The short answer
On a Conservator dryer this complaint is usually worn drum rollers or glides rather than the failure owners fear, and where it is not, something loose in the drum or the blower takes most of the rest. A full-size dryer runs on its own heavy circuit and vents through fixed ducting in the wall, which means most of what goes wrong with it is somewhere in the house rather than in the appliance. Two of the four are owner work; the last one on the list is not, and knowing which is which saves the call-out.
What you observe
- A rumble or rattle that follows the drum — Drum speed rather than motor speed is the clue.
- Cycles taking two or three times as long — A restriction somewhere in the air path.
- NEAR MISS - a noise with normal drying — Noise without a drying problem belongs on the noise page for this machine.
Causes, most likely first on this brand
- Worn drum rollers or glides — Top of the list here: the drum rides on rollers or felt pads, and as they wear they produce a rumble that rises with the drum rather than with the motor.
- Something loose in the drum or the blower — Second here: a coin that has left a pocket ends up in the blower housing, where it produces a hard rattle at exactly drum speed and nothing else does.
- A worn or slipping belt — Third, and worth the two minutes: a belt at the end of its life squeals on start-up or lets the drum stop turning while the motor runs on.
Check in this order, and why
- Listen for whether the rumble follows the drum — Rising with the drum rather than the motor names the rollers.
- Run it empty for a minute and listen — A coin in the blower rattles at drum speed and nothing else sounds like it.
- Check whether the drum actually turns while the motor runs — A motor running with a still drum is a belt and nothing else.
What an owner can safely check
- Run it empty for a minute and listen — It separates the machine's own noise from whatever is tumbling inside it.
About 10 min
- Rock each corner and adjust the feet until it sits solid — A dryer that rocks hammers the floor on every rotation.
Tools: spirit levelAbout 15 min
- Wash the lint filter in warm soapy water and dry it — Hold it up to the light: if you cannot see through the mesh clearly, that is your fault found.
Tools: warm water, brushAbout 15 min
- STOP HERE if the next step means opening the cabinet — Behind the panel are mains terminals and a heater, and that is where owner checks end.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the dryer or switch off its breaker before removing the lint housing, the rear panel or anything else - a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Never run the machine with the lint filter out or the door interlock defeated. If yours is a gas model and you smell gas at any point: do not switch anything on or off, leave the building, and call the gas utility or emergency services from outside. Do not look for the leak yourself.
When to call a technician
Call when the drum is empty, the machine sits level and a rumble or squeal remains. A drum that stops turning while the motor still runs is a belt and it will not improve, so stop using the machine at that point rather than running it to see how long it lasts.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page covers full-size dryers as a class rather than one model line. Roller and glide designs, belt routing and blower housings differ by family, and where a family- or model-specific page exists for your unit it is linked below. Not here: part identifiers and sound ratings.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
