✅ How to open the hatch of a washing machine if the handle is broken

Modern models of automatic washing machines have a door lock. It is also automatic, serves to lock the door lock and when it does not function, problems arise. Impossible ? open the washing machine if the handle breaks (the main reasons are related to electrical or mechanical faults).

The handle on the washing machine door is broken - what to do?

If the handle on your washing machine is broken, then do not despair, you are not the first to encounter such a problem. Unfortunately, this problem happens quite often among washing machine users. It is difficult to say which brands suffer from this “disease”, because the handle on the door of a washing machine can break on any unit, even the highest quality one. Most often, it is the plastic part of the handle that breaks off, which is most subject to stress and is the most fragile in all door designs.

Typical situation

Usually, the handle on the washing machine breaks when the wash is finished. The user, trying to remove laundry from the drum, opens the hatch, but the handle breaks. At this point, the user is at fault. After completing the washing process, do not immediately open the door. The machine takes some time to turn off all mechanisms.

The door will remain locked until the unit has completely finished operating. If you pull the door at this time, it may break.

Repair tool

The main tool for any repair of household appliances is a screwdriver. It is used to unscrew and tighten the removed units and fragments of the product. Here you should clarify the type of bits used. Imported washing machines, in addition to the usual cross ones, often use stars of different sizes or shaped profiles. You need to have them on hand. Bit extensions may also be required.

Other types of tools are also specified from the repair videos. You need to have them in your arsenal to produce quality work.

Options for solving the problem

Emergency hatch release. Most models of modern washing machines have a cable for emergency opening of the lock. It is located behind the same small door on the front of the appliance as the drain filter. You can recognize this cable by its bright, red or orange color.
Self-unlocking hatch. If the previous method did not help or the washing machine is not equipped with an emergency cable, you can try to remove the lock manually. This can be done by approaching the lock from inside the device (removing the top panel and tilting the drum to the side).
Use of improvised means. In some cases, a jammed door can be easily opened with a rope. To do this, you need to take a thin but strong cord and insert it into the gap between the washer body and the hatch. Then pull both ends towards you and the lock will open.

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? The method that allows you to open most washing machines is shown in the following video.

Removing the handle. This is a last resort method that can only be used if the handle of the device is faulty. You can verify that it cannot be repaired by detecting mechanical damage during a visual inspection. Most often, the plastic lock on the washing machine breaks after several years of active use.

Calling a specialist: where to find and how much will it cost?

If you don’t have the time or opportunity to replace the handle yourself, it is recommended to call a professional. You can find a company that specializes in repairing household appliances on the Internet.

It is better to give preference to those companies that have been operating in the market for a long time and value the opinions of customers. This approach to choosing a specialist will help you avoid falling for scammers.

The average cost of work may vary by city and region. The price for the part is not included in the repair price and must be paid separately.

Sometimes it happens that replacing one part does not end the repair. If, along the way, faults are discovered in the device that require elimination, the cost of repairs increases.

In the capital, the average cost of minor repairs is:

replacement of the hatch handle – from 1,300 rubles;
door hinge replacement – from 1,200 rubles;
replacement of sunroof glass – from 1,300 rubles;
replacement of the entire hatch – from 1,200 rubles;
opening a hatch without repairs – from 1,000 rubles.

After troubleshooting, the technician provides a guarantee for the work performed.

The washing machine door is broken

The door and locking device form the hatch of the washing machine.
Locking the washing machine door ensures safety during operation. After the device has finished operating, the door can be opened manually by waiting 1-4 minutes. But sometimes the light indicator indicates that the wash is complete, the lock unlock time has expired, and the door cannot be opened. What to do in such a situation?

You need to remove the plug from the socket, then assess the situation. You should not open the washing machine hatch by force - this will lead to damage, not repair.

Causes

If there is a lot of water in the drum, the main problem concerns the drainage, and the door does not allow the floor to flood, causing inconvenience to the owner.

