How to turn off the water for a washing machine

A washing machine is a piece of furniture in a kitchen or bathroom that is rarely moved and therefore disconnected from the water supply. However, there may be times when instructions on how to turn off the machine may be required. For example, the car has broken down and needs to be dismantled and transported to a service center, it has been decided to replace old equipment with new ones, renovations are planned in the room, or even the washing machine needs to be transported to a new place of residence. So, let's figure it out how to properly disconnect the water supply.

How to disconnect a washing machine from the water supply

Stationary placement of the washing machine in the bathroom or kitchen is quite justified. A heavy machine is connected to the network and communications, so you are unlikely to want to just move it.

However, in case of repair, moving, or purchasing a new SMA, you need to properly turn off the washing machine. After reading the article, you will understand how to do this correctly without compromising your equipment.

Sequencing

To disconnect yourself you may need:

wrench;
a straight or Phillips screwdriver to loosen the clamps.

Use WD-40 to work on rusted parts. This “liquid wrench” will help you quickly deal with rusty, soured parts.

How to disconnect a washing machine from the water supply? Let's tell you in more detail:

Make sure the washing machine is not running, then unplug the machine. If the connection was via an extension cord, disconnect that too.
Turn off the water supply. To do this, turn the shut-off valves all the way. They are usually located behind the MCA and attached to the wall.
Open the rear of the washing machine. If you do this yourself, alternately pull one corner and then the other. It’s easier to complete the task with two people, because you can simultaneously apply force and move the car. Make sure that the hoses are not strained and that premature disconnection does not occur.
Remove the inlet hose. Use a wrench if it is secured with nuts and screwdrivers to remove the clamp in a clockwise direction.
Place a container below to collect water and disconnect the hose from the MCA. Drain the remaining water, then disconnect the other end of the hose from the valve by turning clockwise.
Disconnect the wire and hose, attach it to the wall of the automatic washing machine.
Disconnect the drain hose from the washing machine and the sewer, draining the remaining water into a bucket. Then attach it to the SM wall using a bracket.
Clean the freed pipes from dirt with a brush. Carefully secure any loose parts with duct tape to prevent them from getting damaged or lost when you transport the washer.
Take care to secure the drum. It may be damaged during transportation, so use special bolts or pieces of foam for fastening.
Gather all the parts in one place and pack them.
Make sure there is no water left in the system. Otherwise, during shaking, water may enter the control unit, which will lead to its malfunction.

It is advisable to allow the washing machine and all its parts to dry before transporting. To do this, open the door hatch and leave the washing machine to stand for a day.

Now you know how to properly disconnect the washing machine from the water supply. Therefore, avoid unnecessary problems when rearranging or transporting.

Preservation of the machine

It is necessary to understand that there is always water inside the washing machine, and if it is not drained, when tilted or jumping during transportation, the liquid will easily get on the wiring or electronic board. The consequences of such moisture are sad, so it is better to carefully “preserve” the machine. To do this we do the following:

We place the prepared containers behind the machine below the waterline, and spread the prepared rags around, be prepared for the water to spill and splash;
we check whether the water supply valves are closed; it is worth considering that you can easily turn the switches to the open position by accident;
wait about a minute after closing the valves for the pressure in the hoses to normalize;
remove the clamps on the inlet hose from both sides, lower it into a bucket or basin and drain the water.

To unscrew the hoses, you need to rotate them clockwise, and if this is difficult to do, use a flat-head screwdriver, wrench or pliers. Plastic nuts can only be removed by hand.

Attention! When using tools, we control the pressure force, since excessive force can easily strip the thread and damage the nut.

We repeat the procedure with the drain hose. There are several variations here depending on the existing drain. This could be a connection to a sink siphon, a hole in the floor, a public water supply, or a sewer built into the wall. The main thing is to turn the switch, turn off the water, loosen the clamp (if there is one, then the rubber gasket) and remove the hose. You can leave the machine alone and let it dry. During this time, pour out the drained water and wipe the floor dry. To avoid slipping when further preparing the washing machine for moving.

Required Tools

You can disconnect the machine from the water supply without using tools at all. It all depends on the method of connecting the washing machine to the water supply, as well as on the type of inlet hose of the machine.

