Why Does My Clothes Dryer Make a Squeaking Noise?

Does it sound like a mouse is stuck inside your clothes dryer when you are doing laundry? Squeaking, screeching, squealing and similar noises are fairly common with clothes dryer, especially older models. The good news is that it’s usually a fixable problem. Before you can stop the squeaking and regain your sanity, though, you must first identify what’s causing the sound.

Roller

Some clothes dryers have rollers on the front and/or bottom which are used to support the drum. When the unit is turned on, the drum glides (or rolls) across these them. Over time, it’s not uncommon for the ball bearings in these rollers to fail, restricting the normal gliding motion of the drum and subsequently creating a squeaking noise. Dryer rollers are relatively inexpensive, but replacing them can be a challenge in certain models.

Even if the rollers are still intact, a lack of oil/lubrication may still create a squeaking noise. Check the rollers to make sure they aren’t damaged. Assuming they are still intact, you can try spraying some WD-40 or similar “general-purpose” lubricant on it. Well-lubricated rollers are less likely to produce unusual noises like squeaking.

Teflon Strip

If there are no rollers in your clothes dryer, chances are the drum glides on a strip of Teflon (or similar material) instead.. Teflon wears more rapidly than ball-bearing rollers, which can result in metal-on-metal contact. When this occurs, it can greatly degrade the normal function of the drum, causing severe (and expensive) damage to the unit.

Check your dryer’s owner’s manual for step-by-step instructions on how to disassemble it. If the strip is visibly worn to the point where the drum is touching metal or about to touch metal, you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible. Allowing the drum to scrape against the metal body of your dryer can quickly damage your unit.

Uneven Legs

Are the legs on your dryer even and level with the floor? If they aren’t, it may cause your unit to produce unusual noises when it’s running. Place a leveling beam on top of your dryer to check and see if it’s level. If it tilts towards any particular direction, you should adjust the feet appropriately.

Most modern-day clothes dryer have fully adjustable feet that can be lowered or heightened by twisting. In the unlikely event that your dryer does not have adjustable feet, you can always stick a magazine under it.