Washing Machine Repair - Part 2 The overflowing bleach tray

Here we fix our LG washing machine model WT1701 CW overflowing bleach dispensing tray. This problem was a result of replacing a water valve assembly that allowed too much water through.

[@margaretshaw4529]

Thank you so much as single mother of two I can’t afford a repair man or a new washer this has saved me… crazy same washer same problems!!

[@workshopstudios43]

I'm glad I could help!!! And thanks for the kind words and sharing your story. I think this is the best of the internet and youtube experience; sharing and helping All the best with your washing machine. Ours is still going strong 🤠👍

[@cheeseandrice877]

I’m in the same boat mama!!! 💪

[@cheeseandrice877]

Thank you for making this video and thank you to the commenters. I had this exact problem and disconnecting the power thing for the valve that runs to the bleach dispenser worked! I was so disappointed after waiting impatiently for over a week for the new inlet valve thing and then the flood happened! 😱 We’re two weeks behind on laundry. Next I’ll be getting a secondary sediment filter for the washer

[@workshopstudios43]

So glad you got it working again!! And thanks for pointing out how helpful other's experiences are in figuring out what to do. Many thanks to all of you who took the time to share!

[@pablopiquante3227]

Thanks for posting! Many people who do not use bleach in their wash just unplug the power to that solenoid. A very low cost solution to a potentially very expensive water damage scenario.

[@workshopstudios43]

Great point! Thanks for watching and sharing!!

[@cheeseandrice877]

Thanks for this. Going to try this suggestion and see what happens 🤷‍♀️

[@pablopiquante3227]

@@cheeseandrice877 It worked well for me, did it work for you? I also put electrical tape of any exposed contacts.

[@thebl4ckd0g]

Looked this up as I have started seeing water sitting in our bleach tray on our 5 year old LG top-load washer. it sounds like a design flaw that's been around for a few years and should be part of a recall.

[@JohnSmith-yc3pc]

Thank you for this video. I replaced the water inlet valve for my top load lg washer (WT1501CW) and noticed a small water leak on the floor after each wash. You video showed me where the leak is coming from (overflowing bleach dispenser that I noticed). Since this is a new water inlet valve then it must be a defective valve because this leak never happened before. So I returned it to Amazon and reordered another valve with the highest review and fewest complaints (38 bucks). Now the water coming from the bleach dispenser to the tub is significantly reduced and caused no more leaks. Thank you, thank you for the education!!!

[@workshopstudios43]

You are very welcome!! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@AnaLRios]

Found your video so late, my husband was thinking to block the hose. Now he knows his 2nd idea was better thanks to you.

[@workshopstudios43]

Glad the video helped! I hope you get the problem fixed!! Thanks for your kind words and for watching

[@micausa100]

I had this exact problem on a Kenmore washer that appears to be the same underneath the skin. My solution was quick and worked the first time. I sealed off the opening of the bleach flow valve with epoxy and drilled 2 very small holes through the epoxy once it was hard. The wife is all happy with me again since we no longer have water all over the floor.

[@workshopstudios43]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@RobertHargraves]

Wonderful instructions. My bleach overflow started after I cleaned the somewhat clogged water inlet filters. Brilliant, simple idea to make the tub lip drain holes bigger! Why didn't I think of that? I'll drill them out!

[@workshopstudios43]

Robert, so very glad the video has helped! My reason for starting a channel was to give back to the KZbin community that has helped me out so many times. :> thanks for watching subscribing and commenting!!

[@samkitty5894]

What an idiotic design. Overflow water from the bleach container drains down the outside of the drum to the wooden floor below. Why not send it back into the tub, or out through the main drain line?

[@workshopstudios43]

Amen to that

[@dwitherrite]

I too replaced the water valve solenoid assembly, after that, the water rushed into the bleach compartment causing it to spill over into the upper ring around the basket which overflowed onto the floor. Since we don't poor the bleach there (we just add it to the load after it has filled with water) I just disconnected the electrical plug to that solenoid.

[@workshopstudios43]

Glad you got it fixed! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@msleo3456]

Thank you so much for this video..I have the same issue and couldn't figure it out, until I watched this.

[@workshopstudios43]

Glad it helped! And thanks for watching and commenting.

[@briancostanzo9494]

I also read through the comments and unplugged solenoid. How easy was that! Thank you

[@workshopstudios43]

You're welcome! and thank you for watching and sharing!!

[@danielwoodcock9533]

Puppets got me there at the end! 😆 Exactly the same issue here. I guess if you really didn’t want the bleach cycle you could just disconnect that circuit right? Drilling a bigger hole in the washer freaks me out. I guess nothing is under that pan when you drilled it?

[@workshopstudios43]

Daniel, thanks for watching! Yeah, that freaked me out too! But by then I had the washer apart and back together several times with leaking each time. Because the bleach cycle was "built in to" the electronics and valves I couldn't figure out how to disconnect them. The washer was way out of warranty... so it was desperation that pushed me to drilling. Hope that helps!