Installation and dismantling of the inlet hose is done by hand if there are plastic nuts and fittings at both ends. Plastic parts are fragile and need to be handled without tools.

This type of hose is more common than others. It is supplied complete with washing equipment. However, it is often changed to another.

Water drain options

If it is not possible to stop the work using the software buttons, and there is no point in starting the spin mode. For example, when a mobile phone or bank card is left in your jacket pocket, you need to act immediately, because further work can damage them. In this case, you need to use the emergency drain function.

Drain pipe

Emergency water drain

In the bottom right corner under the removable panel of the washing machine there is a drain tube. It is protected by a plug. Place a container at an angle into which the water will drain. The plug will need to be removed and the hose lowered into the reservoir.

If there is no tube, the water comes out directly. This must be provided for before you start draining, and stock up on a towel and a spare container. A basin or bucket wouldn't hurt.

Drain hose

The location of the drain hose depends on the design of the washing machine. Most often it is located at the bottom at the back, but in some brands, for example Bosch. This method cannot be used on such machines.

When located below, it must be disconnected from the sewer and the housing. Then place it in a container of sufficient size. When the bulk of the water has gone, you can throw the hose on the floor and collect the remainder with a rag.

I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.

If there is no blockage, perhaps the easiest way.

Pipe branch

Draining water using a spigot is not the easiest option for the average user. Its blockage is the reason why the water does not drain.

Then the problem is solved by dismantling and cleaning the pipe. After this manipulation, drainage becomes possible. The process is quite complex and requires partial disassembly.

Therefore, it is better to use an alternative option.

Connection between tank and pump

Via pump filter

If the washing machine does not have the “Drain” function, and the “Spin” function cannot be used, you can urgently remove the water manually using the pump filter. It is located below the drum hatch. More details:

It is necessary to stop the washing machine using the control functionality.
Turn off the power supply by unplugging the plug from the outlet.
Take a container with sides, for example a basin, and place it under the filter.
Slowly unscrew the filter valve.
Wait until the water drains into the container. If the tank is full, you will have to periodically stop the process to empty the container.
Open the drum.

Important! After this, the program must be started again.

SMA drain pump filter concentrator

What to do if the door is jammed after an emergency shutdown

When you change the program, the door often jams, even if the water has been drained and the modes have been set to stop. In this case, a special emergency rope will come to your aid, of course, if there is one at all.

It is located in the same place as the emergency drain hose: under the decorative panel on the front of the machine. Usually it is bright and impossible not to notice. Just pull it and the door will open. You don’t even have to say “open sim-sim”, it should work without it.

If it is not there, then the situation is much worse. In this case, try opening the lock with a thin spatula, which is certainly flexible and thin. You need to insert it into the gap between the door in the place where the lock is located (usually where the hatch handle is attached) and try to press it.

If this does not help, try opening it with a cord. To do this, drape it around the perimeter of the hatch, take it by the two ends and squeeze. It will open if the lock is designed in such a way that the tongue is on the side of the body. But, if it’s the other way around, then you’ll have to remove the entire top panel of the machine.

How to turn off the machine yourself?

Disconnecting the machine from the water supply is carried out as follows:

Disconnect the washing equipment from the power supply. This cannot be done during the washing process.
Next, turn off the water supply valve to the machine. This tap is usually located either behind the appliance or under the sink.
Move the washer away from the wall. At this moment, you need to make sure that the tension in the hoses (drain and fill) is not too strong.
Next, you need to lay rags on the floor and prepare a bucket for water.
The hose nut should be unscrewed. This is done counterclockwise. Then disconnect the hose itself from the washer. Do not exert great force when working with the tool. Otherwise, the thread may be stripped or the nut may be damaged.
Next, you need to drain the water from the hose into a bucket.
In the same way, you need to unscrew the inlet hose from the pipe or tee. At this point, the disconnection of the inlet hose is completed.

It should be noted that complete dismantling of the machine does not end with disconnecting the inlet hose. To transport the washing machine, you must also disconnect the drain hose from the sewer pipe.

Carefully disconnect the drain hose from the sewer pipe and drain the remaining water into a bucket.

