Before opening the washing machine if it is blocked, you need to roughly find out the cause of the breakdown. The owner can carry out the repairs himself, but if there is a warranty, it is advisable to contact the service.
The main reasons why the washing machine door is blocked
The loading window lid is equipped with a seal and an electromagnetic valve. When the equipment is operating, the lock prevents accidental unlocking of the door with subsequent leakage of water into the room. After the end of the cycle, the timer runs, after which the electromagnet releases the lock.But if electronic components break down, the lid does not open, which creates difficulties in removing washed items. On vertical type machines, the folding panel is jammed by inaccurately closed or deformed drum flaps.
Washing process
The hatch on the washing machine is blocked. It can only be opened if the lock is broken. After the end of the working cycle, the timer starts counting down (30–180 seconds depending on the model and manufacturer of the equipment). The lock then opens with an audible click.
You should not pull the lid handle until the latch opens: excessive force will lead to breakage of the locking element or parts of the plastic case.
Water in drum
When the pump wears out or becomes clogged, water remains in the drum cavity. The presence of liquid is detected by a sensor, which prevents the timer from turning on and the electromagnetic valve of the lid from unlocking. In this case, you must manually open the hatch and remove the pump for cleaning or inspection. If the pump is jammed, purchase a new unit (it is impossible to restore the old one). Sometimes pumping does not work due to a clogged tube going into the sewer. To remove dirt, use a thin steel cable, household cleaning products or water heated to +50°...+60°C.
Mechanical failure of the pressure switch or machine level sensor
To control the operation of the pump and lock, the machine has a water level sensor. If it fails, the valve remains locked regardless of the stage of the wash cycle. The electronics receives an erroneous signal from the sensor and does not supply power to the electromagnetic lock.
If moisture gets into the housing, oxidation of the connectors and breakage of wiring harnesses may occur.
It is better to change the level sensor and related parts in a service center. Diagnostics will help find all faulty elements of the electronic system.
Methods for opening the hatch if the pressure switch is broken:
- Force the pumping mode to start by pressing the button (not available on all machines);
- Remove water manually through the drain hole located at the bottom of the housing, after placing a container of suitable capacity and dimensions underneath.
The drain hole with a filter is located at a height of 20–30 mm above the floor. You can use an absorbent cloth to collect water. Apply liquid to the rags in small portions.
After wringing out the material, repeat the procedure until all water is removed from the drum of the washing machine.
Water level sensor
No power
If the power supply is disconnected during the washing process, the machine goes into emergency mode with the lid locked (to protect against possible water spillage). You must wait until the power supply is restored. After the end of the working cycle, the lock will open.
The lock is also disabled after the timer runs out (the countdown starts immediately after the power is turned off), so before opening the hatch, disconnect the machine from the network and drain the water.
Long-term power outage during washing
If the power supply is lost during the washing process for a long period (for example, if the mains or substations are damaged), then it is necessary to remove wet items from the drum. It is important to pump out the water through the drain channel at the bottom of the housing into a container, and then use the emergency drive of the lock. There may be up to 10-15 liters of liquid inside the housing. Unlocking the hatch without draining the water will lead to flooding of the room.
Breakdown of the lock retainerIt is better to change the level sensor and related parts in service conditions. Diagnostics will allow you to find all faulty elements of the electronic system.
- Methods for opening the hatch if the pressure switch breaks:
- forcefully start the pumping mode by pressing the button (not available on all machines);
- remove water manually through the drain hole located in the lower part of the body, after first placing a container of suitable capacity and dimensions.
- The drain hole with the filter is located at a height of 20–30 mm above the floor level. An absorbent cloth can be used to collect water. The liquid should be applied to the rags in small portions.
- After spinning the fabric, the procedure is repeated until the water is completely removed from the washing machine drum.
Water level sensor
Lack of electricity
If the power supply is turned off during the washing process, the machine goes into emergency mode with the lid locked (to protect against possible water spillage). You must wait until the power supply is restored. After completing the operating cycle, the lock will open.
