Thread Number: 68737  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Amana LW3303W--Water Filling Slowly, not like a Blackstone 350
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Post# 915293   1/12/2017 at 10:09 (2,632 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        

blackstone's profile picture
I have noticed that the water filling into this 25-year-old washer is very slow. Perhaps it is not significantly slower than before; just that now it is bothering me.

Water pressure from fill hoses is strong. I replaced fill valve with another used one; no difference. I replaced it with a new valve; no difference.

Pictured here is what apparently is a "backflow preventer". Blowing into it shows that not much air passes through. It doesn't look to be plugged.

Two questions: does this part normally restrict the water flow so much? and can I just remove the part?

I guess that I am just thinking of how much water pressure there was when a Blackstone 350 was filling.

The picture shows the part, and the water dribbling into the tub.



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Post# 915296 , Reply# 1   1/12/2017 at 10:34 (2,632 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
that's most likely an air gap......

several times I have just removed them, and used a piece of plastic pipe in place....and worked fine since then...

at least it will rule out the issue with low water pressure entering the machine...


Post# 915308 , Reply# 2   1/12/2017 at 11:13 (2,632 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Could something be blocking the exit ports where the water flows into the tub?


Post# 915341 , Reply# 3   1/12/2017 at 14:56 (2,632 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture

You did make sure there are no screens in the fill hose that are plugged?


Post# 915415 , Reply# 4   1/12/2017 at 21:07 (2,632 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Yes The Back Flow Preventer Is Causing The Problem

combo52's profile picture

Hi Fred, You can either replace it or just bypass it, I have seen many older SQ-Amana washers with this problem.

 

Hi Kenny, how could it be clogged inlet valve screens if Fred has changed the valve twice and the washer now has a new valve and it still fills very slowly ?????????


Post# 915488 , Reply# 5   1/13/2017 at 11:28 (2,631 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        

blackstone's profile picture
I will just bypass the backflow preventer. I can't really understand the reasoning for having such a device on top of the tub. How could any water build up there and flow back into the plumbing? It would just overflow into the tub.

I also just changed the pump, for the first time in 25 years. Water was starting to leak at the pulley. I hate to knock Blackstone washers, but that lifespan from a pump was unheard of. More like a couple of years.

Anyone have a picture of a 350 filling? That was a nice spray of water.


Post# 915520 , Reply# 6   1/13/2017 at 15:09 (2,631 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture

Maybe a screen, at the house shut off? I've seen worse than that.


Post# 915527 , Reply# 7   1/13/2017 at 15:56 (2,631 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        
Water pressure

blackstone's profile picture
Just to clear things up, I do have excellent water pressure where I live. I opened the shutoffs and let the H2O run into a pail. No problem.

As a matter of fact, up until a few years ago, I had too much water pressure. The plumber installed a pressure reducer at the water meter, limiting pressure in the house to 75 lbs. Before that, the safety valves on my water heaters used to leak. While the pressure at the household sinks became noticeably less, it has not been a problem. It is more than adequate.

I also use screened rubber washers going into the washer, and these are always clean. Springfield has excellent water.

Time to bypass the backflow thing-a-jig.


Post# 915606 , Reply# 8   1/14/2017 at 09:47 (2,630 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        
Problem solved

blackstone's profile picture
I just drilled out the inside of the backflow part.


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