Any appliance with a water connection is exposed to the minerals in San Antonio's water. SAWS puts typical hardness at 15 to 20 grains per gallon, and those minerals collect where water slows down, changes direction or passes through a fine screen. In a washing machine or a refrigerator, those are exactly the places that control how much water gets in.
The result is a set of symptoms that look like electrical or mechanical faults but often start as scale. This guide goes through the common ones, what you can check yourself, and when the part itself needs replacing.
Where scale collects
- •Washer inlet screens. Where the fill hoses connect to the back of the washer, there's usually a small mesh screen inside each port. It catches grit and scale before they reach the water valve.
- •Washer water inlet valve. The valve behind those screens opens electrically to let water in. Scale can stop it opening fully or closing completely.
- •Refrigerator water inlet valve. Usually at the bottom back of the fridge, this valve feeds both the ice maker and the door dispenser.
- •The refrigerator water filter. It's designed to catch sediment and improve taste. In hard water it can clog sooner than you expect.
- •Ice maker fill tube and mold. Scale and ice can build up where water enters the mold.
Washer symptoms that point to the water supply
A washer that takes a long time to fill, fills with only hot or only cold water, or throws a fill or water-inlet error code is worth checking at the supply before anything else. On LG front-loaders that's the IE code, covered in our guide to LG washer error codes. A washer that keeps trickling water in when it's off is usually a valve that no longer closes. That needs attention soon, because it can overflow.
How to clean washer inlet screens
This takes about fifteen minutes. Have a towel and a small bucket ready.
- Unplug the washer and turn both supply valves on the wall clockwise until they're closed.
- Pull the washer out far enough to reach the hoses. Slide it rather than rocking it, so you don't strain the drain hose.
- Unscrew the hoses from the back of the washer. Some water will come out. Let it drain into the bucket.
- Look into each port. You should see a small mesh screen. If it's white with scale or blocked with grit, gently pull it out with needle-nose pliers, or clean it in place with an old toothbrush. Some screens are part of the valve and aren't meant to be removed, so don't force it.
- Soak removable screens in white vinegar for half an hour, rinse, and reinstall them.
- Check the hoses while you're there. Rubber hoses that are bulging, cracked or stiff should be replaced. Braided stainless hoses are a sensible upgrade. Hand-tighten, then a gentle quarter turn with pliers. Don't overtighten.
- Turn the valves back on slowly and check every connection for drips before pushing the washer back.
If the washer still fills slowly with clean screens and full water pressure at the valves, the inlet valve itself is the likely suspect. That's a technician's job, because the valve is wired into the machine.
Refrigerator and ice maker symptoms
In a refrigerator, scale and clogged filters tend to show up as:
- •Ice cubes getting smaller, hollow or fewer over weeks.
- •A slow or sputtering door dispenser.
- •A buzzing or humming from the back of the fridge when the dispenser is pressed, with little water coming out.
- •Water dripping from the dispenser after you let go, or ice forming around the fill tube.
Start with the filter
Most manufacturers recommend replacing a refrigerator water filter about every six months, and sooner if flow drops. In hard water, flow often drops first. Replace the filter with the part listed in your manual, then run and discard a few glasses of water to clear air and carbon fines. Many fridges also want the filter indicator reset after a change.
A filter that isn't seated fully can cause low flow or a leak, so push or twist it until it locks.
Check the supply line and shutoff
Follow the water line from the back of the fridge to its shutoff valve, usually under the sink or in the wall behind the fridge. Make sure the valve is fully open and the line isn't kinked behind the unit. Older installations sometimes use a saddle valve clamped onto a pipe. These are known for clogging and leaking over time. If you have one, it's worth having it replaced with a proper shutoff.
Water pressure and reverse-osmosis systems
Refrigerator water valves need a minimum supply pressure to open fully, and the manual lists it. A reverse-osmosis system feeding the fridge can deliver less than that, especially as its storage tank runs down, which shows up as small cubes and a weak dispenser. If you have one, check the refrigerator maker's guidance on RO connections before blaming the valve.
When the valve is the problem
If a new filter and a fully open supply don't restore flow, or if water keeps flowing when nothing is calling for it, the refrigerator's water inlet valve may be scaled or failing. Unplug the refrigerator before pulling it out, and don't open the rear panel yourself. The valve connects to mains voltage wiring. If the valve is letting water through onto the floor, our guide to a refrigerator leaking water helps you confirm the source.
For ice maker problems that aren't about water supply, such as a frozen fill tube, a stuck ejector or a freezer that isn't cold enough, see our dedicated article on an ice maker not making ice.
Does a water softener help?
A whole-house softener reduces the calcium and magnesium that form scale, so it protects washer valves and refrigerator valves as well as dishwashers and water heaters. It isn't a substitute for replacing a fridge filter, which handles different contaminants.
When to call a technician
Call for service when:
- •The washer fills slowly or not at all after the screens are clean and the house valves are fully open.
- •Water runs into the washer or fridge when it's off.
- •There's any leak inside the cabinet or under the unit. Shut off the supply and unplug the appliance until it's inspected.
- •The ice maker still doesn't fill with a new filter and a good supply.
A scaled or leaking inlet valve is usually a single-part repair once it's confirmed. Our washer repair and ice maker repair pages explain what we check. Hard water in the kitchen is covered in our article on hard water and your dishwasher.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean washer inlet screens?
There's no fixed schedule. Checking them once a year, or whenever fill time seems slow, is sensible in hard water.
Is it safe to run a refrigerator without the water filter?
Many models have a bypass plug or will run without one, but not all do. Check your manual before removing the filter and leaving it out.
Can I descale a refrigerator water valve?
Not practically. The valve is sealed, and trying to clean it can damage it. When it's scaled badly enough to cause symptoms, it's replaced.