It can be quite scary when you suddenly hear loud noises coming from your dryer. You might not be sure whether or not to let the appliance finish the cycle. Why is your dryer making loud noises when spinning? In this article, you will learn about the different circumstances that can lead to this problem as well as how to solve it.
Reasons Your Dryer is Making Loud Noises
If your dryer has started making loud noises, the first step to finding a resolution is determining the cause. With some time and effort, this can be done right at home!
There are many possible reasons why your appliance might have developed this issue – something may simply need tightening or replacing due to wear and tear over time. To narrow down what’s causing these sounds, you’ll just need a screwdriver in hand for an inspection.
It’s also important to listen to the noises coming out of the appliance, as different mechanical problems result in different sounds being emitted. In the following section of the article, you will learn which noises are produced by different malfunctioning components.
Squeaky or Thumping Noise
Let’s start with the potential issues that could lead to your dryer making squeaky or thumping noises when spinning. This type of noise is usually due to one of the drive belt components being worn or damaged.
Drum Rollers and Axles Worn
Drum rollers look like small wheels and are found behind the drum and as the name suggests, they help the drum turn. You can easily test whether the drum rollers are defective by turning the drum with your hand. If you are not able to move the drum with your hand, the rollers have become worn and should be replaced.
To replace the drum rollers inside your dryer, you will first have to remove both the front and the top panel on the appliance. This will allow you to complete the next step of removing the drum. Once removed, you’ll instantly notice the rollers mounted on the back panel of the dryer. Remove them and install replacement parts. In some cases you will purchase a roller wheel just like the one in the image below, alternatively, the roller wheel can also include the roller axle, as a single kit component.
Make sure to conduct an inspection of the roller axle as well while examining the drum rollers. This small metal rod passes through the center of the roller and if there are any problems with it, you will be able to wobble them as they spin – just use your hand! If the new rollers wobble then also replacing the axles becomes a necessity.
Damaged Drive Belt
A stretched slipping rubber drive belt is one of the most common causes of screeching noises whilst the dryer is spinning. Fortunately, diagnosing this issue does not require you to take apart your appliance! All you have to do is open the door and use your hand to turn the drum; if there’s some resistance when pushing on it, the belt is fine.
On the contrary, if the drum feels loose as you turn it clockwise the chances are the drive belt is overstretched, broken, or has come out of the alignment within the pulley system.
- To replace the drive belt, you will need to remove both the front and the top panel on your dryer.
- Use a screwdriver to remove all of the screws that secure these panels.
- Once you do that, you’ll see the drive belt wrapped around the drum.
- You can remove it with your hands and place the replacement in the same position where the original was.
- When you’re finished installing the new drive belt, reassemble the appliance.
If you want to see a visual guide on how to replace the drive belt in your dryer, you should check out the video below.
Dryer Making Loud Grinding Noise
A loud grinding is one of the most disconcerting noises you can hear coming from your dryer. It immediately makes you think that something is seriously wrong with the dryer. However, in reality, it’s most likely to be a problem with the glides or bearing, which is causing the drum to rub or scrap on the dryer housing.
Worn Drum Glides
Drum glides are used to support the front of the drum as it rotates. They are thin plastic components that fit around the outer edge of the drum and because of their function, they take a fair amount of wear. However, they are inexpensive to buy and very simple to replace. The entire process won’t take longer than 20 minutes.
You will need to remove both the top and the front panel on your dryer to safely remove the glides. You can pull out the drum glides with your hands and install new ones in place of the originals. Here’s a short video to walk you through the process of replacing a set of dryer glides.
Worn Drum Bearing
The dryer drum bearing supports the back of the dryer drum and keeps it rotating smoothly during the drying cycle. This bearing helps provide proper airflow so clothes dry faster and makes sure that the drum doesn’t jam. Over time, the dryer drum bearing can wear out or become damaged, resulting in a squeaking and often thumping sound coming from your appliance.
Replacing your dryer’s drum bearing can seem intimidating, but it’s actually a relatively straightforward process. All you need is the proper tools and some patience. Here are the steps to follow:
- Unplug the dryer from the wall and slide it out from its spot.
- Remove the lint trap, top cover, and front panel of your dryer.
