All modern washing machines such as "automatic" are equipped with automatic locking system, which locks the lock on the door immediately after the start of washing and unlocks it a few minutes after the end of the program. But sometimes it happens that after the prescribed "security minutes" the door does not open, no matter how hard you pull the handle. Most often the handle remains locked either because of problems with electronics, or as a result of mechanical failure.
In this article we will tell you why the handle of a washing machine can break down, and what needs to be done if this happened.
Possible Causes of
As we have already mentioned, there are two most common reasons for locking the door of the washing machine:
- failure in the electronic module;
- is a malfunction due to damage or wear to the lock knob.
If the fault is a malfunction in the management module, you can fix the situation quite simply. In most cases, the problem is solved simply by rebooting the device( by disconnecting from the network, then turning it on).If this does not work, try again to start the wash( select the shortest program).It does not help - it means the matter is in something else.
On what to do if the washing machine does not open due to a mechanical damage to the handle, read below.
Possible solutions to the problem
- Emergency unlocking of the hatch. In most models of modern stylalk there is a cable for emergency opening of the lock. It is located behind the same small door on the front panel of the appliance as the drain filter. You can find this cable by a bright, red or orange color.
- Self-unlocking the hatch. If the previous method did not help or the washing machine is not equipped with an emergency cable, you can try to unlock the lock manually. This can be done by getting to the lock from the inside of the device( removing the top panel and turning the drum to the side).
- Use of improvised tools. In some cases, the jammed door can easily be opened with a rope. To do this, take a thin, but strong cord and insert it into the gap between the hull and the hatch. Then pull both ends at you - and the lock will open.
The way that allows you to open most washing machines is shown in the following video.
Removing the handle. This is an extreme method that can only be used if the handle of the appliance is faulty. In the fact that it can not be repaired, you can be sure, after discovering mechanical damage during a visual inspection. Most often, a plastic lock on a styalka breaks down after several years of active operation.
How do I remove the handle?
When the door is opened without damaging the lock handle, the master usually decides to dismantle it. Before this you need to disconnect the washing machine from the network and prepare a basin with a rag - in case you have to collect water spilled out of the hatch.
You can not remove the handle immediately, first you have to remove the door from the case. It is usually fixed on two bolts, which should be screwed out with a screwdriver. After that, you need to put the door on the work surface( bolted up) and disassemble it into two halves, getting rid of the bolts securing them and picking up the upper half with a thin screwdriver.
Unlock the halves of the hatch, carefully pull out the glass. After that, it is recommended to take a picture of the interior of the hatch, in order to correctly arrange all the elements. The plastic handle is usually fixed with a thin metal pin. We need to gently pull it out, then remove the handle itself, then remove the small spring and hook. The new pen is set in place, reproducing the whole sequence of operations in the reverse order.
