Advised to check the holes or nozzle above the softener compartment for blockage
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Water solenoid valve
- Torch
- Steamer
Safety: Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
2 Answers
When you open the soap dispenser drawer is the fabric softener compartment full to the top with fabric softener and a bit of water? If so then pushing the drawer a start off the siphoning if it causes the liquid to spill over the side. If the fabric softener is still in place at the end of the cycle then the main suspect is that the water that is supposed to flood the compartment and start of siphoning is not going into the softener compartment.
This can be caused by a faulty water solenoid, but it can also occasionally be caused by a blocked nozzle at the top of the soap dispenser, or even the washing machine aborting the cycle before reaching the point of taking it in. I have written an article looking at all the causes here fabric softener not being taken out
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Did you check and clean the back and the top of the draw compartment for mould (you may need a torch), and for detergent blocking the holes at the top. A steamer works quite well if you have one.
Might be a blocked solenoid valve if your Hoover has a dedicated one for the fabric softener compartment, my Zanussi only has two solenoid water valves that feed two crossing water inlet jets at the back of the draw compartment that are supposed to spray water into the three shower sections above the draw. We had a problem with it not dispensing the fabric conditioner some years ago caused by black mould partially blocking one of the jets, the blockage diverted the jet into the wrong section and also caused some water to leak out the front.
Leaving the draw part open has stopped mould returning on mine.
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