Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

[brad3rs]

Hi, I wonder if someone can assist me. My LG F14A8YD5 condenser washer dryer has steam coming from the soap draw on the dry cycle. I have checked to see if the water inlet valve to the condenser chamber is trickling water but it seems it is not. I was going to replace the inlet valve as it seems it may have a fault but before i do is there anything else it could be or that i should check? maybe the valve is fine and its just not being told to turn on or something. I do have a multimeter and tested the connectors on the valves and all show .42 or something. is there anything else i can test before buying a new water inlet valve? i have also made sure the machine has no blockages. Thanks for any help.

[Martin]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

The symptoms indicate the fault is no water entering the condenser and water inlet valve going faulty is the main reason.

[char14lew]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

not familiar with model but if the valves at fault it would show an error code would it not?
I’ve had this on zanussi’s and it’s been a blocked condenser every time!

[Martin]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

char14lew wrote:not familiar with model but if the valves at fault it would show an error code would it not?

Not necessarily, as you’re in the trade you would realise coil resistance can register normal to the electronics yet the mechanics of the solenoid needle warp and jam thus not allowing water to pass 😉

[brad3rs]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

Thanks for your your help. I thought the best way to tell if it was a problem with the valve would be to open the solenoid and have a look to see if there are any signs of issue.
i followed this helpful youtube video (different machine but good explanation how to open the solenoid valve)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNFa7aSfHgU
and i had a look inside. The pin in the solenoid seemed to have a slight brown rusty colour on its edge and also on the edge of its plastic housing. This indicates that at some point in time the pin was unable to move and had become stuck. I did try to clean it all and make sure everything was able to move and then reassembled it. Unfortunately there is still steam coming from the soap draw, but at least now i can see where there was an issue and even if it did work, the inlet valve had been compromised and should be replaced anyway.
thank you again for your help.

[char14lew]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

absolutely Martin, a mechanical fault would cause a fill time out and flag the error code though!

[Martin]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

char14lew wrote:absolutely Martin, a mechanical fault would cause a fill time out and flag the error code though!

On dry there’s no fill time for it to time out as the water should flow continuously throughout the dry cycle. The OP has discovered that the valve is knackered anyway so my work here is done. 8)

[brad3rs]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

unfortunately after changing the valve for a new one there was STILL steam from the soap draw 🙁
i noticed the new inlet valve wasn’t kicking in so i’m back to square one. it worked a few days ago but now nothing, no water coming from the inlet valve to the condenser tank.
i checked everywhere and i know there are no blockages. also checked the pump and thats all clean.
i tested the valve with a multi-meter and it seems fine. i also emailed spares@ukwhitegoods.co.uk (where i bought the part) to see if any chance could be a dodgy valve they said really unlikely as all parts are brand new.

he also said…

“The only other thing I can think of is the board as that’d tell the valve to open, flick a relay probably but, I’ve never worked on one so you may be better to ask in the forums and see if the guys have any idea what it could be.”

i’d love to get the bottom of this problem without calling someone out.
can someone advise on what i could check with my multi-meter to see if it could be the board?
i have the service repair manual pdf for this model should i need it.
here it is if you need to view it https://goo.gl/791Mbu
apart from the steam from the soap draw problem the machine is washing and drying perfectly.

thanks again for any help 🙂

[brad3rs]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

the service manual has some tests that can be done so i did them by holding two buttons and starting the machine then cycling through tests to perform actions to check things are working ok. one test was (turn on Inlet valve for dry) and the valve did turn on and water trickled out into the condenser chamber, so i know the valve is being energised and water does flow into the chamber when instructed. There was another test (Water level Sensor for Steam) i chose that test and the machine just shuts off no error code or anything just OFF. i then tested the pressure switch to see if it had a fault with the multimeter. The manual says “is the resistance of the Pressure Switch out of range?” if so replace the pressure switch.
[Pin1 ~ Pin3] should be 21~23?)
on pin 1 and 3 i get 0.00? with the multimeter i don’t ever see 21-23?

does that mean the pressure switch could be faulty. is it possible the pressure switch could be responsible for the excess steam i’m seing as it’s not telling the valve to open and send water to the condenser chamber and so i see excess steam?

its definitely is a puzzle and if it wasn’t for the fact the machine is working fine but for some steam from the soap draw i would have called someone out by now. let’s see maybe someone here can help 🙂 thanks again.

[brad3rs]

Re: Steam From Soap Draw LG F14A8YD5

hi, if it helps anyone in the future we did manage to resolve our steam from soap draw problem. The steam was coming from the drum up a tube into the soap draw (not the main ubend one). anyway, we blocked off that hose so no steam could escape. the condenser tank then filled with the steam (cos it had nowhere else to go) and condensed normally. There was no problem with the soap powder, fabric conditioner entering the drum because all must go down main ubend hose. drying time was normal and machine working as new. i’ve no idea what that hose does (and i don’t really care) but blocking it off solved our problem. thanks for any help.

[Author]

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