Miele w1986 hot water question

[askolover]

Ok Miele people, I have a question.  At what point does the w1986 fill with water from the hot faucet? Since this washer was in storage for a while I ran diagnostics when I first hooked it up and all the fill valves functioned properly.  But I've stood there with my hand on the hot faucet and trying different cycles and temperatures and this thing has yet to actually fill with anything but cold water.  Doesn't really make sense to me what it's thinking is.  Anyone have any input?  Ultimately all that matters is that I have clean clothes, but I'd like to know what it's supposed to be doing.

Thanks

Greg

 

[launderess]

On mine (W1070)

Only way it seems to fill with hot water is if one turns that on at the tap (it uses a "Y" connection). If the machine senses the temperature in tub is beyond what it is set it will open cold water inlet valve to mix.

Am going with the fact these older Miele washers have 2600 watts of heating power the old ways hold; starting from cold and going to whatever temp is required.

This may have made sense back in the day, especially when doing boil washes with out a presoak or prewash first. However with so many modern detergents giving excellent results at 86F to 100F see no reason to go through all that bother. I just turn on the tap to "warm".

 

[foraloysius]

Have you checked the pressure on the hot water line?

 

[askolover]

The water pressure is fine on both sides.  When I do a diagnostics and activate the hot fill valve it opens and has good flow.  My water heater is right beside the washer and I have hot flow immediately when done manually.  It just doesn't do it on an automatic setting.  I feel the faucet and the temp never changes so I know it's not pulling in any hot water, at least not on the cycles I use most.  As long as it heats it up itself it's not a big deal.  I just wondered why they even bothered adding a hot fill valve if it's not going to use it. 

 

[suburbanmd]

Maybe it was configured for cold-only fill. That is possible on some Mieles.

 

[brisnat81]

There is a service config option to enable/Disable the hot fill.

On the W2XXX machines it is a Service option in the config, if the hot tap is off it is supposed to detect it and switch to cold, but mine have all only ever errored.

On the W3XXX machines, its in the User settings menu to enable/disable and when the hot tap is off it does auto changeover to cold.

Have you always had this machine or is it a new acquisition. If its new to you, it might've been configured to be cold fill only.

 

[gizmo]

what wash temperature settings have you tried?

I have an LG front loader for my daily driver and it has hot and cold fill, but only uses hot water if set to wash at over 60 degrees C. Otherwise it is cold fill only.

 

[launderess]

Hot water sets stains, we all know this and cannot imagine that wonderful "German engineering" at Miele going around that fact.

The only way one should ever start washing with hot water is following a cold or warm pre-soak. Miele washers do this but the main wash from what one sees on the vintage units starts with cold water and continues to heat for hot.

Maybe the more recent offerings allow for adjustments, but having read the service manual for the 19XX series cannot seem to recall any setting for "cold fill" . Only the standard warning that both "hot" and "cold" inlet hoses must be connected. If customer wishes to use "cold fill only" a "Y" connector must be used.

That last bit tells me that the machine again is controlled more by incoming tap water temperature than taking on hot water directly. Meaning what one stated above; should one wish to start with hot water simply turn off the cold tap or whatever is needed to only allow hot water to enter machine. If the washer senses temperature in the tub is higher than thermometer setting it will automatically open the cold water inlet to temper the water.

 

[askolover]

Got it straightened out!!

Eddy1210 gave me some info on changing a few settings in the computer.  Just had to push a couple of buttons and it now adds hot water with cold during fill up!  I'm so glad to have the resources available on this forum.

 

Launderess, you are correct about the manual.  I have the 19xx service manual printed out and I could not find it either.  It's in one of those settings that reads, "Not Used".  When I followed Eddy's directions and I changed it from USA to the next "Not Used" one, it began adding tap hot water.  I knew it had to be something simple.  It just seemed pointless to add a hot water valve if it wouldn't use it.  My Asko has a hot fill on it too...the only model they brought over here at the time that had it.

 

[sbond22]

Eddy1210 gave me some info.

If you get a chance would you please explain how the setting is changed?

 

[askolover]

Steve, you have a w1966 don't you?  I believe it will be the same except you don't have the digital readout and have to look at the LED's on the right side.  I put a link to the manual below too.  Page 54 begins the programming sequences.  The manual also says to press "prewash" 3 times...I don't have a prewash button and it still programmed correctly.

 

This info came from Eddy, it was not listed in my manual.

 

To switch from cold only to hot and cold fill:

1:  Have washer off and door closed and dial at "END".  Press and hold Buzzer and Sensitive buttons, turn washer on while pressing.  Release buttons....Prewash and Main Wash LED's should start flashing

2:  turn dial to Cottons 190

3:  press the start button until "Rinse Hold" LED lights if it's not already lit (apparently if "rinses" is lit, it's set up for cold fill only)  If you accidentally go too far just keep pushing start until the right one is lit.

4:  turn washer off

It should be programmed.  I hope it works for you, it did for me.

Greg

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[sbond22]

Great info.

Thanks Greg. It'll be a while until I get the W1966 hooked up (240V wiring, etc.) but I'll save the directions. Maybe I'll learn to appreciate this "new fangled" digital stuff some day.

 

[askolover]

You're welcome

Someone helped me so I like to send it on down the line. 

We were afraid we wouldn't like the Miele after almost 20 years of Asko washing but so far I'm very impressed by this little German machine.