Very few people nowadays can imagine life without an automatic washing machine. Its breakdown sometimes becomes a real nightmare, because not everyone has the time and energy to do hand washing, and not everyone can afford to regularly use dry cleaning services. It is quite possible to fix some problems yourself. A fairly common problem is the locking mechanism of the loading hatch. Why this happens and how to unlock the washing machine, we’ll figure it out further.
The main reasons for blocking the lock
Reason #1: Programmed blocking
Almost all modern washing equipment is equipped with a mechanism for blocking the laundry loading hatch in certain situations. This function acts as a safety measure when using the unit. After starting the washing program, the machine automatically locks the door until the running process is completed. And this is completely justified; just imagine what terrible consequences could result from, for example, a small child opening a machine that washes clothes at a temperature of 90 degrees.
If the machine has finished washing, but you still can’t unlock the door, it’s too early to worry. It is better not to pull the hatch handle, because this is not only useless, but can also lead to damage to both the handle and the lock. Most models allow you to open the loading hatch not at the moment the washing program is turned off, but only 3-5 minutes after finishing work. By waiting the required minutes, you will most likely easily open the car.
Another option for programmed blocking is the “Child Lock” function. You can enable this option accidentally by pressing a certain key combination. To understand how the option is disabled, most often it is enough to study the operating manual of the washing machine. It describes the procedure for turning child lock on and off.
Reason No. 2: machine malfunction
Something went wrong, and after some time you still couldn’t open the hatch? How to unlock a washing machine if the reason for its blocking is not clear? Try pressing the Start/Pause button and holding it for about ten seconds. If this manipulation does not help, unplug the machine for half an hour. All running processes will be reset during this time, and the machine with fresh “brains” will get to work again, and after finishing the wash, it will open the door itself.
The lock can also become blocked due to some kind of malfunction in the operation of the equipment. For example, there was a power outage in the house or the voltage in the network jumped. Such situations are not uncommon, therefore, in order to avoid serious damage and injury to users, many manufacturers of household appliances program machines so that they cannot be accidentally opened when the appliance is de-energized. Otherwise, you could easily get an electrical injury or burn from hot water pouring out of the unit. There are two ways to unlock the car door after a power failure:
- When the power comes back on, start the spin or drain mode. Once completed, the door should open without problems.
- Disconnect the device from the mains and drain the water from the tank manually using the hose located at the bottom of the machine. After these manipulations, the door will most likely open on its own.
Problems can also occur in the operation of electronics. Often, for example, the sensor indicating the water level in the car breaks down. Having failed, it begins to send information to the system that the tank is full of water, although the drum is already empty. In this situation, you will have to use the emergency door opening method (we will talk about it later), and then send the machine for repair.
Reason No. 3: worn out or broken locking mechanism
Quite often the door becomes blocked when the lock breaks. Typically, locking mechanisms fail on older equipment that has been in use for many years. If this is exactly the situation with your machine, the first thing you need to do is drain the water from the drum. Next, you should carefully read the operating instructions for your machine; perhaps it is there that the procedure for action in the event of a lock breakdown is written down.
If nothing suitable is found in the document, you will have to unlock the lock manually using a cable for emergency opening of the door. Naturally, a car with a broken lock cannot be used further. To replace a broken mechanism, call a technician.
Reason #4: Clogged drain hose
Many washing machines have software configured in such a way that the laundry hatch does not open until the liquid is completely drained from the tank. If the machine has finished washing, but through the glass you see that the water in the tank continues to splash, there is reason to suspect a blockage in the drain hose. You can clear the blockage yourself by disconnecting the hose from the machine. Just don’t forget to prepare basins and rags so as not to flood everything around with water and flood your neighbors. After cleaning, to unlock the hatch, you just need to restart the “Drain” mode. The machine will open when all the water has drained from the drum.
It also happens that suddenly there is an urgent need to open the hatch without waiting for the washing to finish (you forgot to take your phone out of your clothes, a cat got into the machine, you urgently need to leave the house, etc.). In such a situation, you first need to stop the washing program, then wait until the water drains from the drum, after which the machine should open automatically. In the most extreme and emergency case, you should try to open the car forcibly.
The hatch door is stuck and won't open
Sometimes it happens that after pausing the washing process and draining the water, the automatic unlocking of the hatch does not work. This reason mainly occurs when the lock latch is stuck. Forced opening of the hatch in this case is carried out using improvised means or by partially disassembling the machine body.
We use improvised means
If the lock on a front-loading washing machine clicks to the side, the door can be opened using a strong thread. The work process is carried out in the following order:
- A thread is inserted between the door and the body of the machine.
- Pull the thread and hook it onto the latch of the lock.
- Pull both ends of the thread at the same time and the hatch will open.
These works must be carried out extremely carefully, making sure that the thread does not break.
If there is no access to the lock between the hatch gap and the body, you will have to partially disassemble the car.
Opening the door with partial disassembly of the housing
Partial disassembly of the case must be carried out extremely carefully, otherwise the components may break. The process of opening the hatch is carried out in the following order:
- The nuts are unscrewed from the top of the equipment and the cover is removed.
- The washing machine tilts backwards.
- The drum moves away from the hatch.
- Once you have access to the lock, press it and open the door.
- The parts of the washing machine are assembled into place.
Forced opening of the laundry hatch
If none of the above methods help, the best solution would be to call a competent household appliance repair specialist. But what if you really need to open the machine without waiting for the technician? In this case, you will have to use the emergency method of unlocking the hatch. The first step is to study the operating instructions for the equipment and find in it exact instructions on the location of the emergency door opening cable. You'll most likely find this important wiring on the bottom of your car near the filter and drain hose.
