Dryer Squealing When It Runs? Here’s Why
A high-pitched squeal or squeak while the drum is turning is one of the more distinctive dryer sounds, and it almost always comes back to the same handful of parts.
Worn drum support rollers
Most dryer drums sit on two or more small rollers that wear down over years of use. As they go, they squeal, and it is usually loudest right after the dryer starts and the drum first begins to turn.
A worn idler pulley
The idler pulley keeps tension on the drive belt. Once its bearing wears out it makes a similar noise, though it tends to be more constant right through the cycle rather than concentrated at startup, which is the easiest way to tell the two apart by ear.
A belt riding wrong
Less common than the other two, but a belt that has slipped slightly off its track will squeal against the drum or the pulley as it goes round.
Is it urgent?
Not in the way a stuck-on oven burner is, but it is worth dealing with before it gets worse. Worn rollers or a failing pulley left long enough will eventually take the belt with them, and once the drum stops turning altogether you are looking at a bigger and more expensive job.
What the repair usually involves
This is one of the more affordable and straightforward dryer repairs. Rollers, pulleys and belts are ordinary wear parts, and most technicians, ourselves included, carry them on the truck for the common brands. If your dryer is also running cold, that is a separate fault; see dryer not heating.
Dryer squealing and getting louder? Book a dryer repair or give us a call. We cover Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.