Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

[yucca]

Hi everybody

It’s been a little while (not long enough) since our washer/dryer caused us problems (would you believe I had to replace the valve magnets again – twice now). The latest problem is bizarre.

We can tumble clothe’s quite happily, but every now and then, at the end of the drying cycle the clothes can come out ‘slightly wet’ – usually the clothes in direct contact with the drum.

Sometimes the clothes can come out completely wet – even wetter than when they first went in.

I’ve had the top off and checked the usual (valve magnet seems ok); no steam from the soap dispenser.

When observing the machine (yes, I have sat for half hour watching a tea towel go round and round – I reckon it’s a toss up between that and watching paint dry) and sure enough everything comes out dry. It only seems to go wrong when I’m not watching it!

I’ve had the outlet pipe in a bucket and watched the water being pumped out.

The only thing I can think of is that the pump is not working properly all the time. There does not appear to be a problem on a wash cycle – the machine is emptied – and we don’t have a kitchen full of water so it’s unlikey to be the drain pipe. But if there was an intermittent problem with the pump, then I guess it might become more obvious during a dry cycle, as over time water would slowly build up and eventually enter the drum. Btw I have never seen any water actually in the drum during a drying cycle – I’m just guessing.

Has anyone seen this before? Any ideas how I should prceed? It’s costing me a fortune in re tumbling clothes just to find they are sopping wet again ….. 🙁

Thanks for your help!

[Martin]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

Condenser unit blocked with fluff I should think?

[yucca]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

Hi

Thanks for replting so quickly.

Well whilst I have not had a look at the condenser yet, I did look at it in December when I replaced the valve magnet – so I doubt that that is at fault. Besides, there is no steam from the soap dispenser.

I’m just running another test, and as a hunch I decided to remove the soap dispenser as the cycle ran. Lo and behold, every now and then when the pump activates some water is deposited in the chamber where the soap dispenser ordinarily resides (far more than would be expected as a result of condensation drips).

When I had the top off the other day, I noticed there appears to be a 3rd black hose which goes to the soap dispenser (the first two I guess are for the soap and fabric conditioner). The other end is connected to the outlet hose, so my hunch is that that black hose has some kind of relief valve such that if the outlet is blocked, any back pressure causes water to be dispensed back into the machine via the soap dispenser as opposed to leaking back out of the washing machine trap and all over the floor.

I suppose in a washing cycle it’s not bvious because the clothes are wet to begin with.

Does this sound plausible? Or have I just invented a new part 🙂

[Martin]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

It’s designed that way and therefore the normal function.

Going back to the condenser, did you clean it out back in December then? It matters little anyway but I’m just curious. But do yourself a favour, take a look at it now, I would. 😉

[yucca]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

Hi,

Yes, I cleaned the condenser in December – I’d look now except it’s late and it’s a right pain pulling the machine out, so I’ll save that for the weekend.

On the subject of “being designed that way” – are you referring to the feedback of water into the drum via the soap dispenser if there is too much back pressure on the outlet pipe?

If you are, then that makes me think there must be some blockage at the washing machine trap causing the back pressure. Presumably, under normal circumstances, water should not be dispensed back into the soap dispenser under a drying cycle (can’t think why there would be)?

Thanks

[Martin]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

It is purely an anti-syphon precaution that’s all!

[yucca]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

Ok. So its not a clever pressure relief valve.

But is it normal to get water dispensed back into the soap drawer?

Thanks

[Martin]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

I thought I answered that earlier?

Martin wrote:It’s designed that way and therefore the normal function.

[yucca]

Re: Bosch WVT1260GB dry clothes getting wet again

Yep, sorry, you did. Mea culpa.

I’ll have a thorough look at the condenser, fluff filter, washing machine trap over the weekend.

Thanks for your help.

[Author]

Posts