How to Check the Pressure Switch Pump Under a Laundry Tub

Residential washing machines use an internal component known as a pressure switch to regulate the amount of water in the tub. The switch itself is located inside the control panel and connected to a port on the bottom of the tub via a clear, flexible hose. Because the pressure switch tells the water pump when to turn on and off, it's the first component you should check if the tub overflows or fails to sufficiently fill.

Screwdriver
Flat-head screwdriver
Ohmmeter

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the washing machine from the wall outlet while troubleshooting the water pump pressure switch. Turn off the water to the machine from the supply valves on the laundry room wall.
- 2
  Remove the fasteners securing the control panel cover to the washing machine; the type and number of fasteners varies by brand and model. Fold the control panel cover forward or back, depending on the design of your machine, to access its internal components.
- 3
  Locate the water pump pressure switch on the control panel. Envision the control panel with the cover on; find the pressure switch directly beneath where the water level selector button or knob would be.
- 4
  Disconnect the three pressure switch wires from the component terminals; label the detached wires for easier reassembly, if necessary. Set an ohmmeter to measure Rx1 resistance. Touch the ohmmeter probes to terminals one and two, one and three, and two and three; you should receive a reading of infinity or continuity for each test.
- 5
  Pull the clear air hose off of the connector on the side of the pressure switch. Gently blow into the end of the hose while touching the ohmmeter probes to the switch terminals as described in Step 4. The ohmmeter should register a resistance reading of one or more. Replace the switch if the ohmmeter reads "0."
- 6
  Reattach the removed wires to the pressure switch terminals. Replace the control panel cover and reinstall the removed fasteners.
- 7
  Disengage the metal retaining clips or wires securing the top panel to the washer cabinet; press the clips or wires with the tip of a flat-head screwdriver. Raise the panel and fold it back. Unfasten the retaining screws at the top and bottom of the front panel. Stand the panel against a wall or lay it on a padded surface.
- 8
  Find the pressure switch hose connected to a port on the bottom left-hand side of the washer's outer tub. Pull the hose off the port and check it for obstructions. Clear any blockages and fit the end of the hose onto the tub port.

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