Solved
Zanussi

Zanussi Zwf1221W Powder Drawer Not Filling With Water

STStagman
Asked over 14 years ago 8,402 views
0

I have a Zanussi ZWF1221W which has given good service, however just recently it has developed a problem whereby the powder drawer (main wash section - don't generally use prewash)is not cleared by the incoming water and leaves a fairly large dollop of solidified powder at the front of the drawer. I have tried prodding the water holes above the drawer but they don't seem to be blocked. I have not altered the water pressure on the main so can't see the water pressure being an issue. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

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.

Zanussi ZWF1221W detergent drawer not flushing main wash powder

The problem
On a Zanussi ZWF1221W washing machine, the main wash section of the detergent drawer was no longer being properly flushed through. A solidified amount of powder was being left at the front of the drawer. The user had already checked the water holes above the drawer and reported no obvious blockage, and said the household water pressure had not been altered.
Likely cause
Reduced water flow into the drawer was the most strongly supported diagnosis. The accepted reply suggested the inlet valve filter may be partially blocked. Damp detergent or unsuitable tablets causing clogging were also mentioned as possibilities, but these were not confirmed.
What fixed it
Check for reduced fill flow, particularly the inlet valve filter for partial blockage. Also ensure detergent is dry and, if using tablets, that they are the type intended for use in the drawer. No confirmed repair was posted, only diagnostic advice and a possible workaround of using suitable tablets placed with the laundry.
Checks to try
  • User checked the water holes above the drawer and found no obvious blockage
  • Accepted reply advised checking for reduced water flow
  • Accepted reply specifically mentioned checking the inlet valve filter for partial blockage
  • Accepted reply suggested checking whether detergent was damp or tablets unsuitable for drawer use
Cause identifiedGenerated 17 Aug 2026 · AI summaries can make mistakes — read the full thread below.
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1 Answer

Accepted Answer
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WH
WhitegoodshelpVerified Engineer
Answered over 14 years ago

Read my article on washing machine not filling which may also help diagnose reduced water flow (especially the tip about checking the inlet valve filter, which could be partially blocked). Th eonly explanation is somehow the water isn't flowing as fast as it did before. The only mechanism for flushing detergent into the machine is the force of the water flowing into it.

Also make sure if you are using tablets that they are designed to go in the drawer as some are not and will clog, if using normal powder detergent make sure it isn't getting damp. If you can't sort it, a workaround would be to start using the tablets designed to go on top of the laundry in a net bag.

Whitegoods Help — appliance repair expert and forum host.

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