My Washing Machine Door Won’t Open
So what should you do when faced with a washing machine door that just won’t open? It might be very tempting to just break open the door and while it might come to that in more serious cases, you should be able to avoid the expense and hassle that comes with replacing your washing machine’s door.
The specialist repair team of Repair Aid can help you fix any washing machine fault but if you feel that you have the knowledge and the skill to do the job yourself, and know how to be safe, here are a few recommendations.
First Things First
The first thing you need to check is whether water is still in the machine, yes there’s a good chance you might have quite the clean-up job on your hands when opening the door. Some models of washing machine doors won’t open if water is still detected in the drum, so if you can drain the machine then you might be able to fix the problem.
So, check the drain filters to see if there’s an obstruction, you can find out more about solving drainage issues on our other blog post. Once the water is drained you should be able to open the door, if the water is what was causing the problem. However, if there’s no water in the washer then you’ll need to try something else.
Door Jams and Switches
If there’s no water in the machine then the problem will likely be due to a damaged or faulty door or problem with the switch. There is a wide range of issues that could cause the door to not open so you will need to some investigating to narrow down your options.
Pressure Switch – Some models of washing machine doors will stay locked even after a cycle because the machine won’t reset to empty. This means your lock will still be energised and won’t release however it can be fixed by turning off power at the mains and leaving the machine to cool down for 5-10 minutes.
The Door Is Jammed – Washing machine doors can be jammed in a number of ways with the most common cause being a faulty interlock. The door might also be damaged in some way, the handles on some washers are very fragile meaning they can easily get snapped.
You may be able to manipulate a jammed or broken door in order to open it but be very careful because you can easily end up causing more damage. And remember to unplug the appliance before you attempt to manipulate the door lock so there’s no risk of electric shocks.
If you have no luck manipulating the lock then you’ll need to remove the interlock yourself, effectively breaking the lock to open the door. If you still think the lock can be fixed then you might want to call in a Repair Aid technician first to take a look at the machine.
Top Load Washing Machines – Yes this is a problem that can affect top load washers as well, their more unusual design doesn’t make them immune to door problems. With a top load washing machine, the cause of the problem will likely be different though due to the differences in design.
If you have a top load washer and the door won’t open then it will usually be because of the hinges. Most standard top load washers will have two hinges at the back of the lid. These can get worn down and damaged over time, especially if they are made of plastic rather than metal.
If you’re lucky you may be able to replace the hinge pins which will return the door to normal. However, if the hinges are really damaged then you will have to get a Repair Aid washing machine engineer in and see if they can repair or replace them for you.
Overheating Issues
Overheating can also sometimes cause the circuits on your washing machine’s interlock to stop working. Your appliance may still be powered on as normal but the door will just refuse to budge. If you have been using your washer a lot then this is more likely to happen.
A common sign to watch out for is the temperature of your washing machine’s door. If you notice that the door is very hot to the touch then you might want to wait a while before putting another load in.
Fortunately, overheating is usually a problem that will rectify its-self if you give the appliance some time to cool down. You should also try to avoid over heating your washer regularly because this could cause the circuits in the interlock to blow.
Please always rely on professional help and never try to fix your faulty appliance yourself if you don’t have professional knowledge and training as this is not safe. For professional advice and help, please contact our trained washing machine repair technicians.