Disconnection from the sewer

The drain hose, unlike the inlet hose, can simply be hung on the edge of the sink or bathtub using a special hook or have a permanent connection to the sewer. In the first case, there is no need to disconnect anything; the hose is lowered into the prepared container and the water is drained from it by gravity. The second option involves first disconnecting the hose from the entrance to the sewer. This is where you will have to use rags when disconnecting. Because water can flow out of the hose onto the floor.

The design location of the drainage hose on the washing machine and its length may pose certain difficulties.

It can come out from the top of the body. If it is not particularly long, there will be no difficulties when disconnecting from the sewer - disconnect from the drain and drain the remaining water by pointing the hose from top to bottom.

The drain hose exits from the bottom of the housing. For normal operation of the drainage system of such machines, the hose must rise no less than 50-60 cm. In principle, this is not a particularly serious problem, but draining the water from the hose (if the permanent connection to the sewer is eliminated) will only be possible on the floor. Of course, you can raise the washing machine higher, but given its weight, it’s easier to use rags.

If there is a need or desire to completely remove water or rinse the drain hose, it can be disconnected from the washing machine. Fastening can be carried out on the body or directly on the volute of the drain pump. The hose will either need to be unscrewed or removed by loosening or removing the clamp. Access to the drainage system can be gained after removing the back wall of the washing machine or through its open bottom (for models in which it is actually open).

Shutdown algorithm

Now let's look at what order and what to do when you need to safely disconnect the washing machine from the water supply.

We disconnect the washing machine from the network when the washing process is completed. This should not be done during washing.
Turn off the water supply tap to the washing machine. As a rule, it is located behind the washing machine or under the sink if the machine is installed in the kitchen.

We move the machine away from the wall or pull it out of the kitchen unit so that you can freely go behind the machine. In this case, the inlet and drain hoses should not be too tight.
We take a bucket under the water and put rags on the floor in case water starts to flow.
Disconnect the hose from the machine by unscrewing the nut counterclockwise.
When using the tool, do not apply excessive force, otherwise you may damage the nut and strip the threads.
We tilt the hose into a bucket and drain the remaining water.
Similarly, unscrew the hose from the tee or pipe. Removal of the inlet hose is complete.

Dismantling the entire washing machine does not end with disconnecting the inlet hose. To be able to move the machine to another room or transport it, you must also disconnect the drain hose from the sewer. Of course, if the hose was simply thrown over the side of the bathtub, then practically nothing needs to be done here. But when connecting the drain hose to the sewer, it must be carefully disconnected . The drain hose is removed from the branch sewer pipe. The remaining water is poured into a bucket.

Transportation Tips

In order to transport the washing machine, it needs to be prepared. It is necessary to carefully wind up the power cord and secure it to the back wall with a clamp. If there is no such clamp, then you need to at least tie it. The inlet hose is dried and also secured to clamps on the rear wall of the machine . You can do the same with the drain hose, or you can clean it right away; a description of this work is in the article on Cleaning the hose of a washing machine.

If the hoses cannot be secured to the back cover, they must be wrapped in a rag and placed inside the machine. In addition, do not forget to check if there is any water left in the powder cuvette; wipe the cuvette hole with a dry cloth. You also need to drain the water and clean the drain filter at the same time.

Important! There should be no water left in the machine, because if it gets on the control module, it can burn when turned on.

After this, plugs are placed on the hose holes, and the tank is secured with shipping bolts. The machine itself can be packed in bubble cellophane, and it only needs to be transported vertically.

Thus, dismantling the inlet and drain hoses is quite easy. Even a woman can do this, but why would she do it if there is a strong man nearby? Take care of your equipment and be careful.

Interesting:

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How to place a washing machine in the bathroom
Furniture for the washing machine in the bathroom
How to connect a dishwasher to water supply and sewerage
How to install a washing machine in the bathroom yourself
Washing machine in the kitchen under the countertop

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Proper transportation of equipment

Washing equipment must be prepared in advance for transportation. First you need to wind up the power cord and then secure it on the back side with a clamp.

Next, you need to dry the inlet hose, and then secure it on the back side with a clamp. The same must be done with the drain hose.

