Overflowing Washing Machine

I have a Whirlpool washer that is approximately 9 years old and in the past year I have flooded my floors with this machine. If you change the load cycle and accidently get the knob stuck between two cycles, the machine overflows. Is there an overflow sensor or something that can be added to this machine to prevent this from happening again? Otherwise, I feel like I can't take the risk of flooding my whole house and need to replace this machine. I'm guessing that newer, more expensive machines perhaps have a safety feature that prevents this problem.

 

Normally such problems are associated with a stuck fill valve, either if the machine is on or off, or a stuck pressure switch circuit, if the machine is on, due to either the switch itself or the tubing that fills with water and builds pressure to shut off the switch at your chosen water level height.

But in your case, it sounds like some kind of electrical cross connection is occuring, between the fill switch wire, fill valve wire and a timer circuit, somewhere.

It be easiest to assume you have a timer issue. But am not 100% sure. Would take someone wiring schematic savvy to find the problem, conclusively, I'd say. And for a layman to actually follow timer schematics, is difficult. They show all the circuit bars and highlight what is on, during a certain part of the cycle, with dark bars, and may also show cam positions. There are many connections in there, that occur during various parts of the cycle, where one circuit goes off, and one or two other things might come on at once, etc.

Some years ago I was fortunate enough to have 3 used appliance stores in our seedy part of town, to be able to buy say a used timer for cheaper, and then cross my fingers and hope. (I was invariably right). Now we have them no more, due to downtown buyouts/revitalization program -unfortunately.

But if YOU have such a place, you could perhaps take the gamble, unless you get better or more specific advise here.

Since you say it has a knob, and not a touch pad, I presume your machine is not digital and does not have a control board in it - I presume. And has a mechanical timer that does all the work.

 

you could replace the water level switch with the one that has infinite water levels instead of just of 3 or 4. part# 3366845 may work

 

Best if you buy a new one. I got mine replaced after 6 years of using it. Had the same problem as yours. I bought a new Bosch built-in undercounter dishwasher with a 10% discount from Rainbow Appliance Coupons.