How to Fix a Squeaking Clothes Dryer

The checks worth doing before a repair call

A coin in the drum or a loose foot gives you something you can address before getting into worn parts. We'd begin with those external checks because they can reveal a fix without opening the cabinet, while bearing, roller and pulley work needs professional help.

Read your product manual before beginning an adjustment or repair. Whirlpool describes its advice as general guidance because the specific instructions vary by model, so use your own dryer's instructions for the details that apply to your machine.

Maytag describes wear from continued use as normal and not necessarily dangerous. That sits alongside the more specific continued-use warnings above; our advice is to follow the stop-use guidance because it addresses the risk of making an existing problem worse.

Look for something loose in the drum

Look inside the accessible drum for coins, paper clips or other metal objects that could have fallen out of clothing pockets. Speed Queen's drum check (opens in a new tab) puts these loose objects among the things to investigate when you hear noise.

Remove any loose objects you find there. If the drum is clear, move on to the dryer's stance: an unlevel machine is another possible source of squeaking. A clear drum also leaves internal possibilities, including rollers that need attention, for the service technician to assess.

Whirlpool example for level and loose feet

For a Whirlpool front-load electric dryer, the following applies Whirlpool's general dryer guidance. It separates two problems you can otherwise mix up: a machine that isn't level and feet that are loose even though the machine sits evenly.

Have a level and a wrench ready. Wear well-fitting work gloves to protect your hands while working, as Speed Queen recommends for dryer checks and adjustments.

1. Place the level on top of the dryer from front to back, then side to side. Check the reading in both directions.
2. If the dryer is unlevel, adjust its legs using your model's instructions until the level reads even.
3. To check loose feet, carefully pull the dryer away from the wall, tilt it back and secure it with a support object. Keep it supported while tilted, then tighten any loose feet with a wrench.

The support belongs in place before you work on the feet. Whirlpool's leveling and loose-foot guidance (opens in a new tab) includes that safeguard, and Maytag's procedure likewise calls for careful movement and support while the dryer is tilted.

Your adjustment targets are an even level reading and tightened feet. An even reading alone leaves loose feet as a possible noise source, which is why these are separate checks.

Where you heard it helps narrow the possibilities

Tell the technician whether the sound seemed to come from the bottom, front or back. Those observations help narrow the possibilities, but location alone doesn't identify a failed part.

A noise near the bottom can come from loose legs or something more involved, such as a worn motor. That range makes the external foot checks useful even when the sound seems to be coming from underneath the machine.

A front squeak can point toward the idler pulley, which keeps tension on the drum belt so it stays in place during a cycle. Maytag's explanation of pulley location (opens in a new tab) mentions the front-right area but also says these components sit toward the rear on some models.

The back contains several other possibilities. Drum bearings and roller shafts support the drum and help it turn smoothly, and a worn drive belt can also produce noise that seems to come from that area.

What worn parts can explain

Once loose objects and the feet have been considered, the remaining causes involve parts that support or drive the drum. Whirlpool names worn bearings, a faulty drive belt, an idler pulley, damaged roller shafts and a malfunctioning motor among the possibilities.

Drum bearings can squeak as the drum rotates when they're worn or poorly lubricated. On Whirlpool dryers, greasing or replacing those bearings calls for professional help; a licensed Whirlpool technician can handle that assessment and work.

The drive belt wraps around the drum, and fraying or cracking can make it squeak. A loose, worn or broken belt needs replacement by a licensed professional.

A broken or loose idler pulley needs replacement, with professional help recommended for pulley repair or replacement. Roller shafts can squeal when worn or affected by buildup; damaged shafts also need replacement with a licensed professional's assistance.

If those causes aren't responsible, the motor may be the source. Leave motor replacement to a professional because it involves wiring and other dryer components. These are the repair boundaries in Whirlpool's squeaking-dryer guidance (opens in a new tab).

A startup squeak is useful information

If you've noticed the squeak during startup, mention that when you request service. Maytag identifies a bad idler-pulley bearing (opens in a new tab) as one possible cause of startup squeaking and calls for a professional to verify it.

Maytag also describes a high-pitched, rubber-to-metal sound as the drum begins turning as a possible sign of belt wear against the motor pulley. An object partly caught in the drum seal can contribute to belt wear and squeaking, too.

Screeching can involve support rollers or drum glides as well. The rollers hold the drum in place, while the glides help it move smoothly; tell the professional about clothes catching between the drum and door or brown marks on clothing, which Maytag lists among signs of worn glides.

Keep the spray lubricant away

Don't use WD-40 to grease dryer parts. Whirlpool warns that it poses a fire risk (opens in a new tab) because it's combustible and dryers operate at very high temperatures; service technicians can select manufacturer-approved lubricants.

Rollers need proper lubrication, but accessing and lubricating them belongs with an appliance service technician. Pulley access on modern dryers requires disassembly, so pulley lubrication likewise belongs with a licensed technician.

For lubrication questions about your particular machine, contact a professional or ask the manufacturer for its specific safe-use instructions, as Maytag recommends. If rollers are wearing down, arrange attention promptly to prevent further wear and keep them functioning properly.

When to book an appliance technician

If your Whirlpool dryer's legs are level and tight but the squeak persists, contact Whirlpool Professional Repair Services. Whirlpool's support article (opens in a new tab) points you toward its repair and service appointment options.

For another brand, contact the dryer manufacturer or an appliance service technician if the cause remains unclear after the external checks. Maytag owners can call its customer care center at 800-344-1274 for help assessing loose legs or a suspected pulley problem.

Tell them what you found in the drum, whether the dryer reads level, whether its feet were loose, and where and when you heard the noise. If you're deciding between repair and replacement, ask a licensed professional whether replacing the affected parts can resolve the problem or whether you need a new dryer.