Washing machines dead mid-cycle, how do I get the water out?

[poppysocks]

Washing machine is old and tired and has been making unhappy noises recently. It got stuck yesterday and wouldn't spin. There was a slight burning smell too so switched the whole thing off at the mains and have accepted the machine is probably a goner.

However... we now have a washing machine full of water (and clothes). How do I get them out??

Last time this happened to me (have had a series of crap old washing machines!), we took the filter out (put towels down first) which let a lot of water out.

Then we manhandled it into the garden and crowbarred the door open.

Depending how far it is from the garden, you could try moving it with the water still in, but its heavier that way.

sometimes there is a sort of a plug / filter thing at the lower front of the washing machine; may be behind a panel. you can unscrew that and the water can come out that way (need a mop & bucket handy!!)

The door will be on automatic lock till you can empty out the water.

Also, try seeing whether there is a blockage in the outlet pipe you will need to pull out the washing machine to get to it; clear it and then see whether you can put it on a spin cycle just to empty out the water.

(DP could probably explain all that better, but that's sort of the gist of what he does to our washing machine / explains to our tenants, when theirs goes kaput!!)

good luck!

Actually ours doesn't automatically lock with water in. It automatically locks when you start the cycle, but you can switch it off and on again midcycle and it believes it's started a new cycle and unlocks.

So you could try turning it on again and trying the door - but of course you will need to have a bucket, a mop and lots of towels as other have said.

I had to drain it out of the filter into a bucket.

Thanks for these suggestions. Sadly, not close enough to the garden to manage that. Will go and have a poke around for a handy panel.

Where would I find the outlet pipe romilly. It's all plumbed in at the mo and the pipes are fixed under the sink which is next to it. Think I can see the hot and cold water in and the water out one. Is that the outlet pipe?

How did you drain it out of the filter cocolepew? (Sorry to be dense...)

yes, the outlet pipe is the wider, bendy one which usually sticks into another solid plastic one

My filter is at the front, I had to tip the machine backwards and jammed a basin under the filter. If you unscrew it the water will come out. But only turn it a tiny bit though or you'll flood the kitchen. Which of course I didn't do .

have you managed to switch off and disconnect the fill pipes? They're under your sink - make sure you switch them off first
The waste pipe is a grey thing, erm my ds called it "crinkle cut" lol. big bucket and a bunch of towels handy?

Right: Nothing at the front of the machine at all behind the panel, underneath the door. Therefore, I suspect I'll need to rule out the filter idea. Bugger. Thanks though romilly and cocolepew.

Now I've got the outlet pipe, any chance of gettinng the water out that way??

Will have a look at the opening the front door option theyoungvisiter. It's v. full though (suspect that's a symptom of whatever problem it's got - never seen it so full). Have just had a new wooden floor put down so I'd rather not go down that way if pos. That's even if the door will open....

Thanks for all your help.

Ah gigglewitch - if I disconnect those three pipes the water will start to drain?

If I end up having to break the door to get the clothes out, so be it. The machine is ancient and has done great service so is ready to be retired to the washing machine machine home in the sky. Just need to get the clothes out, but preferably without flooding downstairs in the process.

Or is it going to be easier to call out a handyman tomorrow morning? Would obviously rather not spend cashola if I can do it myself (with the help of you helpful people, of course ).

possible.... you need to disconnect them so you can move it out properly anyway.

...but there might be a draining pipe which is on the back of the machine, which goes into the machine at the bottom but it's clipped up on to the back of the machine iyswim - probably goes up vertically. This is how ours drains - you take this one out of its clips and tip it on the floor into a bucket

Thanks for all the suggestions. We tried to drain it using the pipes but nothing came out easily so we gathered every towel in the house, every bucket and washing up bowl, tried the door, it opened and the deluge wasn't quite as bad as expected. Job done. Phew! Now to find a new machine...

R.I.P washing machine
Glad you sorted it and freed your stuff tho