DryerRepair.center (844) 314-5837Mon–Sat, 8am–8pm Book a visit
A front-load dryer pulled out from the wall in a US home laundry room with its front panel removed, exposing the drum edge and the belt.

Dryer
Making Loud Noise

Squealing, thumping, rumbling, scraping or rattling that was not there before.

(844) 314-5837

Mon–Sat, 8am–8pm

  • 5 checks before you book
  • 5 questions that narrow it
  • 5 causes, cheapest first

Book a visit

Three short steps, about a minute.

or call (844) 314-5837

What it
usually means.

Almost every loud dryer is telling you which part of the drive is wearing, and the sound names it. A high squeal that comes and goes is usually the idler pulley or the belt. A rhythmic thump points at a flat spot on the belt or a worn roller. A deep rumble comes from drum rollers or the rear bearing, and a scrape at the front edge from worn glides or felt seals. A rattle often turns out to be a coin, a button or a zipper in the drum or the blower. Catching these early keeps a small repair from becoming a broken belt or a seized motor.

A dryer drum is lifted out and rests on a moving blanket in a US home laundry room. The 5 causes, cheapest first

Answer these first

01

Is the sound a squeal, a thump, a rumble, a scrape or a rattle?
02

Does it happen only when the drum turns, or also on a cycle that has just started?
03

Does it get louder as the dryer warms up?
04

Does it change with the size of the load?
05

Is the dryer standing level, with all four feet firm on the floor?

Check these
before you book.

Dryer making loud noise: 5 checks, and none of them costs anything.

01

Empty the drum and check pockets, the drum baffles and the door seal for coins or hardware.

02

Describe the sound as a squeal, thump, rumble, scrape or rattle; it narrows the part more than anything else.

03

Check that the dryer is level and that its feet are firm; a rocking dryer thumps.

Also worth checking

  • Unplug the dryer and turn the drum by hand, listening for a scrape or a grind.
  • Note whether the sound started suddenly or grew over weeks.

How soon does it need a visit?

Not urgent in most cases. A squeal or thump can be lived with for a short while, but a grinding or burning smell with the noise means stop the dryer and unplug it.

The causes,
cheapest first.

5 things dryer making loud noise turns out to be, from loose objects in the drum or blower to motor bearings or blower wheel.

The cost guide
  1. 01 no repair

    Loose objects in the drum or blower

    Coins, buttons and zippers rattle against the drum. Something that reached the blower housing makes a sharper rattle that stays whether the drum is loaded or empty.

    No repair: check it yourself
  2. 02 low

    Worn idler pulley

    The idler's bearing wears and squeals, first at startup and then constantly. It is the most common dryer squeal.

    Fixed by drum belt and roller repair
  3. 03 low

    Worn drum rollers

    Rollers under the back of the drum wear flat and thump or rumble with each turn.

    Fixed by drum belt and roller repair
  4. 04 low to moderate

    Drum glides or felt seal worn

    The front of the drum rides on glides and a felt seal. Worn through, they let metal scrape metal, often with black marks on clothes.

    Fixed by drum belt and roller repair See dryer leaving marks on clothes
  5. 05 moderate

    Motor bearings or blower wheel

    A loud hum or grinding from the lower back of the dryer, even with the belt off, points at the motor or a damaged blower wheel.

    Fixed by motor and blower repair
  6. What it costs

    Every repair on the site's cost scale, side by side

    Open the cost guide

The makes
it happens on.

14 makes on this site; dryer making loud noise can show up on any of them. Each mark opens that make's own page.

All 14 brands

Dryer Making Loud Noise,
where we come out.

9 metros, each with its own page.

All service areas

Tampa BayFL · 31 areas

OrlandoFL · 30 areas

Miami / South FloridaFL · 47 areas

New York MetroNY · 75 areas

HoustonTX · 36 areas

ChicagoIL · 50 areas

Los AngelesCA · 95 areas

San DiegoCA · 31 areas

San Francisco Bay AreaCA · 74 areas

A parent and a child folding warm towels together on top of a front-load dryer in a bright laundry room
For the heart of your home.

Questions about
dryer making loud noise.

Should all the rollers be replaced at once?
Generally yes. They wear at similar rates, and the drum has to come out to reach any of them. Replacing only the noisy one often means another visit soon.
My dryer squeals only for the first few minutes. Is that serious?
It is an early sign of a worn idler pulley or roller. The squeal fades as the part warms, but the wear continues until the belt slips or breaks.
Can I oil the rollers to stop the noise?
Oil on the drum surface or the belt causes more problems than it solves. Most rollers and idlers are sealed and replaced when worn.
The dryer is loud on a stacked unit. Is stacking the reason?
A stack can amplify vibration if the stacking kit is loose or the washer below is not level. Check the kit and the washer's feet before the dryer itself.

Back to your everyday

Still seeing dryer making loud noise?

Book with what you checked above — 5 answers save the technician the first part of the visit.

Schedule a repair Call (844) 314-5837
(844) 314-5837 Schedule a repair