Washing machines with a load-sensing feature are popular because they can calculate how much water is needed for a given load of clothes based on its weight. But sometimes, you need more water; hence you want to know how to bypass the washing machine water level sensor. These are the easiest ways.
You can rely on some of the features like water level selector, extra rinse cycle, bulk setting, and pressure switch. Adding extra weight to your loads or using a hose can also do the trick.
Before jumping into the steps, you should take a minute to know why a washing machine is equipped with a water level sensor in the first place and when to bypass it. Moving forward, you’ll learn some real-life techniques.
When Do You Need to Bypass the Level Sensor?
Water level sensors are here for a reason. So, you should only try and bypass them without messing with the internal parts of the appliance.
The different sensors installed in today’s laundering appliances determine –
- how much each load of your clothes weighs;
- how much water is required throughout the washing and rinsing cycles
Apart from the functional aspects, these sensors offer two obvious benefits –
- reduction of the amount of water needed;
- savings on utility bills by helping to reduce the use of electrical energy in the process
Washing machines are engineered to keep the use of water to a minimum. So, the sensors don’t need to be bypassed if you want to launder clothes with a regular amount of dirt.
What if the garments are dirtier than what you would call ‘normal’? Clothes with loose dirt on them require less water than those with thicker dirt and soil. That’s when you want to bypass the level sensor, and here are some effective methods to follow.
Method 1: Using the Built-in Features
Have you checked all the features of the machine yet? If you didn’t, it’s time you did to see if there is an extra rinse cycle or a selector to enable you to adjust the water level. Having either or both options in place, you can use them to ensure that the clothes are receiving enough water.
Method 2: Using the Bulk Setting Parameters
Not all machines have this particular feature, but if yours has it, you can use it for blankets, sleeping bags, comforters, and other clothing items.
This setting allows for a longer washing cycle where your clothes get soaked thoroughly as they get more water with this cycle than with others. You can wash smaller loads that include 10-15 clothing items in one go.
Method 3: Using the Pressure Switch
The pressure switch can be located either on the washing machine’s front control panel or behind the appliance. You’ll find a screw for the switch. Use an appropriate screwdriver to tighten that screw and press the disc slightly inward.
Working on the pressure switch may not be ideal for drains that are lower than the top water level mark because the added water may waste into those drains.
Method4:Adding Weight
Level sensors cannot always sense if your clothes need more water than the amount they’re programmed to allow. It leaves your garments chances to get water up to 45% less than they need for a good cleaning.
Use Towels with Your Clothes
A few pieces of thin cotton towels will add some weight to your load and to the washer, causing the sensor to trigger more water.
Add Water to Your Clothes
Add 2-4 cups of water to the load and let it sit for half an hour, so the clothes can soak up the water. This will add up to 4 pounds of weight which is enough to trigger the level sensor to allow more water.
Method 5: Using a Water Hose
If you don’t have a water hose, you can always make one with a 6-foot hose, a splitter, and hose caps. Here’s how you can proceed.
- Take a splitter with a screw in its main channel and fit that to your preferred supply channel (cold/ hot supply as you need).
- Screw it as long as you need to ensure a proper fit.
- Connect the hose (wash cycle) to an opening through the splitter.
- Locate the third channel of the splitter and connect the 6-foot hose to it.
- Switch on the machine to allow for filling with water and open its valve so that water can come in through the hose.
Following one of these methods, you can avoid affecting the regular operation of your appliance or breaking its warranty. After all, your only goal is to complete a thorough cleaning/ washing job.
Leave a Reply