You heard some strange noises coming from your dryer but are not sure if it is the machine just being itself or if something else is going on. After listening more carefully, you realize those are squeaking sounds and ask yourself, “Is it safe to use a squeaky dryer?”.You then ask Google for help and end up here. We are glad to have you and will be more than happy to answer that question. And not only that: we will also give you the most common causes that make dryers go squeak squeak and how to solve them. Join us below!
Is It Safe To Use A Squeaky Dryer?
Okay, let’s first answer the big question. Yes, using a squeaking dryer is safe since it is not a big and serious problem in most cases. So if your dryer starts making a squeaking sound during the drying cycle, let it do its job – there is no need to panic.
Dryers are a type of appliance that produces various noisy sounds, which is why people sometimes mistake some of them for squeaking noises.
In case you are not sure if the dryer is really making squealing noise or just loudly blabbing like it usually does, then feel free to put the next load of laundry in the dryer and see what happens – if it continues making these strange novice noises, something is wrong with it, and you should look into fixing it.
What Causes A Squeaky Dryer?
There are many things that can cause squealing noises in a dryer, so let’s take a look at each of them one by one.
1. The Dryer Is Not Level
If the sounds are coming from the bottom, there is a chance that the issue is actually external. One of those issues is the dryer not being level, which happens due to damage on the floor or damaged or worn-out dryer legs.
Take a level and place it on the dryer to see if it stands on an even surface. If it is not, move it from where it normally is and look at the surface below it. One of the legs may have fallen into a small hole if the floor or subfloor is damaged, which could cause squeaking sounds when the dryer vibrates during work.
It is also possible that the floor or subfloor is uneven. In this case, the dryer would be slightly moving to one side, creating the same problem for your ears.
If everything is fine with the surface underneath the dryer, you should examine its legs or wheels. Lift the machine on its rear legs and take a look at the front legs.
Due to normal wear and tear, one or more legs might get damaged or loosened, leading to the issue we are talking about in this article. Some dryers come with defective legs or wheels.
You will need to replace the legs if they are damaged or defective. In case they are loose, tighten them using a wrench. In some cases, they become a little bit dry, so greasing them will go a long way in reducing the noise.
Do the same for the back pair of legs.
2. Drive Belt
One of the most important components of a dryer is its belt drive which turns and connects it to the motor and the rest of the mechanism. A damaged, frayed, poorly adjusted, or loose belt will cause squealing and screeching when the dryer is working.
It is the belt that goes all around the dryer’s drum, in case you do not know. To safely check its status, first, turn off and unplug your dryer. After that, take out the lint filter and remove the screws that hold its casing. Finally, unfasten the screws that hold the front panel and the top of the dryer.
Now you should be looking at your dryer’s drum with the drive belt wrapped around it. Inspect its condition to see if there are frays, cracks, or similar signs of wear and tear.
In case it is badly damaged and/or close to snapping, buy a suitable dryer belt model and put it in its place.
If the belt is old or slightly worn out but still doing its job, apply a belt lubricator not only to refresh it but also to extend its lifespan. Lastly, tighten the belt if it is loose.
3. Idler Pulley
The idler pulley helps maintain the proper tension on the dryer’s drive belt as the belt rotates around the drum.
The idler pulley is located in the back of the dryer, underneath the drum. To get to it, you will need to remove the top and back panels.
A broken, worn out, dried, or loose idler pulley can be responsible for the squeals, so you need to inspect its state.
Sometimes it only needs a little bit of lubrication, and it will be as good as new. Although many people recommend using WD-40 as a lubricant, we do not agree with that advice since it is a flammable liquid, and dryers can get really hot if they malfunction.
A better and safer option is using a household oil, synthetic grease, or an industrial lubricant such as Tri-Flow.
In other cases, it might be so damaged that you will need to replace it.
4. Loose Screws
Although the dryer does not dance around the bathroom like a washing machine, when used over a long period of time, some things in it can start to get dislodged.
One of those things is screws which might get loose with time. Also, sometimes they happen to not be properly tightened when coming out of the factory.
Either way, the vibrations that occur between the loose screw and its hole when the dryer is operating are sometimes responsible for these sounds. To solve this, look around and inside your dryer and check if everything is firmly in its place.
5. Drum Bearings
The drum bearings, which are located in the dryer’s back wall, play a crucial role in enabling the drum to rotate. If they are not lubricated, the drum will have trouble rotating, which will cause squeaky noises.
The good thing about this specific issue is that you can check if the drum bearings are the root of the problem by manually turning the drum.
You will have gotten your answer if you hear those annoying sounds after turning the drum. To remedy this, you should remove the drum from the dryer, pull out the bearings from the backside of the drum, and grease both the bearings and the holes they sit in.
6. Blower Fan
Since the blower fan is a component responsible for air circulation and extraction in the dryer, dust, and debris can accumulate in it over time, making it difficult to function properly and sometimes leading to squeaking sounds.
Also, due to wear and tear or excessive temperature in the dryer, the fan’s plastic blade might get damaged, which is, of course, another possible cause of strange sounds coming from the back of the dryer.
The procedure for removing the blower fan is a little more complicated, which is why we advise you to watch this video to learn how to find and inspect it. Depending on the type of issue, you may have to vacuum and clean the fan or replace it.
7. Glide Bearings
The drum glide bearings facilitate smooth rotation of the drum. Worn-out or damaged glide bearings can cause the drum to produce a squealing or grating sound and result in an uneven rotation.
You will find them inside the dryer on the drum’s front side. Check their condition to see if there is any damage. When this is the case, there is not much you can do fix-wise except buy new ones and replace them since they are made from plastic.
8. Drive Motor
The drive motor is what actually spins the dryer drum (of course, with the help of the drive belt). It can produce annoying sounds, such as squealing screeching if it is broken and worn out.
But since this is one of the dryer’s most sensitive and expensive parts, we do not recommend that you try to solve this problem yourself unless you are an expert or maybe a hardcore DIYer.
It would be best to call a certified appliance repair technician who can diagnose the problem and determine if it needs to be readjusted, repaired, or replaced entirely.
Sometimes replacement does not make much financial sense, so if a broken motor is a culprit for squeaky noises, prepare for the possibility that you will have to buy a new dryer.
Conclusion
Yes, it is safe to use a squeaky dryer, but not for long because a small problem might become a big one if not treated in time.
To find out what might be behind the squeaking noises, first check if the dryer is level or if there are any loose screws. After that, inspect the drive belt, idler pulley, blower fan, glide, and drum bearings, as they might be responsible for the issues.
When it comes to dealing with the drive motor, we recommend calling a professional. Or you can call one as soon as you realize the squeaking is not going away. It is your call.
Got a question for us in regards to this topic? Post it in the comment section!