The short answer
Noise from a Costway compact dryer is usually something in the drum, the machine resonating on a hard floor, or a drum support that has worn. A light machine tumbles a load with real force, so anything loose in a pocket or under the machine becomes very audible very quickly.
What you are actually seeing
- A rhythmic thumping as the drum turns — Means: on-page
- A rattle that changes when you press on the cabinet — Means: on-page
- A metallic clicking with each rotation — Means: on-page
- A squealing or scraping that rises with the drum — Means: on-page
- The machine walking across the floor — Means: on-page
- A hum with the drum not turning — Means: different-fault — Go to: costway-dryer-wont-start
- A rattle only from the vent hose — Means: different-fault — Go to: costway-dryer-cycle-fault
- Body: Match what you see before you take anything apart. A rhythmic thumping as the drum turns. A rattle that changes when you press on the cabinet. A metallic clicking with each rotation. A squealing or scraping that rises with the drum. The machine walking across the floor. Some near-miss symptoms belong on a different page: A hum with the drum not turning points at a drive or start fault, covered on costway-dryer-wont-start; A rattle only from the vent hose points at a loose hose rather than a machine fault, covered on costway-dryer-cycle-fault.
Causes, ranked for this machine
- Coins, buttons, zips or a stray object in the drum or a pocket — Why this rank: First because it is free to check, extremely common, and it produces the most alarming noise on this machine
- The machine standing on an uneven or slippery hard floor — Why this rank: A light machine walks and rattles where a heavy one would stay put
- The machine touching a wall, a cabinet or a washer beside it — Why this rank: Contact transmits vibration into a much larger resonant surface
- A vent hose loose at the machine or the outlet, drumming as air passes — Why this rank: Free to correct and often mistaken for an internal fault
- A worn drum roller, belt or bearing — Why this rank: Last because it needs a part and the four above account for most calls
- Body: Ranked for a compact or portable dryer on a household outlet: either a vented machine with a short flexible hose, or a ventless machine that collects condensate in a tank or sends it down a drain hose. Most likely: Coins, buttons, zips or a stray object in the drum or a pocket. First because it is free to check, extremely common, and it produces the most alarming noise on this machine. Next most likely: The machine standing on an uneven or slippery hard floor. A light machine walks and rattles where a heavy one would stay put. Third: The machine touching a wall, a cabinet or a washer beside it. Contact transmits vibration into a much larger resonant surface. Fourth: A vent hose loose at the machine or the outlet, drumming as air passes. Free to correct and often mistaken for an internal fault. Fifth: A worn drum roller, belt or bearing. Last because it needs a part and the four above account for most calls.
What to check, in order
- Empty the drum completely and check every pocket
- Stand the machine on a rubber mat on a flat floor
- Move the machine clear of walls and other appliances
- Secure the vent hose at both ends and run a short cycle
- Body: Each check rules out the causes above it. First, empty the drum completely and check every pocket. Second, stand the machine on a rubber mat on a flat floor. Third, move the machine clear of walls and other appliances. Fourth, secure the vent hose at both ends and run a short cycle.
Checks you can safely make yourself
- Unplug the machine, empty the drum and run a hand around the whole drum surface and the seal for a coin or a clip — Tools: torch — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Stand the machine on a rubber mat on a flat floor and run a short cycle — Tools: rubber mat — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Move the machine so it touches no wall, cabinet or appliance, then listen again — Tools: none — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Secure the vent hose at the machine and at the outlet so it cannot drum or vibrate — Tools: clip or tape — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Run a short cycle with the drum completely empty and note whether the noise persists — Tools: notepad — Time estimate: one short cycle
- Body: Checks an owner can make with the machine unplugged or by watching a short cycle. Step one: Unplug the machine, empty the drum and run a hand around the whole drum surface and the seal for a coin or a clip. Tools: torch. Time: a quarter of an hour. Step two: Stand the machine on a rubber mat on a flat floor and run a short cycle. Tools: rubber mat. Time: a quarter of an hour. Step three: Move the machine so it touches no wall, cabinet or appliance, then listen again. Tools: none. Time: a quarter of an hour. Step four: Secure the vent hose at the machine and at the outlet so it cannot drum or vibrate. Tools: clip or tape. Time: a quarter of an hour. Step five: Run a short cycle with the drum completely empty and note whether the noise persists. Tools: notepad. Time: one short cycle.
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the machine before reaching into the drum or moving it, and never reach into a turning drum. Do not run the machine with a known loose object in it, because it can damage the drum or the seal. Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. unplug-before-service
Where the owner fix ends
Call for a warranty claim or a technician when the drum is empty, the machine is on a mat clear of every surface, the vent hose is secure and a squealing, scraping or thumping is still present. That points at a roller, a belt or a bearing inside the cabinet.
Nearest pages of the same kind
Generalized information
This page is generalized across the Costway compact dryer line. Vented compact tumble dryers, ventless condensing machines and spin extractors share the ranking above but almost none of their parts, and this page does not cover a specific model or control revision. Family- and model-specific pages, where they exist, are linked below.
Links: - [Common COSTWAY Dryer Problems](/blog/costway-dryer-problems) - [COSTWAY Dryer: Does Not Clean or Dry](/blog/costway-dryer-cleaning-performance) - [COSTWAY Dryer: Controls, Display or Error Code](/blog/costway-dryer-control-fault) - [COSTWAY Dryer: Cycle Will Not Run or Complete](/blog/costway-dryer-cycle-fault)
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
