Like any technology, automatic washing machines have problems. A common problem is that the door does not open after completing the wash cycle. In this article we will tell you what to do if the machine completely refuses to open the door after washing.
Relevant for all popular car brands: AEG, Ardo, Bosch, Beko, Candy, Daewoo, Gorenje, Electrolux, Haier, Hansa, Hotpoint Ariston, Indesit, LG, Samsung, Siemens, Vestel, Whirlpool, Zanussi, Alenka, Atlant, Vyatka and others, including models with a touch screen and without a display.
To start
Before we get started, let's study what exactly the problem is - a machine breakdown or a program failure, and whether it is possible to cope with it ourselves.
When a locked hatch is normal
Often washing machines do not open the doors immediately after washing things. It may take 1 to 5 minutes for the program to complete.
If you have received such a machine, do not pull the handle forcefully when completing the wash, even if the signal sounds to indicate the end of the procedure. Wait five minutes. This time is enough for the drum to stop completely and the hot laundry to cool down (in some modes). This is done for user safety reasons.
If you don’t hear the characteristic click of the door opening, check whether the water has drained from the machine - if not, it needs to be drained manually, more on that below. The problem may also be a faulty door lock mechanism.
De-energize
Any electronic device will glitch from time to time. Disconnect the machine from the 220 V network and turn it on again after two to five minutes - the “washing machine” will reboot. Some time after switching on, the latch will unlock.
Drain the water
If there is water left in the drum, the security system will not allow the door to be opened. This is done to prevent water from leaking and to prevent a flood in the bathroom.
If the water does not drain automatically, drain it manually: open the water drain hatch at the bottom of the machine, most often on the right side of the front panel, and carefully drain the liquid into a basin or bucket. Once the drum is dry, the door will open.
How to avoid problems in the future?
The best way to prevent the problem of the hatch door not opening after washing is to carefully operate the washing machine. Place things in the drum carefully , making sure that nothing gets between the door and the washing machine body.
Close the hatch door carefully, without slamming, much less pressing with your foot. It is also necessary to open the hatch carefully, without sudden movements (breakage of the handle is a common reason for the door not opening).
Additional installation of a voltage stabilizer will not only prevent problems with opening the hatch door after washing, but will also maximize the period of operation of the washing machine without repair.
Emergency opening methods
If neither rebooting nor draining the water helps, then the problem is more serious, and the door must be opened emergencyly. Despite the scary name, most methods are simple and will not lead to further damage.
Restart the program
If the cycle has completed and there is no water in the loading hatch, try starting a new wash program - for example, rinse or drain. Before starting a new program, the door will unlock briefly and then lock again. It is important not to miss the characteristic click, open the door and cancel the set program.
Emergency opening cable
At the bottom of the washing machine, in the same place as the drain hatch, under the plastic cover inside there is an emergency opening cable. Most often it is bright in color, such as orange, light green or red. Simply pull it and the hatch will open.
With a rope
If your car model does not have an emergency release cable, you can open the door using a regular rope or cord. It should be strong, but thin and flexible enough to fit through the hole in the lock. Place the cord so that it goes under half the length of the door, and the middle is where the lock is. Pull towards the loops and the cord will open the lock.
How this is done in practice, watch the video at the end of the article.
If the handle is broken
If you overdid it a little and broke off the handle of the washer, good old pliers will come to the rescue. Carefully pry the locking device with them and the hatch will open. If there is nothing to pry or it doesn’t work, it’s better to contact a specialist.
Disassemble the unit
If the UBL (hatch locking device) is faulty, it must be dismantled, the door, hook and loops must be completely removed, and new parts must be purchased. Repair is impossible here - most often these mechanisms break down due to overheating or jamming and must be completely replaced. Replacing the mount, hook and blocker is easy - you just need a regular Phillips screwdriver and straight hands.
How to emergency open a washing machine if it is locked: instructions, tips
Almost all models have an emergency “check”. This is nothing more than a cord that mechanically, that is, manually, unlocks the hatch.
Instructions:
- Drain off all the water. To do this, simply run the drain or spin mode. If the door does not open due to a broken pump, you will have to drain the water through the hose in the filter window. This is a lengthy procedure, since the diameter of the hose is very small and the stream is very thin.
- Once there is no water left in the tank, you can start opening it. Open the window where the filter is located. It is usually located at the bottom of the device on the right side in the corner.
