Dryer making loud noise? 7 common causes and easy fixes

Did you know that dryers are manufactured to be quiet? Quiet dryers are known to boost productivity, reduce stress, and comfort people who are sensitive to loud noises. But when your dryer starts to do the opposite and make loud noises, it’s calling for your attention!

But this is nothing to worry about, a dryer making loud noises is more common than you think. The good news is that you can easily fix these noises by yourself! All you need to do is listen closely to what kind of noise your dryer is making. There are different kinds of noises a broken dryer can make, and through that noise, you can identify the cause of it. This blog will help you understand the type of noise your dryer makes, the common causes, and how you can easily fix it.

Common Dryer Noises and Their Causes

1. Squeaking Noise: Worn Drum Rollers

A squeaking noise is similar to a child’s squeaky shoes or when you open something with a rusty hinge. If your dryer is making a squeaking noise then there could be a problem with your dryer’s drum rollers. What is a drum roller? Drum Rollers are known to be support rollers that are placed below the dryer’s drum. These supporting wheels help the drum rotate, helping to wash and dry clothes better.

When these drum rollers get worn out or damaged, they start making a squeaking noise. There is also a possibility that your rollers can stop working because of wear and tear, damage, or long-time use. This can lead to the rollers flattening, and overloading the motor. This will, then, lead to your dryer stopping altogether.

2. Thumping Noise: Loose or Broken Drive Belt

A thumping noise is similar to someone pounding on a door or a heavy object hitting the floor. If your dryer is making a thumping noise then there is something wrong with your drive belt. It can either be loose or broken. What is a drive belt? A drive belt is one of the most important parts of the dryer. It helps the drum to rotate, spin your clothes, and dry your clothes properly. You will find this drive belt going around the drum idler pulley and motor pulley.

One of the main reasons your drive belt becomes loose or broken is because of longer use i.e., aging. The drive belt will start making a thumping noise, which will result in the drum not spinning properly and leaving you damp. In some cases, the drive belt can fall off or wear down because of overloading or soaking wet clothes are continuously loaded.

3. Whistling or Humming Noise: Blocked Vent or Lint Buildup

A whistling noise is similar to someone whistling. If your dryer is making a whistling noise then there is something wrong with your vent. There is a possibility that your dryer’s vent is blocked or there is a lint buildup. Over time lint can build up in the vent system, or there is a chance that something is stuck in the vent and it is clogged. Many times, the lint can become stiff and can get stuck in the vent. So, when the air pushes out the vent, it leads to your dryer making loud noises. There are things like paper, leaves, coins, and other things that can get stuck in the vent.

4. Rumbling Noise: Loose Blower Wheel

A rumbling noise is similar to thunder or the rumbling sound made by heavy vehicles. If your dryer is making a rumbling then there is a possibility that there is something wrong with your blower wheel. Many times a blower wheel can get loose. What is a blower wheel? A blower wheel is a part of the blower motor that helps air move through the dryer and release through the exhaust vent. It is attached to the drive motor shaft.

The reason why your blower wheel becomes loose is because of the blockages in the air vent. A blocked vent puts pressure on the blower. A loose blower wheel in turn puts pressure on the motor and the dryer’s drum. This leads to your dryer making loud noise.

5. Buzzing Noise: Electrical or Motor Issue

A buzzing noise is similar to a bee or a mosquito singing near your ears. If your dryer is buzzing, then, there is most probably an electrical or motor issue. To check if there is an electrical issue with your dryer you can check these things:

No Power: Most dryers stop working altogether. For this, make sure your dryer is plugged in. It is better to also check if your circuit breaker hasn’t tripped or fused. If there is still no power, then you might have to replace the socket.
Burning Smell: Whenever there is an electrical problem there is a burning smell, indicating a damaged belt or burnt lint.
Sparking: If your dryer is sparking, then you should consult a professional.

