Appliance Spares
Quick answer: A Simpson top loader that won’t fill — or fills to a trickle — almost always has a failed water inlet valve or a blocked valve filter screen. The valve is the little solenoid where the inlet hose screws onto the back of the machine. Replacements for the Esprit, Eziset, Ezisensor and Enduro ranges run $9.95–$18.65, and swapping one is a ten-minute job with a pair of pliers.
Find the right Simpson part by model number
Match the symptom to the fault
| What you see | What you hear | Most likely cause |
|---|---|---|
| No water at all, cycle stalls at the start | A faint hum or click, then nothing | Failed inlet valve solenoid |
| Fills to a slow trickle | Normal hum, weak flow | Blocked filter screen in the valve, or a kinked inlet hose |
| Cold fills but hot doesn’t (or the reverse) | One side silent | One valve of a dual/twin setup failed |
| Water keeps running with the machine off | Constant hissing | Valve jammed open — replace it and turn the tap off in the meantime |
| Fills, stops early, wash starts shallow | Normal fill, cuts out | Water level sensor reading full too soon |
If your machine is showing a fault light or code instead, start with our Westinghouse, Simpson and Electrolux error code guide.
Why Simpson top loaders stop filling
Simpson top loaders fill through one or two solenoid inlet valves on the rear panel — the fittings the inlet hoses screw onto. Mains pressure pushes water through a fine filter screen, and the solenoid opens the valve when the timer or board calls for water. Three things go wrong:
- The filter screen blocks. Grit and scale from the water supply build up in the little mesh screen inside the hose fitting. Flow drops to a dribble. Cleaning it is free, and it’s always the first check.
- The solenoid fails. The coil burns out or the diaphragm inside hardens and sticks. The valve either never opens (no fill) or won’t close (water runs continuously). Either way, the valve is replaced as a unit.
- The level sensing goes wrong. If water flows fine but the machine cuts the fill short — or overfills — the water level sensor rather than the valve is the suspect.
Confirm the fault in five minutes
- Check the taps and hoses first. Both taps fully open, hoses not kinked behind the machine. Unscrew each hose at the machine end with a bucket handy and confirm strong flow from the tap end.
- Inspect the filter screens. With the hoses off, look into the valve inlets on the machine. Pick out the mesh screens carefully and rinse off any grit or scale, then retest.
- Listen at the start of the cycle. Start a fill and listen at the back of the machine. A click with no water — or total silence when the machine should be filling — points at the solenoid.
- Test hot and cold separately. On machines with separate hot and cold valves, if one side fills and the other doesn’t, you’ve found your failed valve.
- Watch the fill level. If the machine fills strongly but stops at the wrong level, look at the water level sensor rather than the valve.
The part that fixes it
| Part | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Simpson 90-degree inlet valve 0136400026 / 360313 (cold and hot) | The classic 90-degree valve for Simpson Esprit, Eziset and Ezisensor top loaders | $10.80 |
 Simpson inlet valve for Esprit, Eziset and Ezisensor | The same three ranges — alternative supply of the standard valve | $16.45 |
 Simpson Eziset 450–805 inlet valve | Eziset 450, 500, 550, 605, 750, 800 and 805 | $9.95 |
 Two-pack of Simpson Esprit 500–750 inlet valves | Doing hot and cold in one visit on Esprit machines | $25.95 |
 Simpson Ezi Set cold water dual inlet valve 119030810 | Ezi Set machines with the twin-outlet cold valve | $15.95 |
 Simpson EZIset cold and hot valve pair for SWT5541 / SWT6041 / SWT6541 | The newer SWT-series top loaders | $38.65 |
 Simpson Enduro inlet valve for 36S502E / 22S702E / 22S714E | Enduro-series machines | $18.65 |
 Simpson / Westinghouse hot inlet valve 10 mm 0136200082 | The hot-side valve on Simpson and Westinghouse top loaders | $18.39 |
 Simpson / Electrolux water level sensor 119015400 | Machines that fill but stop at the wrong level | $25.95 |
Not sure which valve your machine uses? The model number is on the model sticker — on most Simpson top loaders it’s on the rear panel or under the lid. Run it through the Part Finder for the exact-fit valve.
Replacing the inlet valve, step by step
- Turn off both taps and unplug the machine.
- Unscrew the inlet hoses from the back — have a towel ready for the cupful of water in the lines.
- Remove the small rear panel or console screws that expose the valve (on most Simpson top loaders the valve is right behind the hose fitting).
- Photograph the wiring, then pull the spade terminals off the solenoid.
- Release the outlet hose clamp, unclip or unscrew the valve body, and swap in the new valve.
- Reconnect everything, screw the hoses back on hand-tight plus a nudge, turn on the taps and check for weeps before running a fill.
Allow ten to twenty minutes with basic hand tools. No need to pull the machine apart.
Repair cost summary (Australia 2026)
| Fix | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Clean the valve filter screens yourself | $0 | 10 minutes |
| New inlet valve (DIY) | $9.95–$38.65 | 10–20 minutes |
| Repairer callout plus the same part | $150–$250+ | wait for a booking |
| New top loader | $600–$1,200 | — |
The 50% rule: an inlet valve is about the cheapest part a washing machine has. On any Simpson that’s otherwise going strong — and these top loaders are famously long-lived — the valve is always worth replacing.
Frequently asked questions
My Simpson hums at the start of the cycle but no water comes in. Is that the valve?
Almost certainly. The solenoid is being told to open but the valve isn’t passing water — either the coil has failed or the diaphragm is stuck. Check the filter screens first; if they’re clear, replace the valve.
Only the hot water isn’t filling. Do I need both valves?
No — on machines with separate hot and cold valves you can replace just the failed side. That said, both valves are the same age, which is why the two-packs above exist: doing both while you’re there saves a second repair later.
Which valve fits my Esprit or Eziset?
The 90-degree valve listed first suits the Simpson Esprit, Eziset and Ezisensor ranges — it’s the standard fitting across those top loaders. Confirm your model number against the listing fitment, or use the Part Finder.
The machine overfills instead. Same part?
Two possibilities: a valve jammed open (water runs even with the machine off — replace the valve) or the water level sensor misreading (fill stops late or not at all under power — replace the sensor, listed above).
Where is my Simpson model number?
On the model sticker, usually on the rear panel or visible under the lid. Simpson top loader model numbers often start with SWT, or with the range name era codes like 36S or 22S for the Enduro and Aquapulse series.
Do these parts ship same day?
Yes — order before 12pm Sydney time for same-day dispatch Australia-wide, flat $10.60 shipping.
Related
- Westinghouse, Simpson & Electrolux washing machine error codes
- Electrolux & Westinghouse parts Australia — common issues
- All Simpson washing machine parts
- Browse all Eziset parts
- Find your exact part with the Part Finder
Ready to fix it?
- Run your model number through the Oz Appliance Spares Part Finder — model in, exact-fit valve out.
- Browse 3,000+ parts in stock
- Order before 12pm Sydney time → ships same day from our Sydney Northern Beaches warehouse, Australia-wide.
Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is provided without warranty of any kind. Appliance designs vary between models and production runs — always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, switch off and unplug the appliance before starting any work, and confirm parts against the model number on your appliance’s model sticker. Any repair is undertaken at your own risk and Oz Appliance Spares accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from work performed after reading this guide, to the maximum extent permitted by law. If in doubt, use a qualified technician.
