Duet Bleach Dispenser Glitch

[DADoES]

 
The bleach dispenser cup on the Duet I recently refurbished consistently does not siphon empty.  Whether bleach is used or not (I've used it only once thus far), the cup is left full of water.  This only happens on the bleach cup ... the softener cup does siphon properly empty.  Of course, I completely disassembled and cleaned the drawer, inserts, and dispenser housing.  Nothing is clogged, it just doesn't siphon empty.  The drawer must be removed and emptied if bleach is used, else it'll overflow and drain immediately when bleach is added.

Is there a fix?

 

[frigilux]

Is the bleach cup getting enough water into it to fill and dump/siphon? If something restricts the incoming water, it may not fill enough to siphon properly. I read that about Duet dispensers somewhere a couple of years ago.

 

[tomturbomatic]

While there are all kinds of things I remember that can cause this like burrs in the plastic etc., I will tell you that adding bleach to the first cold rinse, which is when the Duet dispenses LCB, is stupid. You will get far better results if you add bleach to the hot wash water a few minutes into the wash and then use the three rinses to thoroughly rinse the bleach out of the load. Don't use chlorine bleach in the sanitary cycle because heating the water with chlorine in it will pitt the heating element, but on a regular hot wash, like whitest whites, it is fine to add the bleach manually to the wash water.

 

[DADoES]

 
It seems to have adequate flow.  Detergent and softener dispense OK, bleach seemed to dispense fully.  The bleach cup is left full of water if it starts empty.

The thing is, the machine is destined for use at a rental property.  I understand and can deal with workarounds and modifications to usage techniques.  The occupants of the rental property will take the machine at face-value.  I'll write-up specific usage instructions and tips but it's questionable if they'll be followed for the long-term, if at all.

 

[yogitunes]

Not sure about the design of a Duets drawer......but on my Frigidaire, I had to adjust the legs in the front slightly higher, and slighlty off center of level, tilting it back, which allowed the dispensers to empty completely, note- the siphon is in the back of the chambers....

just a thought!

 

[mrb627]

Leaker

Is water leaking back into the bleach compartment during the softener dispense routine?

Malcolm

 

[mark_wpduet]

My Duet has water left in the bleach dispenser when it's finished (but it's not full) and it is only water, so the bleach did get dispensed. After I'm done I take the drawer completely out and empty any remaining water. I always wondered WHY it dispensed bleach in the first rinse. I read somewhere that the reason is because that is optimal?

I rarely use sanitary, but when I have in the past, I "think" I might have used bleach a couple of times. Good to know I shouldn't do that.

 

[logixx]

Agree on what Malcolm says. The dispenser motor might be a little off or the hidden channels above the drawer clogged somewhere so that water is directed or flows into the bleach dispenser during another fill. Would suggest checking the different fill modes with the drawer removed with the washer is service mode.

Alex

 

[labboy]

I always thought that it was optimal to dispense LC bleach in the first rinse. Better bleaching action and less contact time with the fabric to avoid damage.

I think that is a Launderess question...

 

[aladude]

My 2010 Samsung FL dispenses bleach in the first rinse. I always make sure to use the extra rinse option when using bleach and I've never had any bad effects.

 

[retro-man]

I don't know if this makes a difference but do you have the top part on the bleach dispenser? its an insert that fits over the bleach compartment. I just checked mine and its totally dry. By the way how do you remove the whole drawer. I just looked and don't see how this is removed for cleaning.
Jon

 

[countryguy]

I have a Kenmore He4t and I always have some water left in the bleach dispenser also.  I've also noticed that not all of the fabric softener is removed and I only use about 1/2 of the maximum capacity.  I had a Sears repair guy out when the unit was still under warranty and he changed the thing above the dispenser that controls where the water is directed to and also put in a new dispenser drawer but I still have the same problem. 

 

The drawer on the Kenmore is removed by pulling it out as far as possible and pressing down on the latch that is in the centre top.

 

Gary

 

[pierreandreply4]

i think it might be a minor problem i have a duet washer dating from 2004 and it leaves water in the bleach dispenser sometime i have to empty it by hand or sometime it empty itself in the washer tub when i open the detergent compartment to see if i need to empty by hand the bleach dispenser cup.

 

[gansky1]

In my 2004 Duet, there was always a little water in the bleach dispenser. Though I rarely used bleach in that machine, when I gave the drawer a quick in-and-out shake, the water would siphon out so adding bleach wouldn't dispense immediately.

The Duet and my Speed Queen front-loader with drawer dispenser have been among the cleanest dispensers I've seen. Never any build-up, always completely flushed and clean. I rarely removed the Duet drawer, but when I did, there was never any additive residue or mildew of any kind.