Hi Julie, I presume you have this sorted by now, but for the benefit of anyone else reading this: I have a WF440 but it's prob the same for all Hotpoint washers, I think you're supposed to call out an engineer (as if) to clear the filter! But I have done mine myself a couple of times. You get to it from underneath, it is more accessible if you remove the rear panel as well. Once you have found a SAFE way to balance the machine at an angle so it won't fall or slip, you will need a screwdriver (a short one as you don't have much room) to remove the jubilee clips holding the hoses/pipes onto the filter housing, one of them may have a plastic clip with teeth on it (need pliers to remove and to put back on), and probably a torch to see what you're doing. Have a bowl or towels underneath it to catch any spillage. Check the condition of rubber hoses before you remove them, just in case they are about to fall apart, and bear in mind also that if the jubilee clips or plastic clip are old or become damaged when you remove them, you may need to replace them with new ones. Before you remove the insert in the filter housing, make a note of which way round it goes, as if you put it back the wrong way round the machine will not drain properly and/or leak. Hope this is of use to somebody!
Clare, May 2009
