Why Is My Dryer Making Noise? Squealing, Thumping, Scraping and Rattling
A dryer has only a few moving parts: a drum, a belt, a pulley, some rollers or glides, a motor and a blower. The kind of noise, and where it comes from, usually tells you which one is complaining.
Quick answer
Thumping is usually a balled-up load, shoes, or drum rollers with flat spots after the dryer sat unused, which fade in a few minutes. Rattling and knocking are buttons, zippers and coins, or an unlevel dryer. Scraping means something is caught where the drum meets the front or back seal. A squeal or screech that does not fade points to a worn belt, idler pulley, rollers or glides.
- Difficulty
- Moderate DIY
- Normal
- Short start-up squeak; gas valve clicks; drum and burner sounds
- Check first
- Pockets, the drum seams, the lint filter opening, the legs
- Wear parts
- Belt, idler pulley, rollers, glides, bearings
- Before any work
- Unplug the dryer; shut gas off for panel work
On this page
Inside the cabinet, a motor turns a belt wrapped around the drum. A spring-loaded idler pulley keeps the belt tight. The drum rides on small support rollers at the back (or a rear bearing) and on plastic glides or slides at the front. The same motor usually spins the blower that pushes hot, moist air out the vent. Most noises come from those parts wearing, or from something that should not be in the drum.
Normal dryer sounds
GE and Whirlpool list these as normal:
- A short squeak at start-up that disappears within a few seconds.
- The steady sound of the drum turning and clothes tumbling.
- On gas dryers, a click when the gas valve opens and closes, a low hum or buzz from the valve, and a soft roar from the burner.
What the noise means
| Noise | Where | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumping that fades after a few minutes | Drum | Flat spots on support rollers after the dryer sat unused (Whirlpool) | Normal; goes away as rollers warm up |
| Thumping that comes and goes | Drum | Balled-up sheets or bedding, shoes | Load large items loosely; use a dry rack for shoes |
| Thumping that never fades | Drum | Worn rollers or a damaged belt | Replace parts |
| Rattling, knocking | Drum | Zippers, buttons, coins, pens; items leaning on the dryer | Empty pockets; clear the top and sides |
| Pounding, rocking | Cabinet | Missing or unadjusted legs, uneven floor | Replace legs and level the dryer |
| Metallic scraping | Front or back edge of drum | Coin, screw or clip caught in the drum seal; worn front glides | Remove the object; replace glides |
| High squeal when the drum starts | Back | Worn drive belt (Maytag) | Replace belt |
| Screech or tick from the front, often front right | Front | Idler pulley not turning smoothly (Maytag) | Replace pulley |
| Squeak that starts only when hot, or chirps every few seconds | Inside | Worn rollers, glides or bearing (GE) | Replace parts |
| Rumbling, grinding, humming | Bottom | Motor or blower wheel problem, debris in the blower | Technician |
What to check first
- Unplug the dryer.
For a gas dryer, also close the gas valve before moving it or removing panels.
- Check the drum and seams.
Run your hand (with a glove) and a flashlight around the front and back edges of the drum. Whirlpool says coins, paper clips, safety pins and screws catch in the seam where the drum meets the front or back.
- Look under the lint filter.
GE suggests removing the filter and looking down into the opening for objects. Wear gloves; the edges can be sharp.
- Level the dryer.
Check that all four legs touch the floor and the dryer is level front to back and side to side. Whirlpool notes level is also needed for moisture sensing to work correctly.
- Tighten exposed cabinet screws
and move anything leaning against the dryer, or rattling in a pedestal drawer.
- Listen with an empty drum.
Run it on a no-heat cycle. If the noise is still there with no clothes inside, it is a mechanical part.
Lint and a struggling motor are a fire risk. Maytag notes that lint buildup on the motor can make the bearings seize and the motor overheat. Clean the lint filter before or after every load and keep the vent clear, as the U.S. Fire Administration advises. Stop using the dryer if you smell burning.
Fixing worn parts
The belt, idler pulley, support rollers, glides and rear bearing are common replacement parts sold for most models. Getting to them means removing panels and usually lifting out the drum. Maytag suggests a professional for rollers in particular, and recommends replacing both rollers even if only one looks worn. If you are not comfortable with that, a technician can do it in a single visit.
A dryer that has needed several of these parts and is past its typical life may be due for replacement; the repair or replace calculator compares the options. If your dryer is also slow, see why a dryer isn’t drying.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a dryer to squeak when it starts?
A brief squeak at start-up that fades within a few seconds is normal, GE says. A squeak that continues, that starts only once the dryer is hot, or that chirps every few seconds is not, and usually means a worn roller, glide, belt or pulley.
Why does my dryer thump?
Large items such as sheets and bedspreads can ball up and thump; shoes thump too. Whirlpool also notes that if the dryer has not been used for a while, the drum support rollers can develop flat spots that thump for the first few minutes, then go away as they regain their shape. Thumping that never fades points to worn rollers or a damaged belt.
What does a squealing dryer mean?
Maytag says a high-pitched, rubber-on-metal squeal when the drum starts can mean a worn drive belt, while screeching from the front, often the front right, can come from the idler pulley that keeps the belt tight. Worn support rollers, drum glides or rear drum bearings also screech. These are replaceable parts.
Why does my gas dryer click?
The gas valve clicks as it opens and closes during the heating cycle, and the burner makes a low roar while lit. Whirlpool and GE both list these as normal sounds.
Can I keep using a noisy dryer?
Stop if you hear scraping metal, grinding, or a loud bang, or smell burning; a broken belt or seized motor can follow. For a mild squeak, have it fixed soon: worn parts tend to fail completely, and lint around a struggling motor is a fire risk.
Sources
- Sounds or Noises in a Dryer Whirlpool
- Why Is My Dryer Squeaking? 8 Possible Causes Maytag
- Dryer: Noises GE Appliances
- Clothes Dryer Fire Safety (flyer) U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
First published October 7, 2026. Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Spot an error? Tell us and we will check it against the source.