If the water has left the tank and the clothes have been washed, wait about half an hour, then turn on the machine again and check the condition of the door. Perhaps the reason for the door not moving is a faulty board (control module). In this case, the mechanism does not receive a signal to unlock it. Also, the board may not receive a signal to block the hatch. This happens if the contact traces burn out or the software crashes. Voltage surges can cause the control module to malfunction.

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You can try setting the washing program again. At the same time, the device will check the closure of the hatch by unlocking and re-locking the door. You need to have time to open the hatch during this period before starting the wash. A characteristic click indicates that the door is locked or unlocked.

If the door does not open, the handle may be broken. In this case, it will hang strangely. This problem especially often arises when the handle is handled carelessly in machines from Korean manufacturers.

Solutions

If the drain does not work after turning off the washing machine, you can drain the water manually. To do this, you need to get a special hose, open the lid at the bottom, near the drain plug, and drain the water.

But first, try turning on the machine again and running the drain program without spinning. If the water drains, the door will open immediately.

It is much more difficult to open a jammed lock. To unlock the door of a top-loading machine, you need to remove the top cover and unscrew the heating element. After this, you will be able to unlock the drum and open the lock.

To replace the hatch handle, you need to remove the washing machine door.

If the door handle is broken, you can open the washing machine in several ways:

operate the lever near the drain plug;
using a rope;
if part of the handle remains in place, you can carefully grab it with pliers;
remove the cover and manually open the lock from the inside.

Average repair cost

The cost of repairing a washing machine depends on the degree of complexity. If you need to install new sunroof glass, you will be charged approximately 1,200 rubles for this work. For replacing a machine hatch, a master, as a rule, charges from 1,200 rubles, for replacing a hatch hinge - from 1,500 rubles, and for replacing a locking device or hatch cuff - from 1,900 rubles. Replacing a handle will cost an average of 2,000 rubles. Replacing rubber on the hatch will cost 3,500 rubles. These prices usually do not include the cost of replacement parts. The technician will tell you the exact cost of repairs after diagnosing the device.

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Master's help

Most often, failure to comply with the operating rules of the machine leads to breakdown. But unprofessional repairs complicate the situation even more. Don't rely on your ingenuity. A washing machine is a complex household appliance that requires experience to repair.

Our workshop repairs washing machines of all brands. Call the operator, tell the brand, model of the machine, and a repair time convenient for you.

The technician will quickly arrive and replace it using original spare parts. The technician's visit and diagnostics are free of charge. The quality of the repair is confirmed by a guarantee.

Causes of failure

The most common problem with a washing machine is problems with the handle.

Among the reasons for the breakdown are the following:

The electronic module has failed;
The handle is worn out, damaged or blocked, resulting in a malfunction.

If the door is locked and does not open due to the electronic control module, then the problem can be quickly solved by rebooting the device. It means turning off the machine, waiting for 10 seconds, and then turning on again. If this does not help, you should run a short wash, spin or rinse program, and then after it finishes and the beep sounds, try opening the washing machine again.

Often, owners themselves break washing machines because they did not wait for the sound signal after washing or even tried to open them during washing. It is strictly impossible to do either the first or the second. The door still won't open? This means that the reason is not in the control module and now you will need auxiliary tools to open it.

Manual method of opening a locked hatch

You are lucky if your washing machine model is equipped with an emergency opening cable. You just need to pull it without unnecessary effort and the locked hatch will open. The emergency rope is a bright, usually yellow color. The emergency opening cable is located at the bottom of the washing machine in the area of the drain filter.

To open washing machines without such convenience, you can use a strong fishing line or synthetic rope. The main thing is to know which direction the locking hook is directed: inward or outward. Using fishing line or synthetic rope, you should try to press the latch towards the opening (example in the video).

Author of the translation: Elremont

Ways to open the hatch

Don’t be surprised, but in order to open the door of a washing machine whose handle has broken, it is not necessary to pick at it with a screwdriver, use an awl, or carry out other “brutal manipulations.” It is enough to resort to one of the available and simple methods, which we will soon talk about, and open the ill-fated hatch in a minute. Let's list these methods.

