Washing Machine Seal Damage

123imp

Hi,

Looking for some advice from people who have a little knowledge of washing machines if possible. Opened the door at the end of the last clothes cycle to find everything covered in a grey bitty mulch, with the debris also all over the seal. On closer inspection it appeared that a stray wire has torn the rubber off the tab part of the door seal - with no damage elsewhere on the seal. The photo shows what I'm talking about, with the white plastic tab now showing through the rubber.

Would I need to get the door seal replaced, or can I just run a cycle to remove the rubber debris and carry on using?

Thanks in advance.

MattMattMattUK

That looks just like a small protruding part of the seal has been worn away, the bit one would normally use to pull it off to replace it, is that correct, or is the seal damaged to the machine would now leak?

123imp

MattMattMattUK said:

That looks just like a small protruding part of the seal has been worn away, the bit one would normally use to pull it off to replace it, is that correct, or is the seal damaged to the machine would now leak?

Hi, yes, I looked at a seal replacement video and that's the tab that you would use when replacing the seal - i.e. you would start installing by placing the moulded rubber over the plastic tab. The damage is just to that protruding piece of rubber, so the plastic tab is now exposed, but I have checked and there is no further damage around the rest of the door seal.

Also, I have not noticed any water leaking from the machine as of yet.

MattMattMattUK

On that basis, if that is the only part of the seal damaged you are likely to be fine with the existing rubber gasket/seal, getting all the bits out might be an issue though, do not forget to clean the waste water filter as well as that will probably have quiet a bit in it. 

123imp

MattMattMattUK said:

On that basis, if that is the only part of the seal damaged you are likely to be fine with the existing rubber gasket/seal, getting all the bits out might be an issue though, do not forget to clean the waste water filter as well as that will probably have quiet a bit in it. 

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll need to find out where the waste water filter is and how to access it, and will probably try picking out a lot of the debris in the drum by hand.

MattMattMattUK

123imp said:

MattMattMattUK said:

On that basis, if that is the only part of the seal damaged you are likely to be fine with the existing rubber gasket/seal, getting all the bits out might be an issue though, do not forget to clean the waste water filter as well as that will probably have quiet a bit in it. 

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll need to find out where the waste water filter is and how to access it, and will probably try picking out a lot of the debris in the drum by hand.

Usually behind a small, A6 ish size door at ground level. There will also be drainage holes at the bottom of the seal to allow water that hits the door to drain back into the drum, check that the bits have not blocked those. 

123imp

MattMattMattUK said:

123imp said:

MattMattMattUK said:

On that basis, if that is the only part of the seal damaged you are likely to be fine with the existing rubber gasket/seal, getting all the bits out might be an issue though, do not forget to clean the waste water filter as well as that will probably have quiet a bit in it. 

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll need to find out where the waste water filter is and how to access it, and will probably try picking out a lot of the debris in the drum by hand.

Usually behind a small, A6 ish size door at ground level. There will also be drainage holes at the bottom of the seal to allow water that hits the door to drain back into the drum, check that the bits have not blocked those. 

OK thanks, I quickly checked before going out and there's was no small door at the front - at ground level. I am going to pull the machine out later. 

molerat

It may be a long panel at the bottom that comes off.  Make & model ?  Someone will point you in the right direction - don't think I have ever come across a machine that needs pulling out to clean the filter.

Is that white bit sharp ?

ThisIsWeird

Hi Imp.
Make and model of machine? 
And, you mentioned it was caused by a 'wire' - this is something that was amongst the clothes? Ie, you know what caused this?
If so, then most likely you'll be fine carrying on, once you've cleared away the debris.
Worth checking it wasn't caused by warn drum bearings, too, by grabbing the SS drum at the front-top, and pushing/rocking it upwards. Damaged front seals are often caused by a failed bearing, but the wear would usually be extensive and very obvious in such cases, and not just an isolated wee bit of damage as on yours.

EssexExile

molerat said:

It may be a long panel at the bottom that comes off.  Make & model ?  Someone will point you in the right direction - don't think I have ever come across a machine that needs pulling out to clean the filter.

Is that white bit sharp ?

Good old (and I mean old) Hotpoints.

123imp

molerat said:

It may be a long panel at the bottom that comes off.  Make & model ?  Someone will point you in the right direction - don't think I have ever come across a machine that needs pulling out to clean the filter.

Is that white bit sharp ?

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi Imp.
Make and model of machine? 
And, you mentioned it was caused by a 'wire' - this is something that was amongst the clothes? Ie, you know what caused this?
If so, then most likely you'll be fine carrying on, once you've cleared away the debris.
Worth checking it wasn't caused by warn drum bearings, too, by grabbing the SS drum at the front-top, and pushing/rocking it upwards. Damaged front seals are often caused by a failed bearing, but the wear would usually be extensive and very obvious in such cases, and not just an isolated wee bit of damage as on yours.

Hi, 

Model - Hotpoint NSWR 743U WK UK N

It does in fact appear to be a long white panel at the bottom of the machine which comes off.

The exposed white plastic tab does not appear to be sharp, it's quite smooth when I run my finger over it. 

The damage was caused by a rogue bra wire. It appears to have been sticking outwards at the front toward the glass, at just the right position to catch the rubber over the tab on each rotation. 

I will also do the check what you suggested when I get home later @ThisIsWeird , thanks.

I've added another photo below from a different angle, which shows more of the damage from a straight on view.

Thanks all.