Locate the cold water isolation tap on the supply pipe behind or below the machine. Turn it firmly anti-clockwise until it stops moving. If you are unsure whether it moved, close it fully clockwise first, then reopen completely anti-clockwise.

Pull the washing machine carefully forward from the wall by gripping the machine body — never pull the hose itself. Run your hand along the full length of the hose from the tap to the machine, straightening every kink, sharp bend, and compressed section. Push the machine back slowly while watching to confirm the hose does not re-kink behind the cabinet.

Turn the water supply tap fully off. Fold a towel under the hose fitting at the back of the machine. Unscrew the inlet hose coupling anti-clockwise — water remaining in the hose will drip out as the seal breaks. Look into the machine inlet port and you will see a small mesh filter. Use tweezers to remove it carefully. Rinse it under warm running water and scrub all surfaces with an old toothbrush to remove limescale, grit, and debris. Refit the filter and tighten the hose coupling firmly.

With the inlet hose disconnected, point the open end into a bucket and briefly open the tap for three seconds. You should see a strong, uninterrupted, full-bore flow. A weak trickle indicates a supply pressure problem — Zanussi washing machines require a minimum of 0.5 bar to fill reliably.

With the machine completely unplugged from the mains, remove the rear access panel by undoing the screws around its edges. The inlet valve is the solenoid block where the inlet hose connects internally, usually at the top rear of the machine. Check for visible corrosion, cracking of the plastic body, or heavy mineral deposits around the valve ports.

Reattach the inlet hose firmly and restore the water supply. Start a Cotton 40-degree programme. During the first two minutes you should hear water flowing steadily into the drum and the programme countdown should begin.