LG FL Needs more water

[pullmyfinger]

Hello all,

Has anyone ever taken apart a late model LG front loader to see what is used to measure water level?

Like many others, I want more water used during the wash cycles. My model, WM2501HWA, has an "Add water" option, but it still is not enough for really muddy/dirty loads.

I can add water to the detergent drawer but the water level sensor cannot be fooled, and stops the cycle and pumps out the extra water.

Anyway, I want to see if the water level sensor can be modified to allow more water use.

Thanks guys!

 

[rp2813]

Wow, that is a real drag that it will drain the water you add. At least my Affinity is too stupid to know better and lets me add as much as I see fit but I have to add it via the detergent drawer too, which is a hassle.

 

[logixx]

LG, amongst others, uses a digital sensor, which cannot be adjusted.

How about adding a pre-wash and extra rinse? Or a warm Rinse/Spin (with low spin speed) before the actual wash cycle?

I think the only way to add more water by default is to increase the length of the hose that connects to the water level sensor. This will make every fill higher. Don't know by how much the hose would have to be extended, though. It's K550 on the pic below.

Alex

 

[pullmyfinger]

Thanks Alex, good info. Is there a link you can provide to these parts diagrams?

I believe adding to the length of the hose may be what is needed to "fool" the sensor. I will try it and post results.

 

[whitetub]

On my Samsung, I just pause the cycle, open the door, and pour in the extra water, using a pitcher. Then close back the door, and press resume, and that's it. and every time you open and close the door, the machine adds a little more water by itself before resuming the tumbling.

 

[revvinkevin]

This may or may not help with the LG question.....

I have a KM Elite steam washer and it too has that electronic water level sensor. I have thought about adding an "air chamber" (like a 16 oz or larger plastic water bottle) in the hose via a "T" between the air bell on the tub and the W.L.S. According to other postings (now in the archives) this will effectively increase the water level without the washer going into "freak out mode" and draining the tub. I have yet to attempt it because of other projects and no prepping for my up coming Dec 11 wash-in.

BTW Rob... I love your screen name, VERY funny!

Kevin

 

[pullmyfinger]

I found the diagrams on Sears site. http://www.searspartsdirect.com/par.../Model-WM2501HWA/3204/0153200?pop=true&blt=05

 

[pullmyfinger]

LOL thanks Kevin! My Wife thinks that name is appropriate.....

 

[mark_wpduet]

Doesn't your machine have a comforter cycle? I think it uses more water

 

[toploader1984]

when i had my 2007 LG front loader it would do the same thing, pump the water out, i used to sometime put it on the comforter/bulky items cycle, that cycle uses alot more water. although my machine would only let you select the highest spin speed of medium on the comforter cycle.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Yea, but medium spin speed is pretty adequate. Tloader.......when u say A LOT more water, how much more are you talking?

 

[pullmyfinger]

The bulky/large cycle adds more water, but not much more.

 

[powerfin64]

how much water are you wanting it to add?? remember, depends on the load size/weight.

 

[westtexman]

I typically use the Permanent Press cycle for all loads - including my temp-boosted white loads, and find that the cycle provides enough water to get the job done beautifully, when I also select the "Water Plus" option.

I used to add water through my detergent drawer until I started using this cycle. Good luck!

 

[toploader1984]

normally the water level is about2 inches, with the bulky cycle the water almost to the boot.

 

[3beltwesty]

How to get a Service Manual for WM2501HWA?

I went to the Sears link in reply#6 and I see they have as service manual; *BUT* it says:

Technician Required for Ordering. For assistance please contact 1-800-4MY-HOME or click here to schedule an appointment.

So can morals buy as service manual without being a tech?

 

[3beltwesty]

Sears will not sell a Service Manual for WM2501HWA

In Calling Sears "parts" for the manual today they said they could not sell me a manual. I talked to 5 different folks in 3 dept's.