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If you have a fishing line or thin nylon rope on hand, you can use it to open the washing machine hatch. We take a flat-head screwdriver and thread the rope into the gap between the body and the hatch. We take the ends of the rope and drag it under the hatch. Then we pull the ends of the rope with noticeable force - the door will open.
Pick up the instructions that came with your front-loading washing machine model. Some washing machine models have a special emergency hatch opening lever. Usually this element is located near the garbage filter. If you have one, the problem can be solved simply: pull the lever and the washing machine door will open.
If you don’t have a rope at hand, and there is no emergency lever that would allow you to open the hatch on your model of washing machine, you can open the hatch through the top cover of the washing machine. Let's unplug the washing machine. Remove the top cover of the washer. At the front of the case there is a gap between the front wall and the top counterweight. We put our hand in there and try to get the hatch closing mechanism. In principle, it is very simple to open the hatch of a washing machine in this way, with the proper skill.

If some part of the handle mechanism remains intact and sticks out, you can try to pick up this part with pliers and carefully open the door.

Removing the damaged part

If we managed to safely open the hatch of a front-loading washing machine, this does not completely solve the problem, because the handle is broken and needs to be repaired. There is no point in repairing an old handle, and most often it is impossible, so the only solution is to replace the broken part.
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First, let's remove the damaged handle by performing a series of simple manipulations. Take a screwdriver, open the washing machine hatch wide open and unscrew the two screws that hold the hatch in place. We lay the hatch on the floor with its front side down and unscrew all the screws located around this part. Take a photo of the sunroof glass along with the hook to remember the location of these parts. If you don't do this, problems will arise later.

We disassemble the hatch into two parts and remove the glass to the side. We photograph the inside of the hatch so as not to remember the location of the mechanism parts. We remove the pin, spring and hook of the damaged handle and put them aside. Dismantling the damaged handle can be considered complete.

In order for the metal pin to come out, you will have to push it out with something sharp and hard. A nail or awl will do. If the pin comes out hard, spray it with WD-40.

Replacement

After emergency opening, the handle should be replaced with a new one.

Before doing this, it is recommended to photograph the old one from the outside and inside, so as not to make a mistake when installing the new handle.

Let's look at the step-by-step replacement process:

Buying a new part. To do this, you need to know the make and model of your car;
Next, at home, unscrew the door from the base. This must be done in the open state and using a screwdriver. This will not be difficult even for those who have not repaired anything;
After the door has been successfully unscrewed, you need to unscrew all the bolts in a circle, thanks to which its halves are connected. To do this, you will again need a regular screwdriver or with a star-type attachment;
Separate the two unscrewed halves, pull out the glass and put it in a safe place;
Push the metal rod so that it comes out. This can be done using an awl or a nail. Following the pin, you need to remove the handle, spring and hook;
Now, in place of the broken handle, a new handle with parts is installed in the same sequence as it was. First, insert the spring, then the hook and handle until it stops. After this, the metal pin should be in place. In order to thread the pin you need to use pliers;
Door assembly. After we have made sure that the handle is installed correctly, we insert the glass, screw the two plastic halves of the door, and then the entire structure with bolts to the front of the washing machine.

If you don’t know how to properly change the handle yourself at home or you have difficulties during the repair, entrust this task to professionals.

What to do if the handle on the washing machine door breaks - auxiliary measures

There are certain universal tricks on how to open the door of a washing machine from Bosch, Indesit, Samsung or another manufacturer. There is no need to use a specialized tool or carry out complex manipulations. We will describe accessible and understandable methods that will ensure a quick resolution of the problem.

1. Emergency opening. Present in all modern devices. Located behind the front panel, in the area of the drain filter. It looks like a lever or cable, and is highlighted in a bright color, often red or orange. After pressing it all the way, the door will automatically unlock. Manufacturers care about the safe and comfortable operation of their products, so this component is built in at the assembly stage by the manufacturer.

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2. Unlock the lock manually. Getting to the closing block on your own is not an easy task, but it is doable. It is advisable to do everything very carefully and not use great physical effort. Remove the unit cover, tilt the drum slightly and reach the locking mechanism from the inside. Some preparation is required for such actions. If you can’t achieve your plan, there’s no point in taking the risk; you’ll need the help of a professional craftsman.