6. Grinding Noise: Worn Drum Bearings

A grinding noise is a harsh noise that sounds like a metal rubbing against metal. It is similar to a worn car brake or car starting. This grinding noise from your dryer means something is wrong with your drum bearings. What is a drum bearing? Drum bearings are metal rings that help the dryer drum to spin and dry your clothes properly. They are located at the back of your dryer. The reason why your dryer’s drum bearings are making noise is because either they are rusted or simply worn out.

7. Banging Noise: Unbalanced Drum

A banging noise is very similar to a door slamming, two cars colliding, or something heavy dropping on the floor. If your dryer is making a banging noise then there is a chance that your dryer is unbalanced. If it is unbalanced then the dryer bangs, shakes, and wobbles around the dryer body. This can happen if the laundry loads are too big for the dryer or unevenly distributed in the drum. To make sure this doesn’t happen, load your laundry in batches and are evenly spread out.

How Do We Fix These Noises?

Knowing the causes is step one of the process. Step two is to understand how to fix these issues in your dryer with step-by-step instructions. Below are the fixes for all the common issues.

Make sure to call for a professional if you are not able to repair the problems. It is better to be safe!

Squeaking Noise: Worn Drum Rollers

To Fix Squeaking Noise:

Tools You’ll Need-

Head Screwdriver
Flat Head Screwdriver
Socket Wrench
New Drum Rollers
Safety Glasses and Gloves

Steps:

Before anything, safety first! Unplug your dryer from the wall.
Open the dryer door, find the back screws of the top panel, and lift it off.
Disconnect the wires from the control panel if your dryer model requires you to. If not, you can skip this step.
Look inside the dryer door, you will find screws at the top of the front panel. Carefully remove them.
Then, use the socket wrench to remove the bolts that are supporting the drum roller brackets and remove the drum for better access.
Replace the old rollers with new ones. Make sure they fit properly.
Now, place the drum back into the dryer. Remember to align it properly!
Screw the drum support brackets and place the springs back into place.
If you have disconnected the wires, plug them back in.
Plug the dryer back in and run a test cycle to check if the dryer is making any noise.

Thumping Noise: Loose or Broken Drive Belt

To Fix Thumping Noise:

Tools You’ll Need-

Screwdrivers (plus and minus)
Socket wrench
New drive belt (for your dryer model)
Safety glasses and gloves

Steps:

Make sure your dryer is turned off and unplugged.
Open the door, and unscrew the back screw and remove the top panel.
Disconnect the wires from the control panel if your dryer model requires you to. If not, you can skip this step.
Make sure to unscrew the top screws inside the door to remove the front panel.
Next, use the socket wrench to remove the bolts that are holding the drum brackets. Carefully remove the drum for better access.
Once you get access, remove the old belt that is wrapped around the drum. Replace it with a new belt and make sure it is wrapped around the motor and pulley properly.
Place the drum back into the dryer. Please make sure that is installed back properly.
Screw the drum brackets and springs in their places.
Then, screw the front panel back on.
If you have disconnected the wires, plug them back in.
Put back the top panel.
Plug the dryer in and run a test cycle.

Whistling or Humming Noise: Blocked Vent or Lint Buildup

To Fix Whistling Noise:

Tools You’ll Need-

Screwdrivers (plus and minus)
Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
Dryer vent cleaning brush
Safety glasses and gloves

Steps:

Unplug your dryer from the wall, because your safety is important.
After moving the dryer away from the wall, you will be able to access the vent and the ducts better.
Use the screwdriver to loosen the cover of the vent hose and remove the hose.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a dryer vent brush to clean out all the lint stuck in the vent hose.
Make sure to also clean the inside of the vent opening of the dryer. Use a vacuum cleaner and brush to remove all the lint buildup.
You should also go outside where your dryer vent is exiting your home. It is important to make sure that this area is also free of lint or other buildup. Use a brush, if blocked.
After cleaning, reconnect the vent hose back in the dryer and tighten the cover.
Move the dryer back into its place, against the wall.
Plug your dryer back in and run a test cycle to check if there is still a whistling noise.

