It's hard to characterize in a single sentence, so I'll just break it down into its constituent parts.
The Beep
When the laundry cycle finishes it does the following:
- It beeps super loudly for 5 seconds
- If you don't run to switch it off, it will wait 30 more seconds and then continue to beep super loudly for 5 seconds
- If you switch it off whilst it's beeping, it will continue to finish its beeping
- There is no volume setting nor any way to switch this off.
The Door
When it's finished. It does not release. That beeping sound from earlier to tell you to come get your laundry? No no no, that was just the "come and watch me drain" alarm.
- Switching it off has no effect on the door release.
- It releases whenever it wants. It could be 5 minutes, it could be 20.
- When it does release, all you will get is a sound, so you better be around to hear it.
- If you miss this sound, it will lock itself again 10-15 minutes later and rotate your clothes.
- It will then repeat the release process.
HELP ME. HE-ELP ME.
Samsung front loader washing machine here.
It is generally musical while selecting program options. It sings a little song when finished, which is only after it unlocks the door. The little song only plays once. The little song can be changed to other tunes by subtle and undocumented button presses.
After about 10 minutes it plays a few notes while turning itself off that are easily recognisable as the notes it plays when it turns itself off, so if you miss the first little song, once you hear that you know it's definitely finished. After that it is done. No more door locking shenanigans or tumbling or clothes.
Generally I use the "sportswear" cycle which is about 1 hour, my clothes are generally not that dirty. Sometimes I treat towels / linen to a hot cotton cycle which is 2.5 hours and a 90 degree (Celsius) wash.
Had it for 10 years now, no mechanical or electrical issues. I always leave the door ajar when finished and once every few months I do a cleaning cycle.
I also have a Fisher and Paykel dryer. I have owned it for 8 years, in which time it has needed a replacement drive belt as it gets used heavily. The bushes on the drum need replacing soon, but I just turned it upside down so it will last for a while longer
Regarding your door issues, well that's because idiots try and open the door during a load, and then when it's locked, they turn it off and still try and open the door. They subsequently complain about the water going everywhere. Don't forget that manufacturers have to deal with the lowest common denominator end user.
Good luck. This is probably in your imminent future:
That's called the "spider arm," and is the only part in the entire machine that's exposed to water but made of non-corrosion-resistant metal. It is very obviously designed that way for planned obsolescence.
If your machine starts making a loud thunk and the drum stops turning, that's the part you need to replace.
Nice. I just fixed my Samsung dryer. The drum was binding or something, about 50% of the time it would make a buzzing noise when started and it wouldn't spin. One of the wheels inside was hard to turn when I took it apart. Replaced 2 wheels, belt, tension arm thing, and motor. Was like $80 in total. I did that yesterday and so far so good. I've had the set for about 10 years too so I'll remember this if the washer stops working.