Quick answer: match the dryer making noise to its likely culprit
- Squeal or squeak: idler pulley, belt or drum rollers.
- Thump or bang: flat roller, worn belt or an unbalanced load.
- Grind: worn glides or a failing drum bearing. Stop using it.
- Rattle: coins, screws or a loose pulley or panel.
Noise by noise: what each sound usually means
Dryer grinding noise: metal on metal, and the one to take seriously
Grinding means metal is touching metal or a bearing has failed. Likely parts are the drum glides, felt seal, support rollers and drum bearing. iFixit warns it can overheat and burn out the motor. Stop the dryer, unplug it and call a technician.
Dryer squeaking: the belt, pulley or rollers
A worn idler pulley causes high-pitched sounds. So do a stretched or frayed belt and dry drum rollers. They get louder over time and can end in a snapped belt. iFixit says to level the dryer first.
Dryer thumping noise: a flat spot or a worn belt
A steady, rapid thump can mean a flat spot on a drum roller. That sometimes happens when a dryer sits unused. A thump once per turn can mean a worn spot on the belt. Heavy towels or a stray tool cause it too.
Dryer rattling and rumbling: loose parts and blower debris
Rattles usually mean coins or screws. A loose pulley, door latch or panel can also rattle. A low rumble can mean lint on the blower wheel. It can also be a loose motor mount. If it continues after the cycle ends, suspect the blower wheel.
Safe checks before you call, no screwdriver required
- Unplug the dryer before you do anything else.
- Empty the drum and check pockets for coins, keys and screws.
- Check that the dryer is level by pressing on opposite corners. Adjust a leveling foot until it stops rocking.
- Pull the dryer away from the wall so it isn't vibrating against it.
- Turn the drum by hand. It should spin smoothly and rebound slightly, not scrape.
- Run a short empty cycle, then a small load, and listen again.
Don't remove the drum to reach rollers. iFixit calls that a substantial job.
When to stop the dryer and call a technician
- A grinding sound, or a drum that scrapes when turned by hand.
- A burning rubber or hot smell, which can point to a belt.
- A noise that returns after you removed objects and leveled the dryer.
- A gas smell: leave the home. Then call Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504 or 911 from a safe spot.
If it also won't run, see the guide to a dryer that won't start.
What a technician checks, and why they replace rollers as a set
A technician unplugs the dryer and removes the belt. Next comes an inspection of the idler pulley, motor pulley, drum rollers, glides and bearing. The blower wheel gets a look too. iFixit says to replace all rollers if one is bad, since they tend to fail one after another.
Repair or replace a noisy dryer
A belt, pulley or set of rollers is usually worth fixing on a dryer in good shape. Replacement starts to make sense when the drum bearing, motor and other parts are all worn. It also fits when the dryer is past about ten years. A common rule of thumb says to replace when repair costs more than half a new one.
Prevention: keep loads balanced and the dryer level
Check pockets, avoid overloading and clean the lint screen each load. Pull the dryer forward once a year to check the feet and vent.
Dryer noise in Winston-Salem NC? Here is who to call
Dryer Repair Winston-Salem sends local technicians to Winston-Salem NC and nearby Forsyth County homes. Our dryer repair page covers belts, rollers and bearings on electric and gas models. The home page lists every appliance we handle. Call (336) 738-8095: the estimate is free, and a person answers.
A CPSC dryer fire study tied one in five reported causes to mechanical faults
In February 2000 a CPSC staff report analyzed dryer fires. It estimated 15,500 dryer fires in 1996, with 20 deaths and 320 injuries. In one breakdown, the Home Product Report put mechanical causes at 20 percent. It put lack of maintenance at 29 percent.
Noise is the cheapest early warning of a mechanical fault. A careful technician treats it that way and checks the vent too. The lesson: don't run a grinding dryer to finish a load.
Sources and further reading
Dryer making noise: questions Winston-Salem households ask
Why is my dryer so loud all of a sudden?
A sudden new sound usually means an object in the drum. It can also be an unlevel cabinet or a worn part. Empty the drum, level the feet and listen again. If the noise stays, a belt, pulley or roller is likely.
Is grinding in my dryer dangerous?
Yes. Grinding means metal is touching metal or a bearing has failed. iFixit warns it can burn out the motor. Stop the dryer, unplug it and have it checked. In Winston-Salem NC, call Dryer Repair Winston-Salem at (336) 738-8095. Do not run it again until the cause is known.
What causes a squeal from my dryer?
The usual causes are a worn idler pulley or a stretched or frayed belt. Drum rollers that no longer spin freely do it too. Leveling the dryer is the one free check worth doing first. If the squeal stays after that, call a technician.
Why does my dryer thump with each turn?
A rhythmic thump per turn usually means a flat spot on a drum roller. A worn spot on the belt does the same. Run the dryer empty. If the thump stays, the roller or belt needs replacing. A technician can tell which part it is.
Can I fix a noisy dryer myself?
You can do the checks. Empty the drum and level the feet. Move the dryer off the wall and spin the drum by hand. Replacing rollers or a pulley means removing the drum, a big job. So call a technician for that.
Is it safe to run a noisy dryer?
A rattle from a coin is low risk, and you can remove it. A squeal, thump or grind is a worn part. A burning smell means stop now. Unplug it until it is checked. Call a technician if the sound keeps coming back.
Should I replace all the dryer rollers at once?
Usually yes. iFixit says to replace all rollers if one is bad, since they can fail one after another. A technician will often replace the belt and idler pulley in one visit. That way the new parts wear evenly. Ask the technician what they find.
Does Dryer Repair Winston-Salem repair noisy dryers in Winston-Salem NC?
Yes. Dryer Repair Winston-Salem repairs noisy electric and gas dryers for Winston-Salem NC homes. We serve nearby Forsyth County too, using local technicians. Call (336) 738-8095, describe the sound, and a person will take the details. The estimate is free and you decide before work starts.
Call when the noise won't go away in your Winston-Salem dryer
Describe the sound, the brand and whether it is gas or electric. Call (336) 738-8095: the estimate is free and a person answers.
Call (336) 738-8095