Rumbling Noise: Loose Blower Wheel

To Fix Rumbling Noise:

Tools You’ll Need-

Screwdrivers (plus and minus)
Wrenches
Safety glasses and gloves

Steps:

Unplug the dryer, and wear your safety glasses and gloves.
Open the dryer door, and unscrew the back screws and remove the top panel for better access.
Disconnect the wires if your dryer’s model requires you to.
Unscrew the top screws that are inside the door and remove the front panel for better access.
You will find the blower wheel near the dryer motor.
To tighten the blower wheel, use a wrench. But if the wheel is damaged, you should replace it with a new one.
Reassemble everything in the reverse order- front panel, control panel wires (in case you unplugged them), and top panel. Make sure to put back all the screws.
Plug back your dryer and run a test cycle to make sure your dryer isn’t making a loud noise.

Buzzing Noise: Electrical or Motor Issue

To Fix Buzzing Noise:

Handling electrical or motor issues in a dryer can turn out to be dangerous and tricky. We would advise you to contact a professional. However, if you have experience with electrical issues, you can follow these steps.

Tools You’ll Need-

Multimeter (for testing electrical connections)
Screwdrivers (plus and minus)
Safety glasses and gloves

Steps:

The first step is always to unplug the dryer and push it out through the wall. Make sure your circuit breaker is switched off.
Open the door, unscrew the back, and remove the top panel.
Unplug the wires (if needed), unscrew the top screws to remove the front panel.
Take a look at the power cord that connects to the dryer. Use the multimeter to check for continuity. If the connections look loose or damaged, you should tighten or replace them altogether.
Some of the other areas you should check are our thermal fuse, door switch, and heating element for connections.
Once you have checked and fixed all issues, reassemble everything back the same way. Don’t forget to screw everything back!
Plug in the dryer and turn on the circuit breaker. Run a test cycle to make sure everything is working properly.

Grinding Noise: Worn Drum Bearings

To Fix Grinding Noise:

Tools You’ll Need:

Screwdrivers (plus and minus)
Socket wrench
Replacement drum bearings

Steps:

Take care of your safety, and unplug the dryer.
Open the dryer door, unscrew the back, remove the top panel, and disconnect the wires if needed for your dryer.
With the help of a socket wrench, remove the bolts for drum support brackets and take out the drum.
Replace the drum bearings, and make sure they fit properly.
Place the drum back into the dryer and try aligning it correctly.
Screw the drum support brackets back.
Hook the springs back on the front panel, and reconnect the wires.
Plug the dryer again and run a test cycle. Check if the dryer is working smoothly.

Banging Noise: Unbalanced Drum

To Fix Banging Noise:

Tools You’ll Need:

Level (a tool to check flatness)
Screwdrivers (plus and minus)
Socket wrench

Steps:

Unplug your dryer for safety.
You need to check for imbalance. To check this, put some clothes in the dryer that are evenly distributed. Because sometimes one side can be heavy if clothes are not spread out. You can use a level to check if the dryer is evenly sitting on the floor. If not, adjust the legs.
Dissemble the dryer and check the drum rollers, drum bearings, and drum support. These things can also be causing the dryer to make a banging noise.
Put everything back in reverse order.
Plug the dryer back in and run a test cycle.

Conclusion

A dryer making loud noise can make the whole laundry routine extremely frustrating. It is better to check out the issues your dryer is facing by identifying the noise it makes. By recognizing different noises, you can get your laundry routine back on track in no time. In this blog, we have covered all the possible noises your dryer can make and how to fix them. One of the most important things to keep in mind is to do regular maintenance of your dryers so that they work better and longer. If you come across any problem and need a dryer repair in Vancouver, Tech Angels Appliance Repair will be there to help you out with its experienced team of technicians. Until then, have a laundry routine that makes your day. We wish you a morning with a quiet dryer!

Dryer making loud noise? 7 common causes and easy fixes