Don’t Let Your Noisy Dryer Drive You Crazy! Discover the Top Causes and Easy Fixes Today

All major appliances will produce a bit of noise while they run, but none of them should run so loud that they drive you out of the room. If your dryer is making a racket, it’s probably a sign that something is wrong. Overloading, blocked vents, and worn out parts can all make your dryer run louder than usual, and in this guide we’ll show you how to identify – and fix – the most common causes of those unwanted sounds.

Which Dryer Sounds Should Be Cause For Concern?

Most folks are probably familiar with the steady sound of a dryer tumbling clothes or a buzz at the end of the cycle. It’s the other sounds that might give a person pause – and in all likelihood, they should. Screeching and squealing, rattling, thumping or banging, and grinding are all sounds that your dryer might potentially start making in its lifespan, and they’re all signs that something isn’t quite right.

Before You Begin…

Safety first! Be sure to disconnect your dryer from power either at the wall outlet or via the circuit breaker. Never perform maintenance on an appliance that is still receiving power!

There are a few tools that will be handy to have ready to go as you check and change out these components:

• Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
• An appropriate Torx screwdriver for your model of dryer – probably Torx 20
• Needle-nose pliers
• A putty knife
• Work gloves

You may additionally need access to the back of the dryer for some – but not all – of these causes, so be prepared to pull your dryer away from the wall. Get a friend to help if you’re concerned you can’t do it on your own, and if you’ve got a dryer that has a gas hookup or that is hardwired into your home, consider calling a professional for assistance.

Causes & Fixes For A Noisy Dryer

Dryer unplugged? Tools handy? Alright, let’s get started!

1. The Dryer Drum Bearing Slides

The dryer drum bearing slides are a set of strips that are typically installed on the interior of the dryer’s front panel. As the name implies, each strip supports the dryer drum, allowing it to turn smoothly on the front panel. If one wears thin or breaks and falls out of place, it can cause a host of problems – including noise.

SYMPTOMS: loud grinding noises during operation; drum has difficulty turning or won’t turn at all

How to Diagnose and Replace Damaged Dryer Drum Bearing Slides

To reach the slides, you’ll need to disassemble most of the dryer cabinet. How you do this depends on the make and model of your appliance, but most often it starts with disassembling or removing the control panel, then the top of the dryer.

When removing the front panel from the rest of the dryer, take care. Even with any locking tabs released or screws removed, it’ll still likely be held in place by a few wire harnesses connecting things like the door switch or moisture sensor. Disconnect these before removing the front panel. 

You’ll find the slides around the opening on the interior of the front panel. They’ll be across the top, and there are usually four of them. Look for signs of wear and tear on the strips themselves or the dryer’s front panel, and check for missing slides.

New slides can be installed by hand, with the aid of a flathead screwdriver. Simply pop the old ones out and slot the new ones into place. Keep in mind, if you’re replacing one slide, you should replace the rest as well to ensure the drum rides evenly and all components wear down at the same rate.

Want a more detailed look at how to replace this part? Check out our video tutorial!

2. The Drive Belt

A drive belt is a thin loop of rubber that transfers power from the dryer’s motor to the drum, allowing it to turn. As it ages, the drive belt will start to fray and thin, eventually snapping. It can also, in some cases, slide out of place. When this happens, you’ll almost always be dealing with some extra noise, as well as a few other issues.

SYMPTOMS: dull rhythmic thumping noises, squealing noises; dryer drum won’t turn

How to Diagnose and Replace or Fix A Dryer Drive Belt 

In most dryers that utilize a drive belt, the belt loops around the entire drum, as well as a set of pulleys near the bottom of the appliance. To reach the belt, your dryer’s outer case will need to be disassembled – a process that will vary depending on the make and model of your dryer, but usually involves taking the top and then front panel off.

Once you have access to the drive belt, look it over. At a minimum, it should be flat, not twisted, and there’s likely a groove in the drum that it should be seated in. You’ll also want to check for signs of damage – spots where the belt has worn thin or begun to fray. If you notice the belt has twisted or slid out of place, fix that and see if your noise problems are solved. If it looks like it’s damaged in any way, you’ll need to replace it.

To do this, you’ll need to free the belt up from the pulleys at the bottom of the dryer. Typically, one of the pulleys can be pushed in or pulled out to release it, slackening the belt and allowing you to easily slip it out of the dryer. The new belt can then be slid over the drum and run through the pulleys.