The blocking is also disabled after the timer has expired (the countdown begins immediately after a power outage), so before opening the hatch, you should disconnect the machine from the network and drain the water.
Long-term power outage during washing
If the power supply is lost during the washing process for a long period (for example, due to damage to main lines or substations), then it is necessary to remove wet items from the drum. It is important to pump out water through the drain channel at the bottom of the case into a container, and then use the emergency lock drive. Inside the case there can be up to 10–15 liters of liquid. Unlocking the hatch without draining the water will result in flooding of the room.
Broken lock latch
To check the serviceability of the locking element you must:
Turn off the power to the washing machine.
Remove the top or side panel to gain access to the lock.
Inspect the bolt, remove any foreign objects that have fallen under the lock (for example, fragments of fabric).
Reinstall the panels, restore power and complete the work cycle.
Check the functionality of the lock.
To unlock a jammed lock, you can gently knock on the hatch and body with your fist, while simultaneously pulling the lid by the handle. The soured fixative will come out of the guide hole and allow you to open the flap to unload the laundry.
Damage to the door handle
On a number of front-type washing machine models, the lock is driven by a handle, which breaks due to excessive force. For repairs, you need to disassemble the hatch lining and then remove the damaged parts. After reassembly, test the functionality of the handle and make sure there is no water leakage through the lid.
Control module failure
The most unpleasant defect is the failure of the controller (for example, due to a software failure or water entering the control unit). Constantly blocking the door is accompanied by incorrect operation of the washing machine, which turns off spontaneously or simply does not start. In this case, it is advisable to contact the service: attempting to repair it yourself leads to irreversible damage to the equipment.
Actions to take if the lock latch is damaged
At home, the easiest way is to check the mobility of the lock bolt, which often gets jammed with foreign objects. If there is water and things inside the drum, opening the lid will lead to flooding of the floor in the room.Therefore, it is necessary to try to restore the mobility of the lock.
To perform the work, a set of flat or Phillips-blade screwdrivers and minimal knowledge of the design of washing machines are required.
Disable equipment
At the initial stage, you need to turn off the power and wait 10-30 minutes, being close to the lid, so as not to miss the click when the lock is removed. In this case, you should drain the water through the lower pipe of the housing, and then open the lid to visually check the lock.
Remove the top cover
If turning off the power does not help, you will need to remove the top or side covers, first sliding the machine into free space to facilitate access to the fasteners. Screws or additional latches are used to secure the panels. To remove them, it is better to use a soft plastic spatula, which reduces the risk of breaking the lid.
It is not recommended to disassemble equipment that is under warranty.
Find the automatic lock and check it
To access the lock, you must carefully move the drum to the side. Then carefully insert your hand into the gap and remove the latch with your fingers. After unlocking the lid, inspect the lock and remove foreign objects. If, when you restart the washing machine, the latch jams again, contact a service center to diagnose the equipment.
What to do if the door handle is broken
A handle connected by a rod to a lock can be installed on the front glazed sash. Plastic becomes brittle over time, so when hit or jerked, the handle or mount breaks. In this case, you can open the hatch with pliers, grabbing the remains of the latch drive lever with the jaws. For repairs, you need to purchase new parts, focusing on the model of the machine.It is possible to use serviceable elements removed from disassembled used equipment.
Unscrewing the bolts that connect the two plastic rims
At the initial stage, it is necessary to carefully loosen the screws connecting the plastic frame of the glass hatch. The heads can be covered with decorative plastic plates, which can be removed with a thin flat-head screwdriver. When unscrewing, do not use excessive force or hit the screwdriver: if the threads in the guide holes are broken, it will not be possible to assemble the cover properly.
Analysis of the design
It is necessary to separate the halves (if there are latches, use a plastic screwdriver or a bank card). Do not twist or apply force to the plastic panels due to the risk of breaking parts. From the hatch it is necessary to remove only that part of the frame on which there are no handle fastenings.
Replacing a broken part and assembling the door
