Does anyone know if the water level on this machine can be increased? I know it's fully electronic, but there must be a pressure switch or something I can adjust. I haven't been able to locate a detailed parts schematic for it, so I don't know what to look for/where it is.

I've used a front loader for 15 years now...and I understand the concept; however, this machine uses so little water that 10 minutes into the wash cycle, parts of garments are still dry. Eventually things get wet as the machine decides to add more water in spurts...but hey...let's just get on with the washing.

Thanks!

Well is'nt there a programable option to increase the water-level every time? Like a sentive or water-plus or anti-allergy... Normally it's possible.

No programable option, askomiele...only Rinse Plus, which adds an extra rinse. This machine is extremely frugal with water. The default number of rinses is 2...if you press Rinse Plus you get 3. In my experience, 4 low level rinses is best if you do not overdose detergent. If you do overdose detergent in the Bosch, it will add a "Foam Rinse"...thus giving 4 total rinses if you have pressed the Rinse Plus button; otherwise 3.

The Bosch machines are advertised as having "up to 6 rinses"; however, that would appear to be false advertising to me unless you OD detergent so much that it forces more than one "Foam Rinse".

If I can get extra water in the wash cycle, then that should also translate into extra water in the rinse cycles. I will say, though, that the rinse cycles do use more water than the wash cycle.

Can you add water through the dispenser and see if the machine reacts badly to it? Some machines accept water no problem, other trigger a drain because they think they are overflowing...

B/S/H offers exploded views of all their appliances online. Just click on the link below and then on "Order Accessories and Additional Parts". Enter your model number (WFMC6401UC). Then click on the "Show exploded views for product ..." icon in the right column of the table.

HTH, Alex

This won't change the rinse water levels, but you can select the 'Delicate', 'Wool' or 'Handwash' cycles for the initial fill and then switch to your selected cycle. They fill with quite a lot of water. Those cycles fill with cold though, so you may want to select the 'Power Wash' option to make sure that your target temp is reached. I've learned, though, to start the wash and walk away. Otherwise, it's infuriating to watch the "Auto Load Adjust" phase. Everything is very clean though.

PeterH770: Yes...I tried manually adding water. It didn't care how much I added. Thanks.

Alex/logixx: Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for. Their site isn't the most user friendly. I found the pressure sensor and the water level regulator. So...I can probably tweak it. Thanks again!

aamassther: Thanks to you as well! I'll try that. I had to laugh at your comment re the Auto Load Adjust! They programmed all this just to save a couple teaspoons of water...which costs less for me than the electricity they waste tumbling around dry clothes and trying to calculate absorbtion rates. So much for overengineering! The clothes are clean...yes...but no cleaner than they have been all these years with my 1996/98 Frigidaire Gallery series front loader. I guess I was just expecting too much from the heater based on so many comments on various sites about how much difference it makes. The XXtraSanitary cycle DID get my whites a little whiter...but other than that I have noticed NO difference except that things don't seem to be quite as soft. Oh well...guess I'll just have to experiment some more and see what works best. I've already learned that underloading works better with the water situation than overloading. That, in itself, defeats the purpose of the larger drum to obtain savings by having to wash fewer loads. I have to wonder if the people who design these things ever do any laundry...

Michael

In that last post I meant to say "I've already learned that underloading works better with the water situation than loading the recommended amount." I never overload. It irritates me to see an overloaded machine. Why even bother washing the clothes?

And I have the same options I hear you all talking about but I don't have the problem of dry clothes in mine and I know I push the limit from time to time.

I have actually stopped the machine at times and stuck my hand in the middle to see if the clothes were wet and they have always been.

What happens in my machine is that it puts in a certain amount of water at the start and then apparently tests to see if there is enough. Then I see the Auto Load Adjustment prompt as it continues to let in more water. This always happens at the begining of the cycle so mine never gets 10 minutes into the wash before all the clothes are wet. I would suggest either they have changed something in this sensor in the new models or yours is defective. As my machine is 5 years old I guess it's very possible the newer machines are trying to be more frugal with water.

As far as coming in with cold water I always use the Power Wash option on mine so it brings in cold water and heats to the desired temp. I think I get better performance that way as they say different stains are removed at different temps and a gradual heat from cold is supposed to remove a wider spectrum of stains.

I am very happy with the performance of my machine.