3. Use of improvised means. It is possible that some of the plastic is stuck in the structure. Using pliers, try to disconnect the door using the remaining link from the part. The plastic element in the equipment is constantly under load when opening and closing, so it is the most fragile part of the structure. Care is required not to break it completely.

4. When the handle on the washing machine breaks, another hand made method will come in handy. It is simple and safe for both the user and the equipment. You will need a strong rope (lace), not too thick in diameter, at least 20-30 cm in length. There is a small distance between the body and the door where the latch is located. A rope is inserted into this “slot”. Next, pull on both ends, applying noticeable effort. The lever, under the pressure of the rope, will move and open the hatch. If you follow the steps clearly, everything will go quickly and easily. Any person can cope with this task.

The recommended techniques will solve the primary problem when the tank lid is stuck after washing.

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Note! If the appliance does not close, the problem lies in the locking mechanism. It is also possible to overload the weight of the laundry that was loaded into the drum.

After a favorable resolution of the situation, the issue with the broken part must be resolved. You need to remove the old lever and replace it with a new one. Next we will examine the question in more detail.

The handle of the washing machine broke. What to do?

Breakdowns of modern washing machines happen very rarely, but as usual they happen at the most inopportune moment. Many washing machine malfunctions have a common symptom - the door in the washing machine does not open. In some cases, to restore the washer’s functionality, it is enough to clean the sewer or drain filter, and sometimes only service center specialists can repair the breakdown.

This article will discuss the reasons why the washing machine door is blocked, and the basic methods of how to open an Indesit, Candy, Ariston or another manufacturer's washing machine without resorting to brute force. If you overdo it when opening the door, an unpleasant situation may arise when the handle of the washing machine breaks. And this is in addition to the main breakdown.

Structurally, the hatch locking unit is an electromagnetic lock, which is opened by applying voltage from the control board. Therefore, two groups of breakdowns are possible: when there is no “command” from the control controller or one of the elements of the hatch locking mechanism fails. A fairly common cause of breakdown is when the handle on the washing machine breaks.

The main reasons why the washing machine door does not open

In cases where the washer stops during the washing program, be sure to write down the error code. After this, check the sewer and drain hose for blockages, as well as the presence of electricity. If everything is fine there, you need to try to solve the problem by restarting the washer.

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Perhaps due to voltage fluctuations in the network or internal failures in the controller’s firmware, the machine froze. To do this, you need to turn off the power to the machine for a few minutes and start it again. If it does not enter “mode”, try turning on another program, for example “Rinse” or “Spin”. The machine should rinse (squeeze) the items, drain the water and unlock the drum door. If this does not happen, then a serious breakdown has occurred in the machine and you need to figure out how to open an indesit, Samsung or other model washing machine.

In addition, the reason that the drum hatch cannot be opened may be a failed pump or a malfunction of the water level sensor, as well as mechanical damage to the closing mechanism or electromagnetic opening unit. Also, a similar situation may arise due to the fact that the washing machine door is broken.

How to open a locked washing machine

So, the washing machine stopped and no methods helped to restart the program in the traditional way. First of all, try to decipher the error code displayed on the display. Sometimes it can be used to determine the correct direction of action aimed at solving the problem of how to open the door of an LG, Bosch, Samsung or other brand of a locked washing machine.

Before opening the washing machine door, you must turn off the power to the washing machine, turn off the water supply tap and drain the water from the tank (if it has not drained automatically). To drain the water, you can use any of three methods:

through the emergency drain tube;
through the drain filter;
through the drain hose.

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Now you can start opening the hatch door. There are several ways to open a locked washing machine door:

Cable for emergency unlocking of the hatch lock. It can be found in the compartment behind the small access door to the drain filter. The cable is usually colored bright orange or red.
By partially disassembling the washing machine. To do this, remove the top cover and move the tank back a little. A hand is inserted into the resulting gap and the lock is released.
Using a thin, strong cord or fishing line. To do this, the cord is inserted into the gap between the front wall of the washing machine and the door and gently pulled. In most cases the lock can be easily undone.