"Parts" sent me to "service" and then to "customer care", all who cannot order Sears part # G004 on the diagram Service manual

Number: MFL30599142 $27.69 in stock.

Last night it said backordered; today it said in stock.

Thus here too I wanted to understand more about my new LG WM2501hv washer's water level by buying a service manual, sears has one but will not sell one to me. Weird

 

[logixx]

Too bad. Aditionally, LG also stopped updating their service manual site long ago: http://136.166.4.200/SubPages/DA_Laundry.htm

 

[3beltwesty]

I found a manual for WM2501HWA

I googled the service manual number of MFL30599142 and found one at partstore.com for 39 bucks; with tax and shipping it would be 50 bucks ie pricey. I will ponder the purchase.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

3beltwesty:
Just asking, but what do you need the service manual for? Are you trying to activate the service mode?

 

[3beltwesty]

Hello;

I just want to learn more about how the washer senses the water level and if it can be goosed higher. I typically get or buy a manual for most devices I own. I am a mechanical and electrical engineer and modifying stuff is done all the time. I found several LG service manuals on the web already that I have downloaded for non steam older models.

The WM2501HV LG steam washer when first connected must have an internal chamber with a cuttoff that "fills up" because the cold side sounded like a very very quiet toilet tank filling for about 5 minutes. This is probably the steam generator's water tank is my wild guess. There are no leaks and the sound was very faint; at first I thought it might have leak. The hot side did not have this noise.

When one shut off the cold side's supply; the "water filling up" noise stuff stops; opening up the valve made the water filling noise re-occur. After the approx 5 minutes the fill noise is gone and the washer seems a bit heaver to move; thus there must be a tank or chamber on the cold side filling with water.

I too like the thread starter had the thoughts:

"My model, WM2501HWA, has an "Add water" option, but it still is not enough for really muddy/dirty loads. "

 

[pullmyfinger]

Mods have begun

I added some volume to the water pressure sensor to "Fool" it into adding more water. The first bottle was too big (1 gallon) and the water level went more than half way up the window

I am trying different size bottles and will post results soon.

 

[pullmyfinger]

Water level with the 2 bottles added to the sensor line. Its maybe 1.5" higher than before the mod.

 

[dj-gabriele]

That much water for that little load? That's so wasteful!
If you have a specially dirty load can't you just add a prewash?

 

[pullmyfinger]

Wasteful?? What, 2 gallons? I don't think so.

"Wasteful" is my neighbors lawn sprinklers watering his side walk for 30 minutes every day at 5 gallons a minute.

 

[jlbrazil]

...

I want to make this , but if with the little water my LG suffer to heats the water , imagine with more water
I should've bought 220 volts.
I don't know where the hell my mind was when I bought 110 volts
But I only don't like the rinses water levels , the wash water level is ok.
It almos reach the rim of the drum.
I have one WM1355HW.
I have some videos of it uploaded on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/user/lucasmartinipontes?feature=mhum

 

[pullmyfinger]

Well you can install a 1/4 turn on-off valve in the hose to the bottles and turn it off for the wash then on for the rinse, but that requires you to be near the washer to wait for the rinse cycle.

 

[3beltwesty]

"Water level frequency" as LG's buzzword

"Instead of either opening or closing a switch, it moves an iron "plug" inside of a coil. This coil is charged and measures how far the iron plug travels based on a magnetic field and inputs the reading to the main control board in KHZ. "

http://appliancejunk.com/forums/index.php?topic=6215.0

 

[supremewhirlpol]

I believe the pressure switches on the LG's are analog. While you may have "fooled" the machine by this hack, You've affected more than just the pressure switch. The amount of water in the drum is determined by several other things as well. Also the amount of water can differ per cycle.

 

[pullmyfinger]

Post 3 states the sensor is digital. So far this mod is working, just need to finalize the chamber size, then make one using PVC for reliability, and mounted inside. The setup seen in the pic is just for testing.