Washing machine frozen up, burst inside, electricals gone

Destination

Destination

Destination

Soldato
Joined
31 May 2009
Posts
21,468
This wonderful cold spell has had a rather nasty effect on my hotpoint washing machine.

Water frozen inside the beat, the inlet value has exploded, the machine is now 50% full of water and heavy as hell to move, and the door is stuck closed, due to the electricals all shorting/failing/fusing etc.

Whats the best way to try to open the door to get the clothes out?

I figure the machine is for the bin, but I'd like to get the clothes out first, preferable without a sledge.

Is there a solinoid release within?
 
What model of washing machine is it?
Surely there's a small hole next to the handle to push a paperclip in...? :D
 
Yes its been disconnected for several days :)

I will try as the video demonstrates, migh be worth a go, hopefully it'll just get the door open, else crowbar time :/

So any suggestions on a replacement machine?
Specific suggestions please rather than brand names would be very helpful.
 
A new Bosch WAE24165GB 6kg 1200 Spin Classixx can be had for (just) under £200. Having endured Hotpoint misery myself I bought a reconditioned Bosch from a local type who operates out of a kind of oily shed in town. Bosch machines are excellent.

You can remove the lid of your Hotpoint by unscrewing the back and sliding the whole lid off (push from front to back iirc). Disconnect it from the electric socket beforehand, and have a bucket handy. You can remove the pressure switch and get to the reservoir yourself to drain it. No need to rive it to bits or **** it with an axe.

Remember that a good supplier will take away your old machine and dispose of it when they deliver a new one - so don't worry about disposing of it yourself. Phone beforehand and the chappie might even liberate your trapped clothes for you, too.
 
Thanks peet, useful advice.

The door release video proved useful, so i was able to get the door open, drain an entire drum full of water and then liberate the clothing.

She seems utterly dead in an electrical manner, so i assume water spraying around the innards have taken care of the electrics. I had an inlet valve freeze and break before, was able to replace it and the machine worked fine afterwards.

This isn;t the fault of the machine, any would have frozen as my machine is ina shed outside, but I had disconnected the water so there shouldn't have been any internally to freeze up.
Shame my wife decided to try the machine anyway and the system got fresh water in which promptly froze, thus when thaw arrived machine destroyed.
I doubt it is worth trying to repalce the inlet valve again coupled with the 2 electrical boards.

Better to start afresh.
Its a shame as it was a damn fine machine with 1600 spin and good high capacity.
Only 2.5 yrs old, but outside the year warrenty which i doubt would have covered it being ina shed anyway.

loathe to put an expensive machine in there as winter next year even spring 2011 could bloody kill another one.
 
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