What you are actually seeing
- A loud roar or wobble from the blower area
- A scraping from the front of the drum
- A rhythmic thump once per drum revolution
- A high squeal that starts as soon as the drum turns
- Not this fault: A noise with clothes still coming out dry on time
Ranked causes on a Conservator dryer
- Drum support rollers worn or flat-spotted — Ranked here because: this platform is mechanical by design, so wear parts and couplings fail as parts rather than as symptoms of a board
- Idler pulley dry or its bearing failing — Ranked here because: a belt-driven drum or transmission is the defining feature of the platform and the first thing that goes
- Drive belt frayed or glazed — Ranked here because: this platform is mechanical by design, so wear parts and couplings fail as parts rather than as symptoms of a board
- Front drum glides or felt seal worn through — Ranked here because: a machine that runs harder surfaces anything marginal as a performance complaint first
- Blower wheel loose, cracked or fouled — Ranked here because: a restriction builds gradually, so performance falls off long before anything stops
- Machine not level or feet not all on the floor — Ranked here because: these machines are commonly installed by the owner or the delivering dealer, and levelling and venting errors are the most frequent finding
What to check, and in what order
- Level the machine and confirm all four feet are on the floor
- Clean the lint filter, the filter housing and the vent connection at the back
- Name the sound: thump, squeal, grind, rattle or roar
- With the machine off, turn the drum slowly by hand and feel for roughness or a flat spot
Steps you can safely do yourself
- Name the sound: thump, squeal, grind, rattle or roar — Tools: none — Estimated time: a few minutes
- With the machine off, turn the drum slowly by hand and feel for roughness or a flat spot — Tools: none — Estimated time: a few minutes
- Listen at the end of a cycle as the machine coasts to a stop for anything loose in the blower — Tools: none — Estimated time: a few minutes
- Check the drum and the door seal edge for coins, buttons and zip pulls — Tools: flashlight — Estimated time: a few minutes
- Level the machine and confirm all four feet are on the floor — Tools: spirit level, adjustable spanner — Estimated time: about a quarter of an hour
Safety
Safety
unplug-before-service branch-circuit-15-20a
When to call a technician
a roller, an idler or the belt needs replacing, since the cabinet has to come apart the blower wheel is loose or damaged on its shaft the noise comes with a burning smell or with drying times that have doubled
Nearest pages
What this page does not cover
Not this fault: the family pages for the laundry, refrigeration and cooking lines Not this fault: model-specific pages once the model and serial plate is read
Links: - [Common Conservator Dryer Problems](/blog/conservator-dryer-problems) - [Common Conservator Dishwasher Problems](/blog/conservator-dishwasher-problems) - [Common Conservator Freezer Problems](/blog/conservator-freezer-problems) - [Conservator Dryer: Does Not Clean or Dry](/blog/conservator-dryer-cleaning-performance)
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