- Find the orange cord and pull it slightly towards you. You can't put in a lot of effort. In this case, you risk breaking the device.
More details, erase in the video.
Reasons for blocking the washing machine hatch
Mechanical damage and wear
Mechanical damage - careless transportation, rough operation, excessive load, and so on - can quickly cause the machine to break down. But even for the most careful owner, not a single mechanism will work forever: over time, its parts lose the ability to perform their direct functions. .
Program crash
Any electronics is programmed to perform a certain algorithm. If there is a problem in the program and the door is tightly jammed, contact specialists who will help you reprogram the device.
The filter or drain hose is clogged
A common problem is a clogged drain. It can be mechanical or natural. Natural blockage comes from fabric fibers, which inevitably end up in the drain, and salts due to hard water. Mechanical blockage is caused by foreign objects getting into the drain hose: buttons, coins, etc.
A clogged drain does not drain water from the washing machine, so the hatch does not open to prevent flooding of the room.
Therefore, it is important to clean the drain after washing - with hot water, pipe cleaner or, in difficult cases, with a special cable.
Broken sensor or control board
The washing machine works by having a group of sensors transmit data to the main board. A common problem with door locking is a faulty water level sensor (pressostat): when there is no longer water in the drum, the sensor shows that there is some, and the main board does not send a signal to unlock the lock. The problem may also be in the main board itself: either its components are not working correctly - this often happens due to sudden power surges - or the microcircuits have become unusable due to moisture or old age.
Call the master
Attempts to open the Atlant washing machine door that was locked after washing with your own hands were unsuccessful? No problem. The service center technicians can fix the problem quickly and efficiently.
Depending on the reason that caused the blockage, the cost of a specialist’s services to open the door of an Atlant washing machine varies from 1000 rubles. up to 2000 rub.
You can find the right specialist on the Internet (just type “Atlant washing machine repair” in the search bar) or use the recommendations of friends and acquaintances.
Calling a technician from the service center minimizes the risks of fraudulent activities. This is because upon completion of the repair, a specialist from the service department issues a Certificate of Work Completed with a detailed breakdown of all operations performed, the amount of payment, and most importantly, a guarantee.
Unfortunately, a “private” master does not issue such a document and in case of poor-quality repairs there will be no evidence of the work performed, and as a result there is no one to file claims with.
Features of popular brands
Indesit, Samsung, Electrolux, AEG
On modern models "Indesit", "Samsung", AEG and "Electrolux" error codes are displayed. Models without a screen indicate breakdowns by flashing lights in a certain order. All codes or combinations of blinking lights are given in the instructions for the machine (in our case, unlocking the Indesit door may display error F-17 or “door”).
Atlant
On the machine's screen, the error is displayed as an alphanumeric code or an English word indicating the source of the problem. In our case, when the lock does not work as it should, the error code is “door”. On models without screens, the first, third and fourth lights light up.
LG and Beko
These companies use letter designations for major faults. Our problem is hidden behind the letters dE - “door open error”.
Bosch
“Bosch” indicates faults with the code Fnn, where nn is the fault number (in our case F01). The instructions indicate all types of breakdowns and how to fix them yourself, if possible.
Ariston
Ariston uses codes similar to Bosch.
Top Loading Models
The main reason for a top-loading machine door to lock is a problem with the drum flap. This is often the fault of the owner who did not close the top lid tightly or did not accidentally remove the laundry that was “bitten” by the flap. But factory defects are also possible, and over time the lids may become loose. It is better not to try to open the machine yourself, but to immediately contact a specialist.
Pause mode
If the machine has not yet managed to collect a large amount of water, then you can easily stop the process. Just pause it. All models have this option.
In order to temporarily stop the operation of the device, you need to press the start button or “Pause”, if available. But you shouldn’t hold it for long, otherwise you can cancel the operation completely. After a short time, the door will unlock and you can use it.
Experts in the maintenance of automatic washing machines warn: frequent use of this method provokes breakdown of the unit. Over time, the programs will begin to fail, and the machine will have to be sent in for repairs.
If the lock is broken
If the methods described above do not help, disassemble the machine by removing the top cover.
The lock itself is directly visible, you can reach it with your hand.
We reach it and pull the metal bolt to the side.
The door opened.