It is also important to check that there is no water in the powder tray. To do this, wipe it with a dry cloth. Next, you need to drain the water and clean the drain filter.

There must be no water in the device during transportation. Otherwise, it may get on the electronic control module and damage it.

At the last stage, you need to put plugs on all the holes from the hoses and secure the tank of the machine using shipping bolts. The device must be transported in an upright position.

So, in this article we found out how to disconnect the washing machine from the water supply yourself. This work is not at all difficult and almost anyone can cope with it.

Disconnection from water supply

Depending on how the machine is connected to the water supply, you may need certain tools, most often an adjustable wrench, pliers, and screwdrivers of various types. Sometimes you can do without using them. The algorithm of actions when disconnecting the machine from the water supply is as follows:

Make sure that the washing machine is not currently functioning and is disconnected from the power supply.
It is necessary to turn off the water supply tap. If there is a connection to both a hot and a cold system, then both taps are closed. Usually they are located behind the washing machine or near the sink if the washing machine is located in the kitchen.

Preparing the car for transportation

At the final stage, we go around the washing machine from all sides and check that there are no more connected wires or hoses. It is immediately recommended to take the time to clean the pipes at the place where the drain is disconnected, for which we take a brush and thoroughly clean out all the dirt that has accumulated during operation. We wipe the powder receptacle dry, look at the drain filter and inside the drum. Also don't forget:

remove the power cord or place it in specially provided grooves, and for reliability, secure it with tape (then you won’t have to worry about accidentally disconnecting or damaging the plug);
unscrew the handles from the washing machine body;
close and seal the door and powder receptacle with tape;
secure the drum by inserting a V-shaped piece of foam into the tank, filling it with laundry, using special bolts or tightening the screws provided on the back wall of the housing.

Important! It is better to study the user manual supplied with the machine and read which method is most suitable for the existing model.

We complete the preparation by wrapping all parts, hoses, handles and cords in rags or paper. It would be a good idea to pack the washing machine in a store-bought polystyrene foam frame and wrap it in cloth or cardboard. All that remains is to transport the machine to the planned location, avoiding tilting, shaking and jumping.

How to move the washing machine

So, you know how to turn off the washing machine, and you have completed this job quite successfully. The unit is disconnected from the power supply and connecting hoses. Now a few words about how to move a car from place to place:

Empty the bucket and wipe up any spilled water around the machine.
Double check that all hoses and cords are disconnected from the machine.
Once you have access to the water drain pipes, clean them thoroughly with a brush. Now, when the machine is disconnected from the water drain, is the time for this. After this, the holes from the hoses must be closed with plugs.
Unplug the power cord. If it cannot be removed, then you need to attach it to the car using tape.
It is advisable to remove and pack separately all the handles of the unit so as not to accidentally lose them during the move.
The next step is to secure the drum. This will avoid damage and distortion during transportation. The drum is secured using special bolts, a piece of foam rubber, or by fastening the screws located in the rear of the unit.
Packaging of disconnected spare parts. It is advisable to use special wrapping paper, bubble wrap or a regular towel as packaging material. It is advisable to transport parts inside the car, which will protect them from damage.

Important! If you are not going to move immediately, let the machine dry a little after the hoses have been disconnected - leave it for a day or two with the door open. This can play a decisive role when transporting the device. If water accidentally gets on the control module, the machine may fail when turned on.

How does disassembling a horizontal machine differ from a vertical one?

Disassembly schemes for machines with different loads differ in the types of fasteners, bolts and other small points. The process of removing broken parts from the case is almost the same. We create universal instructions to help repair any equipment, so we omit unnecessary nuances.

At the end of the material there are videos with disassembly of different models of machines - watch them to “free” understand the subtleties “in pictures” and repeat everything with your own hands at home.

Why disconnect the SMA from the water supply: preparatory work

An automatic washing machine (AWA) is a piece of equipment that is installed for a long time and is rarely moved to another place. But there are still situations when you need to disconnect the washing machine from the communications. For example:

You have started renovations in the premises.
You buy new equipment.
Are you planning to move?
You will be carrying out repairs or cleaning of the unit.

If you decide to do the work yourself, prepare the necessary tools. They may vary depending on the type of fasteners and the material of the components.