Is it possible to open the washing machine during washing and how to do it safely?

The design of the washing machine is designed in such a way that it is impossible to open the doors during washing. This is done so that the water in the drum does not spill out if the hatch is opened at the wrong time. However, there are situations when this is necessary. To prevent such an emergency stop from ending in a small flood or equipment breakdown, you need to adhere to a certain procedure.

Pause mode

At the very beginning of the wash, while the washing machine tank is not yet completely filled with water, there is an easy way to stop the program. This can be done using the “Pause” mode. It is available in all models. To temporarily turn off, without draining the water, just press the on/off button (some models have a separate “pause” button).

It is important to take into account one nuance - the pressure should be single and fast. If you press the button and hold it in this position for several seconds, instead of pausing, the selected program will turn off. If you press with one touch, the program will be paused, and after a while the door will unlock. After this, all that remains is to take out random things or add more and start the machine by pressing the power button.

Advice

Masters involved in machine maintenance and repair do not recommend frequently pausing or reprogramming equipment during washing.Abuse of this feature over time leads to program failures and premature repairs.

If there is a lot of water in the drum

If the need to open the washing machine arises when the water level in the drum is high, the water must be drained. This is also not difficult to do. In this case, you need to perform the following steps.

• Stop the machine with the power off button.
• Turn on the “Drain” program (the “Pump” button), and if it is not there, “Spin”.
• After the water has drained, the door will be unlocked.

In some cases, the hatch must be opened immediately. In this case, an emergency drain will do. It is performed manually, through a filter. Usually this part is located in the front part, in the lower right corner, behind the panel. Opening the panel reveals the filter hose. By placing a water container in place, you can pull the hose out of the socket, open the plug and drain the water.

Some models do not have such a hose. In this case, you need to pull out the filter plug. After an emergency stop with draining the water, it will not be possible to finish washing according to the old program; you will have to reprogram the machine again.

Emergency situations

Sometimes a forced stop of the machine results in the door not opening, even after draining the water. The best way out in this case is to call a repairman. But if you don’t have time and you need to open the washing machine urgently, you can try to do it yourself.

You can do this in the following ways:

• emergency opening cable;
• cord or spatula;
• disabling the UBL lock.

Emergency opening rope

Many models of washing machines are equipped with a special cable to unlock the lock. You need to look for it from the front side near the filter, behind the decorative panel at the bottom of the machine.It is painted bright orange, so it is impossible not to notice it after removing the decorative panel. Just pull the cable and the door should open. If the machine does not have such a device, you will have to move on to more complex methods.

Forced opening using a cord

A thin synthetic cord can help open the machine hatch if previous actions have not brought positive results. The disadvantage of this method, invented by folk craftsmen, is that it is not always suitable. The reason is the design of the lock. If the tongue snaps towards the body of the machine, it will open, but if it snaps away from the body or upwards, this method will not yield anything.

Step-by-step instruction

• Prepare a piece of thin and strong cord or fishing line the size of the hatch circumference with a small margin.
• Position yourself on the side opposite the castle.
• Insert the cord into the gap between the body and the hatch around the entire circumference, and hold both ends in your hands.
• Pull the cord until it presses against the latch.

If as a result of this the door does not open, then the lock design is of a different type and there is only one option left - remove the top panel.

Advice

If you have a flexible spatula at home, you can use it instead of a cord - insert it into the gap between the door and the body and press on the tongue.

Torx key

Universal method suitable for all models

By removing the top panel of the washing machine, you can unlock the hatch in any model. So this method is the most universal. However, it requires some skills and tools. In some machines, the panel is secured with two bolts that can be removed with a regular screwdriver, but this is a rare case.Usually, in order to remove the panel, you have to use TORX keys, and their size is not the same for different models. These could be the following options:

• T 15;
• T 20;
• T 25.

After unscrewing the bolts on the back wall, you need to slide the cover back and then remove it. After this, you need to stick your hand into the part where the lock is located (on the side of the tank) and press the latch. Before removing the cover, be sure to turn off the equipment by unplugging the cord from the outlet and drain the water.

By following the recommendations outlined here, you will be able to open the machine both during washing and during emergency situations. However, if you do not have the skills to service equipment and are not confident in your abilities, call a specialist, and he will definitely open your machine.