Why Is My Dryer So Loud? 6 Reasons Why

Hearing some noise when you run a clothes dryer is not uncommon and may make you wonder why your dryer is so loud. Some culprits could be zippers clanging against the drum, heavy clothing thumping as they tumble, and loose items, like change left in pockets, can jangle. However, if your dryer is banging on a more regular basis, it could indicate a mechanical problem. Here are the most common reasons you may be hearing dryer noise—and how you can fix the problem. 

1. Items in the Drum

You've removed everything from the pockets. So why do you hear scraping or pinging noises? The most common reason for irregular dryer noises is rigid clothing or items accidentally left in the machine. Tiny things like coins or zipper ends can make noises disproportionate to their size. It's even possible that a screw or other small part from the machine fell into the drum and is causing the noise. 

How to Fix It

While you can stop the load and check for foreign objects, there's a good chance the item will remain undetected, especially if it's small. If the suspect object is part of the laundry, the noise should go away after changing the load. If not, inspect the inside of the drum for loose debris. 

2. Unbalanced Load

Heavy clothing, tennis shoes, and bulky items can cause thumping noises, especially when they are wet. The sound could make it seem that the dryer is struggling to spin. This clamor is also possible if several smaller items are tangled together. 

How to Fix It

Stop the machine and inspect the load. Untangle the cluster if several items are in a clump, and consider air drying bulky items. Operating your dryer with a significantly unbalanced load can cause premature wear on the drive components and shorten its lifespan. 

3. Loose Dryer Parts

Your clothes dryer is a complex machine with many parts that must work together to accomplish a single goal. Several smaller parts, like screws, switches, and sensors are prone to loosening or falling off due to normal wear.  Loose dryer parts can cause rattling, pinging, rubbing, vibrations, thumping, and other strange sounds. 

How to Fix It

Due to the complexity of the components, most homeowners choose to hire a dryer repair professional to inspect the machine for this type of problem. If you're a DIYer with the confidence to dismantle and put the machine back together, inspect it for loose parts. Common culprits are the belt and drive components, loose screws, switches, or sensors. 

4. Vibration

Vibration noises coming from your dryer can come from several sources. Friction between the drum and the machine's housing is one possible reason. A struggling dryer motor is another, while loose, failing, or worn drive components are also common. Your dryer can even make strange vibration sounds due to the floor it sits on.

How to Fix It

Vibration noises from your dryer can indicate big problems or nothing at all. If you've recently changed your laundry room's flooring type, the issue can be remedied by adjusting the dryer's adjustable feet. However, persistent vibrations should be checked out by a pro sooner rather than later. This type of racket is commonly associated with necessary repairs, such as replacing the belt, roller wheels, or other moving parts. 

5. Worn Drive Parts

Regular squeaking, thumping, grinding, rubbing, and similar noises are usually due to worn drive parts. Your dryer relies on a belt, roller wheels, an idler pulley, a drum bearing, and a seal between the drum and the machine's body to spin quietly and effectively. All of these are subject to failure from normal wear and friction. 

How to Fix It

If you're confident in your DIY skills, replacing drive components on an older dryer is relatively straightforward. You may need to unscrew the dryer lid or the back to locate the failing part and replace it. The process is simple. However, newer machines have trickier technology components and are best left to a professional who can handle these advanced repairs with the correct tools.  

6. Motor Failure

If your dryer runs but sounds strained or generates unusual humming noises, the drive motor is most often the problem. Fixing or replacing it is essential before it completely fails.

How to Fix It

Most motor failure situations require motor replacement. Dryer repairs cost between $100 and $430 on average, including fixing or replacing the drive motor. While this task is possible as a DIY project, having a professional do it will secure warranty on parts and can address other issues. 

When to Call a Pro

Most homeowners call a local dryer repair specialist when unidentifiable noises are not going away. As with many appliance types, DIY repairs are possible and relatively simple for older laundry machines. However, newer models tend to be more technologically advanced and often require the tools and skills of a pro to get them back into working order. 

We recommend calling a pro for dryer repair when a simple fix, such as foreign objects in the drum or adjusting the machine's feet, cannot be remedied.