If you gently pull this cable, the laundry loading hatch should open. This method is not suitable for all cars, because some models, in principle, do not have such a mechanism. If a cable is not provided in the design of the machine, then the lock will have to be opened forcibly . To do this, you will need to turn off the power to the unit, remove the top cover, then tilt the machine towards you, find the door lock tongue and also gently pull it.
The forced opening method will help you get to wet laundry locked in the machine, but most likely will not eliminate the reason for blocking the locking mechanism. To prevent the situation from recurring, you should call a specialist after opening the machine.
Calling a specialist: where to find and how much will it cost?
When independent diagnostics and repairs do not lead to the desired result, then professional craftsmen will come to the rescue. There are several ways to call a specialist to your home:
The easiest way is to use word of mouth. Relatives, acquaintances, neighbors - everyone can recommend a technician who once repaired a washing machine in their home.- Call a service center specialist. This method has one significant advantage - all work is documented. If any controversial issues arise, this document will become proof of completed (or not completed) work.
In order not to encounter scammers, and to save not only money, but also household appliances, it is very important to take into account the following points:
- an honest craftsman will never take money until the repair is completed (an exception may be a deposit for the purchase of an expensive part);
- a professional will always listen to the client, focusing on the brand of household appliances, duration and features of operation;
- an experienced technician never names the final cost of repairs without preliminary diagnostics (the amount may vary depending on the prices of new components, as well as the complexity of the work).
On average, repairs to replace a hatch blocking element will cost 4,000 rubles, replacing a pressure switch will cost 2,800 rubles, and replacing a heating element will cost up to 5,900 rubles.
Everything about repairing Samsung washing machines is in this section.
How to remove the locking of the loading hatch for different models of washing machines
LG
The operating instructions tell you in detail how to eliminate the most common problems and malfunctions of this brand of machine. LG appliances are equipped with a child lock option. Usually it turns on if you press the “prewash” and “super rinse” buttons at the same time. The lock is disabled by pressing the same key combination and then pressing the “Start/Pause” button.
Bosch
The hatch lock on models from this company is usually removed by pressing the “Minus” key, if there is one on the control panel. When the key lights up on the monitor and it is impossible to switch the mode, you can try to unlock the door by holding the “Start” key pressed for several seconds.
Ariston
Blocking of the loading hatch in equipment from this manufacturer usually occurs during a power outage or power surge. To solve the problem, you need to use the emergency rope, after first removing the water from the drum using the emergency drain hose.
The instruction manual recommends that users carefully monitor the operation of the machine when the “Silk”, “Baby”, “Easy Ironing” programs are selected. They slow down the speed of the drum, which is why water sometimes remains in the tank when the machine has already finished washing. To unlock the device in this case, you can try pressing and holding the “Start/Pause” key in this position for several seconds or start the ironing mode again.
Samsung
The machine from this manufacturer usually opens 2-3 minutes after the end of the wash. If this does not happen, you need to disconnect it from the network for half an hour. During this time, the device will reset the program, after which the lock should automatically open.
Have you noticed that the machine has completed the washing program, but the water has not drained from the drum? Re-enable the “Spin” option. If this does not help get rid of the liquid, it means there is a problem in the pumping system. In this case, you should manually drain the water and call a technician to fix the problem.
The Samsung Eco Bubble model has a function that restricts access to the machine for children. The user will be notified of its accidental activation by a flashing lock icon on the control panel. You can open a car locked in this way by pressing two keys, next to which there is a human figurine.
Indesit
Washing machines of this brand often block if there is some water left in the tank after washing. In this case, you need to activate the “Drain” mode, wait a while and try to open the device. If the attempt is unsuccessful, you will have to manually pour out the retained liquid using a hose. The door should open on its own when there is no water left in the machine.
Most models are also equipped with a cable for emergency hatch opening. If you need to open the machine urgently, it is usually easy enough to pull this cable and the problem will be solved.
Electrolux
You can stop the wash and unlock the door locking mechanism for machines of this brand by pressing the “Pause” key. In addition, the machine door usually automatically unlocks when the liquid from the drum has been drained to a certain level and the temperature has dropped to 50 degrees.
Measures to prevent problems with hatch blocking
In order to encounter unexpected blocking of the laundry loading hatch as little as possible, you need to follow a few simple recommendations for operating the washing machine.
Firstly, you need to take care of the relative cleanliness of the loaded laundry. Washing overly soiled items can lead to clogged drain hose and subsequent malfunction of the equipment. Before putting your shoes into the machine, be sure to remove all dirt from the soles. Linen sent for washing should be checked for the presence of metal parts and decorations; all these little things can get stuck inside the unit and thereby cause damage to the locking mechanism and even the drum itself.
Secondly, it would not be superfluous to use special water softening agents to minimize limescale deposits on the parts of the unit.
And thirdly, do not be lazy to read the operating instructions for the purchased equipment. With its help, you can eliminate many simple problems in the operation of the machine without calling a technician. In addition, the instructions describe key combinations that enable and disable functions such as Child Lock. It is better not to put documents on the operation of equipment in a distant drawer. Being at hand, they will help you quickly and correctly solve this or that problem in the operation of your machine.
And one more important point that you definitely need to remember: if your equipment is under warranty, do not under any circumstances try to repair faults yourself, including forcibly unlocking the washing machine. Such interference with the operation of the device may cost you denial of warranty service and free repair of your washing equipment.
