How to replace the seal on an LG washing machine

How do you replace the seal on an LG washing machine? Some technicians suggest performing the repair without removing the front panel, while others suggest doing so. It's more efficient to replace the seal by removing the front panel, top cover, and control panel, especially when repairing a modern LG washing machine. Enough preamble, let's get down to business.

Preparing for repairs

To easily replace the door seal on your LG front-loading washing machine, you need to prepare. First, of course, read the instructions on the procedure and safety guidelines for electrical appliance repair.

1. We need to turn off the machine and drag it to a place where it will be convenient to work with it.
2. We also need to purchase a new door seal that is guaranteed to fit your LG washing machine.
3. After this, we need to gather some simple tools, prepare ourselves mentally, and get to work.

So, turn off the machine using the on/off button. Disconnect the power completely by unplugging the power cord from the outlet. Next, shut off the water supply to the machine and remove the drain and inlet hoses. Coil up the power cord and hoses, and then move the machine to the repair location.

Open the washing machine door. Just above the door, there's a silver plate with the full model name of your LG washing machine, such as LG F1056MD. Write down the name and head to a washing machine parts store. Knowing your model name, the salesperson will give you the right seal.

Now a few words about tools. You won't need anything serious for the job—a Phillips-head and flat-head screwdriver and a flashlight will do. If you're too lazy to tighten screws, you can use a cordless drill. That's it, let's get to the repair.

Disassembling the machine

The seal is difficult to replace without disassembling the washing machine, so let's start with disassembly. Go around the back of the machine and remove the screws holding the top cover in place. Pull the cover toward you and lift it up.

Now let's go around the front of the machine. We need to remove the powder drawer so it doesn't interfere with removing the control panel and the front panel. Pull the powder drawer out as far as it will go, press the plastic tab in the center, and pull the powder drawer out completely.

Once you remove the powder compartment, you'll see two screws on the right and left sides of its recess. Remove these screws as carefully as possible using a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Now we need to remove the LG washing machine's control panel. On the back of the control panel, behind the end of the housing, there are special latches. You can release them using the same Phillips-head screwdriver. We press on the latches one by one and carefully pull off the control panel.

Proceed carefully; there will be a substantial bundle of wires behind the control panel. There's no need to disconnect them; simply place the removed panel and its wires on top of the machine's body, resting them on a corner.

We grab a flat-head screwdriver and squat down. We pry open the hatch cover that covers the debris filter. This cover is located at the bottom of the narrow decorative panel.

After opening the lid, remove the emergency drain hose, which could obstruct access to the fastener. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screw securing the decorative panel. The screw is located to the right or left of the filter, depending on your LG washing machine model. Carefully grasp the decorative panel and pull it off its clips, first on the right side, then on the left.

Open the hatch door wide, take a flat-head screwdriver, and attempt to remove the front clamp of the hatch seal. This must be done at this stage, as this clamp will interfere with removing the front panel of the CM housing. Locate the spring on the clamp. The spring can be located either at the top or bottom. Pry the spring with a flat-head screwdriver and, pulling it toward you, carefully pull the clamp off.

Instead of a flat-head screwdriver, you can use a blunt table knife; it will work even better for this operation.

At this stage of disassembly, we can't yet remove the door seal. However, we can tuck it inside the drum to prevent its edges from catching on the front wall of the housing during further disassembly. We tuck the seal into the drum. Next, we unscrew the two screws that secure the LG washing machine's door lock. The screws are located to the right of the door, and a Phillips-head screwdriver is required to remove them.

To release the front panel of the LG washing machine, you need to remove five more screws. First, remove the two screws at the top, then the two screws at the bottom.

Using a screwdriver, carefully push the hatch lock out of the front panel until it falls inward. Now you can remove the front panel and set it aside. There's no need to remove the hatch cover; let it remain assembled with the front panel of the machine body. Next, remove the hose attached to the cuff fitting.

Replacing the sunroof rubber

Now it's time to remove the rubber seal from the machine's tank. The inner clamp is in the way, but removing it is a simple matter of technique. As with the outer clamp, find the spring, hook it with a screwdriver, and pull the clamp off.

Firmly grasp the seal and try to pull it out of the grooves. This will require some force. Don't worry about damaging the old seal when removing it, as it will be discarded anyway. Once you've successfully removed the old seal, set it aside to keep it out of the way.

After removing the old seal from your LG washing machine, you may notice a huge amount of dirt has accumulated in its seat. Take a rag and thoroughly wipe away all the dirt. Remove the bushing from the old seal and install it on the new seal.

Now let's inspect the new seal and turn it so the nipple is facing up. When installing the new rubber seal, make sure the arrow on it aligns with the arrow on the housing, and the notches are facing down. This is very important. Check everything several times before you install the seal. If everything is correct, install the seal.

Next, we need to secure the cuff with an internal clamp. You can buy a new clamp, or you can use the old one. Stretch the spring slightly and slide the clamp into place. This is the most labor-intensive part of the job, so ask someone to help you. To make it easier to install the clamp, use two flat-head screwdrivers.

The main thing when putting on the clamp is not to accidentally pierce the new cuff, otherwise you will have to run to the store a second time for a new part.

With the inner clamp in place, we're ready for the final stretch. Connect the tube to the fitting and then reassemble your "home helper" in reverse order. Be careful not to forget anything during reassembly. This concludes our instructions. If you have any questions, watch the instructional video included with this article. We wish you good luck and an easy repair!

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