washing machine plumbing confusion

[StonedGalah]

I can't figure out the plumbing on our washing machine.

There's a hot and cold tap with hoses to the washing machine. The hot tap had been turned off (the washing machine came with the house) and I have never turned it out. I went away and when DH did the wash he turned the hot tap on and it started to leak (even after he turned the tap bit off). Then the the hose fell off (obviously dodgy original plumbing!) so now every time I do a wash the hot hose has to go into a bucket and it fills up with water.

Can someone please explain to me how the water is coming from the washing machine when it was plumbed to take hot water from the tap

I want to try to fix it DIY wannabe but I think I need to understand this first!

Hopeful bump

Do you mean that you have never pulled the washing machine out?

Washing machines these days are usually cold fill only, so the hot hose probably was never connected to the machine and was just a leftover from a previous one.

Of course I may have misunderstood.

the valve on the hot supply might be worn out and leaking. If your machine has both hot and cold fill; and if you have a water cylinder (not a combi); and if the cylinder is quite close to the washer, then using hot fill is a bit quicker and more economical. If not, not. There are few machines with hot fill on the market now. Your instruction book will tell you, or you will see from the back of the machine if it has two inlets.

If you are going to use hot fill, buy a new, non-leaking washing machine valve (get a Pegler brand, not a cheap one) and fit it in place of the old valve, using a little PTFE tape on the olive, and reconnect the hose. If not, either cap off the pipe, or fit a new Pegler valve and just leave it closed.

"Can someone please explain to me how the water is coming from the washing machine when it was plumbed to take hot water from the tap"

You will have to look at the back of the machine. Somebody might have fitted a Y connector to join the two hoses, or the hot hose may go to a hot water inlet, and the electric hot valve is clogged or faulty and leaking. It is a common fix for a repairwoman, though if it is a Bosch it will cost a bit extra because they use a non-standard valve.

Thank you both! I will pull the washing machine out and take a look at the back.

I will be back with other questions I'm sure and will try not to lose my own thread this time