The short answer
On a stacked or compact machine, check the stacking kit and the levelling before suspecting the mechanism. After that, a squeal is the idler or a dry roller, a rhythmic thump is a worn roller, and an intermittent rattle is an object in the blower.
What you hear
- The whole stack buzzes during the cycle — The kit or the levelling rather than the dryer.
- A squeal that rises with the drum — Idler pulley or a dry roller.
- A thump once per drum revolution — A flat-spotted roller or an object in the drum seam.
- An intermittent rattle — Something loose in the blower housing.
- A rumble getting worse over months — Rollers or bearings wearing out.
- Not this fault: a noise only when the washer runs — That belongs to the machine underneath.
Ranked for compact and stacked machines
- Stacking kit loose, or the pair not level — First in a stacked installation, and free to correct.
- Drum rollers or glides worn — Second, and the usual source of rumble and thump.
- Idler pulley dry — Third, and the classic squeal.
- Coins or buttons in the blower housing — Fourth, and easily found in a compact machine.
- Belt frayed — Fifth, and it usually arrives with uneven drum motion.
- Blower wheel loose on its shaft — Last, and it sounds like a rattle tracking the fan.
Diagnose in this order
- Push gently against the machine and the stack while it runs — A change in the noise convicts the installation.
- Run the dryer empty for a minute — It removes the load as a variable.
- Turn the drum by hand with the power off — Roughness points at rollers or the belt.
- Check the filter housing and drum seam for loose objects — Compact machines hide fewer of them.
Owner checks
- Check the stacking kit brackets are tight and the washer beneath is level — Most stacked noise complaints end here.
Tools: spirit level, screwdriverAbout 25 min
- Run the machine empty and listen from the front and the rear — Loads imitate and mask mechanical noise.
About 10 min
- Turn the drum slowly by hand — Catching, grinding or free spinning each mean something different.
About 10 min
- Look into the filter housing and along the drum seam with a torch — Buttons and coins collect in both.
Tools: torchAbout 15 min
- Move any stored items off the top of the machine — A box on a vibrating cabinet sounds exactly like a fault.
About 5 min
- Stop before opening the cabinet for rollers, belt or blower — Mains wiring, lint and a heat source are all in there.
Before opening a stacked machine
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Never work on a stacked dryer without support: the kit holds it in place and the machine is heavy and high. Lint accumulates inside the cabinet and is combustible, so never run the machine with a panel off.
When to call
Call when the installation is sound and the noise tracks the drum, because rollers, belts and idlers are internal. Call promptly for a worsening squeal: a seizing idler shreds belts, and a stacked machine that needs its belt replaced has to come down first, which makes the visit longer and dearer if it is left.
Other faults on this dryer
Scope of this page
Generalized across dryer families under this badge, with an emphasis on compact and stacked installations; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: roller and belt part numbers, stacking kit specifications and bearing details.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
