The most likely cause is an inoperative drain pump, or a clogged debris filter. If your washer has water inside the Drum, the door will not open to prevent a flood. If you are using to sanitize the cycle and the water is extremely hot, the door will not open to prevent injury.
The machines have (especially the new ones) have an electrical lock on them, to prevent the door from opening whilst in cycle. These locks are powered by electricity and if you unplug your washing machine, once the residual power drained from the machine the lock should release.
The first thing to try is to unplug the unit for one minute. If there is an electronic glitch, that may fix it. You will most likely need to replace the door lock assembly. It's a very straight forward repair if you are handy.
Cause: An unbalanced load washer or a drainage problem might trigger the washing machine's safety lock to prevent damage. Fix: Check if the load inside the machine is distributed evenly.
Detach the drain hose from the back of your washing machine. Use a funnel to pour about a quarter of a cup of baking soda into the pipe. Next, empty a baster full of vinegar into the drain hose. Top tip: If the blockage is not completely gone, you can repeat the above process.
A: If your washing machine is showing a lock symbol, it likely means that the safety lock feature is activated.
If the cycle has finished and the door is still locked, it may be due to a power outage or a fault in the machine's electrical system. In this case, try unplugging the machine and waiting for a few minutes before plugging it back in.
Washer Control Reset
To reset the electronic controls on your washer, shut off the circuit breaker or fuse to the washer or unplug the washer for 2 minutes. For models that have a timer control knob, turn the knob around and back to any position other than final spin for the interrupted cycle. Then, restore power.
Most washers will have a manual release to unlock the mechanism and allow you to open the door or lid. The release is normally accessible from below the door lock, or on some models, from inside the soap dispenser housing.
Lock washers offer secure connections that can be removed or separated more easily than welded connections. To remove a lock washer, use a wrench or a similar tool to remove the nut or threaded fastener that holds the lock washer in place. Next, use a flathead screwdriver to pry the lock washer loose.
Most washing machines use a thermal lock that releases the door two minutes after a cycle is complete.
Water left in the machine is also a common cause of a locked washing machine door. Running a spin/drain cycle can often fix this issue, but if it fails, the machine may need to be drained manually. The door catch, handle, or some part of the door catch mechanism may be broken, preventing the door from opening.
Unplug the machine and wait a few minutes. Most doors will open once the power is off and the temperature cools off. Try knocking gently on the handle or pressing the pause/start button. Loop fishing line around the locked door and pull away from the door to manually unlock the locking mechanism.
If you want to try resolving issues with your washing machine, such as power surges or error codes, it's possible you might need to perform a quick reset. One way you can reset a washer is by unplugging the unit for at least one minute, then plugging it back in and restarting the appliance.
Your washer door locks to prevent water from coming out (especially for front load models). Child Lock also will lock the door on some models, like front loaders. Normally waiting for the cycle to end is all you need to do to unlock the door, or turn your washer on if it's off.
Water Fill Delay: The washer may take too long to fill with water, triggering a safety lock to prevent flooding. Electronic Glitch: A minor glitch in the washer's electronics can cause the door lock light to flash. Mechanical Issue: The door latch mechanism might be faulty or require a manual reset.
If there is standing water in the washer tub following the final spin cycle, or there is water leaking from the bottom of the washer cabinet, the washer's drain pump or drain hose could be clogged or broken and preventing the water from being emptied from the appliance into a laundry tub or standpipe.
How to open the washing machine door mid-cycle. If you've left something in the pocket of your jeans and would like to take it out, simply press the Start/Pause button, or turn the dial to the 'Off' position. This will make the washer drain the water, and after a few minutes, you'll be able to open the door easily.