3. The Drum Rollers

The drum rollers are small components consisting of a wheel and axle. They support the dryer’s drum as it turns. Depending on the model of your appliance, your dryer likely has at least two of these, possibly four. They carry a lot of weight in their lifetime, and can potentially wear down, crack, or break, causing a whole lot of noise when they finally go.

SYMPTOMS: Squeaking and thumping sounds, like tennis balls bouncing around in the dryer; dryer drum has difficulty turning; dryer drum sags and doesn’t align perfectly with the opening

How to Diagnose and Replace Damaged Drum Rollers

A quick check for worn-down rollers is to open your dryer door and have a look inside. Is there a gap between the drum and the front panel? If so, your rollers may have worn flat. This can happen both if the rollers are old and have seen heavy use or if the dryer has sat unused for a long while.

You can also try manually turning the drum by hand. If there’s a lot of resistance, the rollers may be worn out or damaged.

To know for sure whether the rollers are the issue, though, you’ll need to see them for yourself. Getting to the rollers requires dismantling much of your dryer, and how to get to them will depend on the make and model of your appliance. Once you reach them, check that they spin freely and do not wobble.

Even if just one roller is worn out or damaged, you should replace the entire set to ensure that they all wear evenly.

4. The Pulleys

As mentioned, the pulleys put tension on the drive belt so that it can turn the dryer drum. You’ll likely notice your dryer’s pulley wheels wearing out before the pulley itself breaks outright, so while your appliance seemingly runs fine otherwise, it may make some telltale sounds.

SYMPTOMS: Squeaking, like a bad wheel; dryer struggles to turn during use

How to Diagnose and Replace Damaged Pulleys

Just like the belt, you’ll need access to the bottom of the dryer to reach the pulleys. Depending on the model of your dryer, you may need to disassemble the outer case to reach the pulleys or you may be able to access them from the back. Remove the belt and check that the pulley wheels turn freely and that there’s no damage to the arm or axles.

5. The Blower Wheel

The blower wheel is a plastic component that moves air through the dryer and out the exhaust vent. A loose or blocked wheel or one with broken fins or damaged threading can make a great deal of noise while also reducing your dryer’s effectiveness.

SYMPTOMS: Rumbling or thumping sounds that seem to come from the vents or blower housing; dryer temperature seems off

How to Diagnose and Either Fix or Replace a Blower

Blowers are typically found in one of two places – the very front or the very back of the dryer. Reaching it will likely require removing panels and disassembling the blower housing, so have your tool set handy.

Once you have access to the blower, the first thing you’ll want to check is that it isn’t clogged with lint or debris. Take this opportunity to clear out any lint buildup even if it’s not that bad – it’ll cut back on fire risk. Once that’s done, check the blower wheel for obvious signs of damage – it’s plastic, so you’ll notice cracks or tears easily. Finally, check that the blower turns properly.

You may be able to get away with tightening down a blower that’s come loose, but if you see any damage, particularly to the fins or the threading, the blower must be replaced.

6. The Motor

We come at last to the biggest potential problem: the motor, which powers your dryer. If the motor is failing, not only will the appliance be making unusual noises, you’ll likely notice some other issues with how your dryer runs as well.

SYMPTOMS: squeaking (bearings going bad), rattling or humming (a switch has failed); issues with the dryer turning or the blower working

How To Diagnose and Replace a Damaged Motor

If one part of the drive motor is failing, the entire thing will need to be replaced. Depending on the model of your dryer, you may need to completely disassemble the appliance to reach the motor – including removing the drum and blower assembly entirely.

Once you have access to the motor, it can be hard to definitively identify it as the source of your issues, but you can give it a manual turn. It should spin freely when you do this. If you encounter any strange noises or resistance, the motor needs to be replaced.

Wrapping Up

In this article, we covered all the major mechanical issues that could be causing a noisy dryer. Be sure to also keep your lint filter and vents clear, and check that your dryer doesn’t have any loose change floating around in the drum as these are also frequent causes of mystery sounds.

Have more questions not answered by our article? Check out the other guides on our blog, or head on over to our main site to consult with one of our friendly experts. Whether you’re just worried about noise or trying to install a new OEM component, AppliancePartsPros.com has your back!