Now you can remove things from the drum and fix the main damage.

What to do if the washing machine door is broken

Often the root cause of door failure is a broken plastic handle. After all, effort is always applied to it every time you wash it, and in cases where you try to open the washing machine when the lock is locked, these efforts are doubled.

We have already looked at the basic methods of how to open a washing machine if the handle is broken or the door is locked. Now you need to remove the handle and replace it with a new one, since it is not rational to repair plastic parts. Glued or welded plastic will not last long.

First of all, you need to remove the door from the machine body. To do this, simply unscrew the screws securing the hinges holding the hatch. We remove the part and place it on a flat surface with the bolts facing up. We unscrew the screws around the perimeter of the door and, carefully opening the plastic latches, separate the halves from each other using a thin flat screwdriver.

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Having remembered the relative position of all the parts (you can also use a mobile phone camera for this), remove the glass. Now that we have access to the handle mount, we pull out the metal rod, remove the damaged plastic handle and remove the latch hook and miniature spring of the locking mechanism from their places. Having attached the new handle in its place, we assemble the door.

You have already seen that when the handle on a washing machine breaks, the most difficult task will not be replacing the plastic handle, but how to open the machine. But if you follow the recommendations outlined above, it will not be difficult. But if you are not sure that you can perform all the operations yourself, it is more profitable to turn to professionals. This will not only speed up repairs, but will also save you from having to look for a handle for the door, because the parts for different models of washing machines are different and not interchangeable.

And finally, one more piece of advice - when operating the washing machine, never apply excessive force to the hatch door, and before opening the washing machine, make sure that the washing process is completed, the water has been drained, and the lock is unlocked (you can hear a characteristic click).

Multimeter Test Procedure

As a rule, if there are problems with the door lock of the machine, it is easy to guess that the UBL has failed. With such a “diagnosis,” the machine clearly makes it clear about the nature of the breakdown. So, the following “symptoms” occur:

the hatch does not open, although several hours have passed since the end of the cycle;
error code F17 appears on the screen or the Start/Stop button on the dashboard flashes 17 times;
the door does not budge, even when the machine is disconnected from the power supply;
When I try to start the cycle, the lock does not work and the wash does not start.

If at least one sign from the list is present, then there is a problem with the operation of the UBL. Most often, the device itself, the wiring connected to it, or the control board of the washer leads to breakdown. A check with a multimeter will allow you to more accurately determine the cause.

Before proceeding with diagnostics, we study the electronic circuit of the existing washing machine

It is important to find out where the “neutral”, common contact, and “phase” are located. Afterwards you need to remove the UBL itself from the machine

We act like this.

We disconnect the washing machine from the supplied communications.
We open the door.
Unscrew the bolts holding the UBL.
Unscrew the two bolts from the back that secure the top cover of the machine.
Push the lid away from you until the latches engage and remove it.
We run the hand down towards the UBL (to the right of the cuff).
We unhook the wiring connected to the UBL and, holding it with the other hand, take out the device.

Next, take a multimeter, turn on the “Resistance” mode and apply the probes to “neutral” and “phase”. If a three-digit number is displayed on the display, then we proceed to the second stage; if it is less, we immediately change the UBL to a new one. The next step is to connect the “empty” wire to the common contact, and the second to the “phase”. Using a screwdriver, move the latch on the blocker to the working position and connect to the power supply. A working device will click, but a broken one will not.

Options for solving the problem

The solution to a locked door problem is to open it in the first place.

