Dryer Makes Noise – Causes & Possible Solutions

In this article…

• Noise Cause #1 — Drive Belt
• Noise Cause #2 — Drum Roller
• Noise Cause #3 — Drum Roller Axle
• Noise Cause #4 — Blower Wheel
• Noise Cause #5 — Drum Bearing
• Noise Cause #6 — Baffle or Lifter
• Noise Cause #7 — Drum Slide, Glide, or Pad
• Noise Cause #8 — Idler Pulley
• Noise Cause #9 — Idler Assembly (Shaft)
• Noise Cause #10 — Drive Motor

Where is that terrible noise coming from?

A noisy dryer may not just be annoying. It may also indicate a significant problem. While many of the possible causes will require the expertise of a repair technician, troubleshooting the problem will save downtime and may prevent even more serious issues from occurring.

If you run into a problem with the dryer making loud noises, take a look at the 10 most common noisemakers and then contact FIX Appliances CA to answer your questions or schedule an appointment. So, why is my dryer making loud noises?

Noise Cause #1 — Drive Belt

A belt is used to rotate the drum on both gas and electric dryers. The long, thin belt wraps around the drum and tension pulley and drives a motor. Unfortunately, the drive belt can dry out with age and use, become frayed, and even separate to cause a thumping noise every time the drum turns. 

Possible Solution

• You can inspect the drive belt by removing the dryer’s front panel.
• If you notice any signs of wear, such as cracking or fraying, contact FIX Appliances CA to replace it.

Noise Cause #2 — Drum Roller

Several rollers at the front and rear of most dryers support the drum. After years of use, these rollers can wear out and cause the drum to stop moving freely. A squealing or thumping noise may indicate one or more drum rollers have worn flat, broken, or maybe binding.

Possible Solution

Contact a certified technician to inspect the rollers for wear. If one or more are severely worn, the entire drum rollers will be replaced to ensure they wear evenly.

Noise Cause #3 — Drum Roller Axle

The shafts that hold the drum rollers at the front and rear of the dryer are called axles. Both the rollers and axles can wear out and create a loud rumbling noise with extended use.

Possible Solution

The belt must be removed and the drum turned by hand to determine if the axles have worn out.

A repair technician will inspect the rollers and axles for wobbling and ensure the drum spins freely. If even one axle is worn, all will be replaced to keep the drum turning smoothly.

Noise Cause #4 — Blower Wheel

Gas and electric dryers use a blower wheel to draw air through the heating chamber, the drum, and the exhaust vent. Three main issues can cause a thumping or roaring noise from the blower wheel:

• Lint, small articles of clothing, and other objects can get past the lint filter and lodge in the blower wheel.
• The blower wheel came loose from the threaded shaft, or the clamp holding it in place came off.
• The plastic blower wheel has worn out.

Possible Solution

• Remove the dryer vent to assess the airflow. Weak airflow can indicate an obstruction or wear.
• If a dryer makes weird noises, contact a repair technician. He will check for objects hitting the wheel, inspect the blower wheel for wobble, and replace it as necessary.

Noise Cause #5 — Drum Bearing

Some dryers use a bearing to support the back of the drum. It can be set up like a ball, socket, or shaft with a sleeve bushing. A squeaking or squealing noise may indicate the bearing has worn.

Possible Solution

A technician must remove the dryer belt and turn the drum by hand to determine if this is the problem. If it turns hard and the dryer makes a grinding noise when spinning, he’ll replace the drum bearing.

Noise Cause #6 — Baffle or Lifter

The baffles or lifters inside your drum keep clothes from sticking to the inside and help to tumble and fluff them as they dry. Small objects like loose change can become lodged underneath and cause a rattling noise. Worn or loose baffles can also cause a clumping noise and damage your clothing.

Possible Solution

• Check for loose change or other objects stuck under the baffles, and remove them.
• The dryer is making a loud noise. Contact a repairman to replace loose or worn baffles or lifters.

Noise Cause #7 — Drum Slide, Glide, or Pad

Made from Teflon, nylon, or plastic, drum slides (glides) support the dryer’s front and sides. They have a felt or cork backing to provide a smooth surface for the drum to rotate on. As they wear out, you’ll notice a scraping sound.

Possible Solution

The dryer’s cabinet must be removed to determine if the slides (glides) are worn out. Then, contact a service technician to inspect and replace the glides as a set.

Noise Cause #8 — Idler Pulley

The idler puller provides tension to the drum belt to prevent slippage when the dryer has a load. However, increased friction may cause the dryer to squeak or squeal as the idler pulley starts to wear because of its high-speed rotation. As it wears further, the noise will sound like a loud scraping or thumping.

Possible Solution

A technician must remove the belt to check the idler puller operation. Any binding, wear, or wobble will require replacement.

Noise Cause #9 — Idler Assembly (Shaft)

The idler assembly (shaft) may become damaged or worn from a problem with the idler pulley that provides tension on the drum belt. This may cause a loud scraping or thumping noise as it worsens.

Possible Solution

The idler assembly is located near the drive motor’s bottom of the dryer. A technician can service the part through the lower access panel or front of the machine. Any wear to the idler assembly should prompt replacing the unit and the drive belt.

Noise Cause #10 — Drive Motor

The drive motor on gas and electric dryers turns the blower and drum. Some noises may indicate a problem with the drive motor—rattling from a loose pulley, high-pitched noise from a lousy bearing, or humming noise from a bad switch on the motor.

Possible Solution

Your technician should remove the drum belt or blower wheel to ensure the motor is the problem. Once he’s determined all other parts are working correctly, replace the drive motor.

A noisy dryer can be a symptom of a bigger problem. You can purchase a maintenance kit to fix a loud dryer having trouble determining where the noise is coming from. It will contain all the common replacement parts needed to eliminate many noisy issues.

Pinpointing a noise problem with your dryer can be challenging. To improve our service, we have emergency appliances repair services such as Kenmore dryer repair, Maytag dryer repair and Whirlpool dryer repair on the same day. If you have questions about dryer maintenance or appliance installation cost or require a service visit, contact FIX Appliances CA online or call toll-free 888-242-0777 today.

Other Dryers Common Problems

• Dryer Won’t Heat / Dryer Not Heating (Causes & Possible Solutions)

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