- Take off the screws that hold the blower wheel in place and lift off the blower wheel housing and drum belt guard.
- Disconnect all wires connected to the motor or heating element that may be attached along with removing any other screws holding in these parts.
- Pull back any insulation blocking access to the rear of the cabinet where you’ll find two bolts that secure the bearing to the back of the drum.
- Unscrew each bolt before carefully pulling off both pieces of the old bearing by hand or with a pair of pliers if necessary.
- Place the new dryer bearing on one side of the drum then put it back together reattaching all parts in reverse order from the earlier steps listed above.
- Finally, plug your appliance back into the outlet and test for sound after completing installation.
Worn Idler Pulley
If your dryer is making more of a squeaking noise, not accompanied by any significant knocking or thumping we can probably narrow down the inspection to check for a worn idler pulley.
The idler pulley helps to keep the driver belt taut, allowing it to rotate the drum. you rotate the drum by hand and hear a squeaking noise, with an intermittent clunking sound, the chances are that the idler pulley is worn and needs replacing.
If you want to access the dryer to inspect the idler pulley and check whether its at fault, then you should follow these steps:
- Start by unplugging your dryer to avoid any potential injuries.
- Once you unplug the appliance, you can grab a screwdriver and begin removing screws that secure both the top and the front panel.
- Remove these two panels and you will notice the idler pulley, which is located underneath the drum.
- In order to remove the idler pulley from the dryer, you will need to first push it to the right. This will release the tension on the belt.
- You can now safely remove the idler pulley and replace it with a new part.
Check out the video below to find out more about replacing an idler pulley.
Blower Wheel Making a Rumbling Noise
Another type of noise you can hear coming out of your dryer is a loud rumbling. Thankfully, this type of noise can only mean one thing a problem with the blower wheel, so at least you won’t have to spend time trying to figure out which component is defective.
The blower moves air through the dryer duct system. There are a few different reasons why a blower wheel may start to produce rumbling sounds, but it’s usually due to it being clogged with lint, but it could also be due to a crack in the component.
If you’d like to learn how to replace the blower wheel in your dryer, you should watch the short video below.
Defective Drive Motor – Squealing, Humming, or Rattling
By now you’ve realized that dryers can make a lot of different noises depending on which part of the appliance is defective. It’s important to listen to the sound coming out of the dryer to try and figure out what could be causing it. If you hear humming or rattling noises, there is a high probability that the drive motor is failing, worn, or has problems with the brushes.
The drive motor is essentially the heart of the dryer and as such, it is arguably the single most important component inside the appliance. It is also quite a complex problem to fix. Even if you have experience with repairing appliances, there are some problems that should be left to the professionals. It’s recommended that you get in touch with a skilled repair technician if the drive motor inside your dryer has failed.
You may like to read Fix a Dryer That Won’t Turn Off Unless The Door Is Open
Is It Safe To Use A Noisy Dryer?
Using a noisy dryer can be dangerous. The noise could be a sign of an underlying issue such as a worn-out drum bearing, motor problem, or even a clogged vent. All of these issues can potentially lead to fires and other safety hazards, so it is important to have your dryer inspected by a professional before continuing to use it.
A noisy dryer should be taken as an early warning signal to STOP and diagnose the root cause, otherwise, it will inevitably become progressively worse. The aim is to minimize any further damages and keep any repair costs to a minimum.
The Cost To Fix A Noisy Dryer
The cost to repair a noisy dryer will depend on the problem and the parts required. Generally speaking, when replacing the drum bearing or the drive motor, where professional assistance may be required, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150-$350. Whereas replacing a drive belt ($25) or drum glides ($10) at home yourself can be a very low-cost repair. If you’re unsure of your capabilities to carry out these repairs, be sure to consult a professional.
Verdict: Dryer Making Loud Noises When Spinning
What should you do in the event of your dryer making loud noises when spinning? The main thing to keep in mind is that you should carefully listen to the sounds coming out of the machine. This will help you come closer to identifying which component is causing the issue.
Having renovated two homes and completed countless repairs, it was time to share this experience with the world. From repairing kitchen appliances to remodeling entire homes, my 30 years of experience will hopefully help you on your journey to a beautiful and functional home
