Hi all, I just bought my first washing machine. Hope you guys can help me with a noob question.

The washing machine is connected to tap where it gets water from - is it ok to leave the tap permanently on, even when I'm not using the washing machine? Will I incur water charges by doing so?

yes it will incur water charges... off the water after not using washing machine..


result: $$ saved

Yes you should really. All manufacturers recommend it. If the taps are always left on - and therefore under pressure - you could get a leak, or even a flood from a leaking or split fill hose.

This sometimes happens over night when reduced demand causes increased water pressure. More rarely, a sticking fill valve can allow water to enter the machine even when unplugged. Again this often happens at night.

What if I turn off the water supply but left the tap on - will there be charges and water pressure?

The reason is the tap is located in a very hard to reach place and in fact it's easier to turn off the water supply than to turn off the tap.

water supply, means u have another tap to cut the incoming supply to the washer?

This second tap is called a "stop tap" (like the ones found below a sink) can cut the water supply to the tap supplying water to the washing machine

yes can .. it wont be charged

Ok, thanks a lot

TS is suffering from not knowing how water is charged. The first two replies just confuses abbey even more.

Your water bill depends on the water meter reading. The meter is located at the front of your house. All water that enters your house goes through this point, and the meter measures the amount of water that goes by. They read your meter once, then approximately one month later, they read it again. The difference is assumed to be how much water you used, and this is the amount you would be charged.

If you turn on every faucet in your home, and have one person stick one finger in each one, so that no water can come out, no water will pass into your home. The water meter does not move. And you will not be charged anything.

You are not charged for how long the tap is turned on. You're not charged for "water pressure". You're only charged for "water used". This is not determined by a secret, invisible, measuring device at each tap. The sole measuring device is the water meter at the front of your house.

If the water passes through your meter, but does not come out the tap (eg over flowing water tank at the roof, leaking pipes in your walls, etc) you would still have to pay for it.

Whether leaving the entire system under pressure with the tap on will damage your washing machine, I do not know. I always turn off the tap in mine. It's easily accessible for exactly this reason. If there is another valve before the tap that you can turn off, that should work exactly the same.

There is no "sensor" on the tap itself, so where you cut off the water
supply, does not matter.

I have been using washing machine for years and i never turn the tap off after use. There is no extra charge. Perhaps turning the tap on and off repeatedly each time after using the washing machine may cause leakage of tap faster than just leave the tap on.

It might wear out the tap. It would probably wear out the washer in the tap faster. But that washer can't be more than 50 sen, and it would be years before you wear it out from turning it on/off once a day.

I never close the tap, I let the washing machine to decide to use the water or not. I pay for the technology to make my everyday life easier

This post has been edited by neo1point3: Sep 19 2012, 03:53 PM

I never close the tap also, there is a stopper equipped at the tip there to prevent water from flowing out.

However I do realize my water bill goes up quite much.
But not sure is whether the tap or the washing machine is using too much water.

More likely, you have a leak somewhere else. Perhaps a pipe in the wall or under the floor, where you cannot see it.

If the valve in the washing machine is faulty, and water continues flowing when the machine is not on, then where do all the water go? It should be obvious whether the floor below the machine is always wet.

I turn off the tap after I use my washing machine, which I use every 2-3 days. The tap developed a leak after only 3 years.

My latest water bill is 40% higher than the previous one, granted I bath more lately but still I'm concerned.

You seem knowledgeable about this matter - should I get a plumber and how much will he charge to fix it? I hear plumbers are reluctant to do home visits over "small matters" as they don't earn much.

This post has been edited by GenY: Sep 20 2012, 01:12 AM

I have yet to change the tap on the washing machine. But have done many others. And many more washers. The ones in the kitchen most often. Probably because they get used much more than other taps.

I've never called a plumber before. No idea how much it would cost. But checking for leaks is relatively simple.

1. fill up your tanks

2. don't use any water for a couple of hours

3. go look at the meter and see if it moves.

Just tell everyone to stop using water after 10pm at night. Have a pail of water in the toilet, and use that instead of flushing. After about 6 hours, the tanks should be full.

Be sure you're the first to wake up at 4am. Bring a torch light. Go look at the meter. See if it is moving or not. You might want to bring a friend to keep watch for ghosts and night crawlies.

Ok, thanks for the tips, dkk