[soggyfrog]

Hi folks, my Ariston A1600 washer/drier spews water out of the detergent dispenser during the spin cycle.

The machine is not especially old and is clean. Off the top of my head, it sounds like a non-return valve somwhere is not working like it should.

I have disconnected and cleaned the rubber pipe leading from the detergent dispenser into the drum. This pipe has a rubber membrane half-covering the drum end and there appears to be a corresponding shape of plastic inside the drum. Could this be the system that's no longer working?

Your ideas and help would be greatly appreciated. I am based in France so an English-speaking local engineer is hard to find.

Thanks in anticipation
Mark, the soggy frog

[buzzhost]

I have a similar issue with a similar model - with mine it is during the rinse cycle (about 45 minutes in). It then spews water out of the bottom of the drawer.

I spent a couple of years as a white goods engineer, but I must confess much of it is forgotten and I did not do a great deal with Ariston/Merloni. Some of it is still with me and in my case it is clear that the machine is trying to start a spin with a tub full of water from the rinse. The old stuff I worked on would have put this to be a fault in the pressure system or switch. I don't know with these modern things if there is a different kind of logic going on and no pressure switch on rinse/spin.

I have never been aware of a non-return valve in the soap hose - or I've not seen one anyway.

If I can find out more, I will post back.

[buzzhost]

Sorted it. Mine is a A1636 and as I should have known, this was not so much a fault as a lack of maintenance.

It was an issue with the pressue system. The catch pot (in the sump hose) was caked up with fluff and debris, stopping the machine sensing the correct water level. The pressure chamber feeding the pressure switch is tee'd off at the sump hose. The fix was to clean it out.

I imagine your machine, being a similar model, may have a similar issue. All I would say is that be careful taking the sump hose off. The plastic catch pot inside should only go one way round, but it is keyed and possible to fit it two ways. The outlet holes on the catch pot normall point in the direction of the pump inlet. It may be difficult to see when you take it apart as it will probably be caked up. Just make a note of which way round it was and how it was fitted. Also it should have a PING PONG BALL in it, don't loose it! When you put it back together slot the catch pot in first (MAKE SURE THE PING PONG BALL IS INSIDE OF IT) then slip the sump hose back on over it.

Good luck!