This can be done with:

opening a washing machine with a rope

Emergency door opening. To do this, you need to open the bottom panel, which is located in the drain filter area, find the lever or cable and pull one of them until the handle unlocks and opens. This method is one of the correct ones from a technical approach. After all, such emergency unlocking and opening is provided by the manufacturer itself in case of an emergency;
Ropes. Here you will need a thin and strong rope, which is inserted between the body and the door. To make it easier to insert the rope, you need to use a flat screwdriver to carefully create a gap between the lid and the base. Next, the rope is firmly taken by the two ends from below and above and pulled from the body of the washing machine. At this moment, the lock is also pulled back and the door opens;
Manual unlocking. This can and should be done if it was not possible to find the lever by removing the bottom panel. Now you need to remove the top cover of the washing machine and try to reach the lock, which closes the door. It takes skill;
Tools. You can try to pull the door with pliers, holding them on a piece of the handle and pulling it towards you.

Don’t forget that if the washing machine is still under warranty, you have every right to demand repairs from the sellers. In addition, the washing machine is in direct contact with water and electricity, so before using one of the above methods, care should be taken to shut off the flow of water and disconnect it from the electrical network.

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Furniture from spare parts

Those who do not need homemade equipment and utensils for cooking can be advised to use parts of a disassembled washing machine to make original furniture or storage areas. The body and drum are best suited for implementing design ideas. Read below to learn how you can refresh your interior using an old washing machine.

Coffee table

You can make an unusual high-tech coffee table from the drum of an old washing machine. Thanks to the characteristics of the source material, it will be very durable, but lightweight, and will serve you for many years.

We take the drum from an automatic washing machine as the basis of the table; to make the product look more impressive, we will add shine to it using a special cleaning agent. As a tabletop, take a piece of tempered glass of suitable diameter. We fix it on the drum using long fasteners. The table is ready!

A table can also be made using the body of a washing machine.

Drum poufs

Another interesting piece of furniture that can be made from the drum of a regular washing machine is a pouf that can simultaneously serve as a drawer for things. To make it we need: the drum itself, a thick foam pillow in a bright pillowcase, a sheet of chipboard, a construction stapler and a pair of furniture hinges.

We cut out a piece from a sheet of chipboard that will act as a hinged pouf lid. It can be either round or square, depending on the shape of the pillow. Then, using a stapler, we secure the pillow to the lid. Next, hang the lid on furniture hinges to the top of the drum. To make our ottoman look more aesthetically pleasing, you can paint it with acrylic paints.

Hatch door as a window

Another part of the washing machine that can be used in an unusual way is the hatch door. Many people use it as a window - but only in non-residential buildings. The fact is that the thick, durable glass of the hatch transmits light well, but it is difficult to see anything through it. Therefore, it is often placed in bathhouses, outdoor toilets, garages and even in doghouses. An additional plus is that such a window does not allow water to pass through and can be easily opened for ventilation.

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How to open a door with a rope

If a situation arises with a locked hatch (the door does not open when turning the machine on and off), you can solve the problem yourself. To do this you will need a thin and strong rope of sufficient length. It should exceed the circumference of the hatch rim by 20-30 cm. The method is designed to pry up the latch when locking.

What should be done:

disconnect the washing machine from the power supply;
choose a strong rope of the required length and thickness;
take a rubber spatula or a small flat screwdriver with a flat tip (you can use other similar means at hand);
push the rope into the gap between the hatch and the machine body using a spatula or screwdriver;
the rope must be pushed in the middle into the gap on top of the hatch;
take the rope by both ends, guide it so that it wraps around the latch;
Pull both ends firmly in the direction of opening the door;
the rope must be kept as close to the body of the device as possible (almost parallel);
When the latch is properly grasped, a small amount of force should be sufficient to open the door.

Repair of damaged glass

Damaged glass is more difficult to repair. Here you will need to use polyester or epoxy resin. After removing the door, you should consider removing the glass. Most often it is not removed. Therefore, they repair it like this:

A plastic film is glued to the front surface. You may need to use tape. Gaps are not allowed.
Reinforcing tape is placed on the existing hole that requires sealing (it is used for plastering work).
Prepare the resin in a separate container according to the instructions. Mix the base and hardener in the required proportions.
After preparing the resin, it is poured into the desired location.
Typically polymerization occurs within 24 hours. After this time, the plastic film is removed.
Smudges are removed using sandpaper.

This is how easy it is to repair the glass on a washing machine door.