[@danielwoodcock9533]

@@workshopstudios43 I ended up looking at the water inlet valve that I recently replaced and I just unplugged the connection to the bleach hose. That solved my problem! No more water issues or leaks. We don't use the bleach area anyways, so that was simple for us. But you totally helped me know that this was our issue. Thanks!

[@TomMe-nx8dk]

Well done. Comprehensive

[@workshopstudios43]

Thanks for the kind words! And thanks for watching 👀 🙂

[@jtothemeak5525]

Why would LG make the overflow drain onto your floor instead of connect it to your outflow hose?

[@workshopstudios43]

Great question!! Right up there with what is consciousness and what is dark matter 🤠👍

[@seosarang]

If one of the valve stop working can you change just that one or do you have to replace the while assembly?

[@workshopstudios43]

Great question. My model had all the valves as a unit. But each model can be different. I would suggest that you check several parts sites (make sure they all recommend the same part) and compare what they recommend to what your existing part looks like Good luck with your repair, and thanks for watching and sharing! 🤠

[@tonyd3029]

Thank you, I am disconnecting the valve. It is not used anyway.

[@hitechhero3851]

Did this work? I’m having same issue and don’t use the bleach. How do you disconnect the valve?

[@tonyd3029]

@@hitechhero3851 Yes it works. Open top of washer, where valves are, take off wire valve that feeds bleach tray. then take hose off on bleach tray side and put a bolt that fits inside hose and put a pipe clamp on hose. Done.

[@tonyd3029]

@@hitechhero3851 unplug washer first

[@hitechhero3851]

@@tonyd3029 so I’m idiot when it comes to this stuff. Do I unplug the blue “H” shaped wire piece from the valve? And does water still run through the hose if that’s unplugged?

[@tonyd3029]

@@hitechhero3851 disconnect hose at bleach compartment end and plug it there as I said before and remove wire that goes to valve that supplies to bleach valve hose. So, bleach valve will not get any power.

[@conorgorman8664]

With respect sir, but why can’t you just unplug the bleach inlet valve? Well, I guess not if you use the bleach tray a lot. I had the same issue and I eliminated the problem completely. The valve has a diaphragm inside that opens only by an electrical current. Cut the electricity, and the diaphragm never opens to allow water through.

[@workshopstudios43]

Conor, a great question. It's been a while since I fixed this, but I believe our washing machine was built in a way that I couldn't do that. Something like the bleach tray was part of another system, so if I disable it, the washer wouldn't have worked the way it was designed. If others are built so you can separately disable, then that is a great solution! Thanks for watching and commenting!!

[@tabithaann6238]

Thanks @workshopstudios43 I watched other videos with that as a simple solutio, so I had my husband unplug the electric for the bleach. I just ran it and now I got an E1 error, which apparently means the tub can't get water. Will show him your video tomorrow. 😅

[@markbergeron6106]

I'm on a septic system and we don't use bleach. Plug the hose at the bleach tray. Unplug the blue plug at the pump. The washer won't even know what happened.

[@tabithaann6238]

My husband just did this but now we got an E1 error?

[@isaaceid6932]

Did drilling larger drain holes for the bleach solve the issue?

[@workshopstudios43]

It sure did ! The washer has been working fine and leak free. Thanks for watching !

[@viteslavjedlicka7138]

Hello ,its possible downgrade washer machine,put hot water and washing powder manualy in drum and motor start by bastling switch - Thanks

[@workshopstudios43]

Our washing machine has an automatic cycle built into the electronics so the bleach valve opens on most normal cycles. So, we had to either block the hose or drill the holes in the bleach tray so it didn't overflow. Was afraid that a blocked hose would leak or cause other problems so drilled the holes. It's been over a year and it's working fine Thanks for watching and good luck with your projects!

[@ubigim]

I have similar washer but kenmore elite. Water is dripping from the bleach tray, going around the drum, back into the drum when not running. Will fill the drum up with water when not used. Could disconnecting the plug to the bleach tray on the manifold stop water flow? Or would I need to plug it somehow? We don’t use bleach so its not a concern. Also, when it starts up, I hear water rushing around the drum but it’s empty.. any ideas would be greatly appreciated from anyone. Thanks!

[@workshopstudios43]

Sounds very much like the problem with our washer. I tried several ways to fix it, including

[@workshopstudios43]

Including taking off the hose, but all resulted in leaking. The only way I found that worked was to make the hole bigger in the bleach tray. Hope that helps, and thanks for watching and commenting!

[@dmsteele92831]

Dealing with this right now.... ugghh

[@workshopstudios43]

Good luck!

[@isidromapile1421]

Thank you for this video. I replaced the water inlet valve for my top load lg washer (WT1501CW) and noticed a small water leak on the floor after each wash. You video showed me where the leak is coming from (overflowing bleach dispenser that I noticed). Since this is a new water inlet valve then it must be a defective valve because this leak never happened before. So I returned it to Amazon and reordered another valve with the highest review and fewest complains (38 bucks). Now the water coming from the bleach dispenser to the tub is significantly reduced and caused no more leaks. Thank you, thank you for the education!!!

[@workshopstudios43]

You are very welcome!! Thank you for watching and commenting!!