Dryer Making Loud Noise: Squeak, Thump or Grind

If your dryer is making a loud noise, note when it starts and whether it fades. Whirlpool says a light thump after installation or a long idle period can diminish as rollers turn. GE says a brief startup squeak can be normal, but a recurring or persistent squeak is not. Samsung adds that squealing or grinding usually points to an overloaded drum; if it continues with a normal load, it needs a stop-and-call response.

Listen before you inspect

Record whether the noise occurs at startup, after the dryer warms, once per drum turn or only with a certain load. Remove loose objects from pockets before the next cycle. A coin or zipper can rattle, click or tap in the drum without an internal failure.

Check that the dryer is stable and that nothing is resting against its cabinet. GE says a level machine on solid flooring can help reduce noise. Look for screws visible on the outside of the cabinet; do not remove covers. If the dryer has a gas line or hardwired connection, do not move it to inspect the back.

If the drum stops turning, use the dryer won’t-start guide. If clothes stay wet or heat is weak, use the dryer not-heating hub to compare airflow and cycle clues. Those symptoms can help distinguish a sound tied to a load from one that needs immediate service.

Causes, from temporary to professional repair

1. Rollers are settling after installation or idle time

Rollers are settling after installation or a period without use

A light thump appears in the first minutes after installation or a long idle period and fades.

Difficulty

Easy

Time

5 minutes

Tools

None listed

Whirlpool says roller sounds during the first cycles after installation can diminish with use. It also says a light thump in the first minutes after a long idle period can come from rollers flattened where they touch the drum; they regain shape as the drum turns.

If the thump is light and fades, observe whether it returns on every load. A loud, worsening or persistent thump is different. Stop and call if the noise continues beyond the early part of the cycle.

2. An object is tumbling with the laundry

An object is tumbling in the drum

A coin, zipper or other loose item rattles, taps or clicks with each drum turn.

Difficulty

Easy

Time

3 minutes

Tools

None listed

Whirlpool says objects left in pockets can rattle, knock, click or tap while the dryer turns. A zipper or hard object can strike the drum repeatedly and sound more serious than a soft fabric thump.

Stop the cycle and wait for the drum to stop. Remove the load when the door opens normally, check pockets and look inside the visible drum for a loose object. Do not reach through a moving drum or remove an internal panel.

3. The dryer is unstable or a visible screw is loose

The dryer is unstable or an exposed cabinet screw is loose

The machine rocks or a visible cabinet screw is loose.

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

10 minutes

Tools

level, screwdriver

GE recommends checking level, solid flooring and whether anything rests against the dryer. A cabinet pressed against a wall can transmit vibration. GE also says exposed cabinet screws can be tightened.

Check stability without pulling the appliance out. Tighten only a screw that is clearly exposed and identified as a cabinet fastener in the manual. Do not remove a cover or reach behind a gas-connected dryer. Ask the installer to correct an unstable floor or mounting.

4. A startup squeak persists or returns

A startup squeak continues or returns repeatedly

A squeak lasts beyond a few seconds, appears as the dryer heats or repeats at short intervals.

Difficulty

Pro

Time

45 minutes

Tools

None listed

GE says a squeak at startup can be normal if it stops after a few seconds. A squeak that starts as the dryer heats, or a short squeak that repeats every few seconds, is not normal in its guidance.

Stop using the dryer if the squeak persists. GE directs the owner to have it inspected by a technician. Do not remove a panel to identify a roller, bearing or belt.

5. A belt may be loose or damaged

A belt may be loose or damaged

A repeating thump continues after the load and visible setup checks.

Difficulty

Pro

Time

45 minutes

Tools

None listed

Part cost

$100–$250Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026

GE says a loose or broken belt can cause a drum-turning problem, and it identifies belt-related thumping among its noise clues. A repeating thump that continues after checking the load should be assessed by service.

$100–$250Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026 is a Fixr planning range for belt work, not a diagnosis. Ask whether the quote is for repair or replacement and what labor it includes.

6. A drum seal or glide may be scraping

A drum seal or glide may need service

A persistent scrape continues with the drum and is not caused by an item in the load.

Difficulty

Pro

Time

45 minutes

Tools

None listed

GE says worn front drum seals and glides can produce a scraping sound. Those parts are inside the appliance and are not an owner check.

Stop if the scrape is persistent or becomes louder. A technician can inspect the drum supports with the cabinet safely opened and identify the failed component.

Grinding, squealing and the load: what Samsung’s pages say

Whirlpool’s and GE’s pages say little about grinding, so this section leans on Samsung’s US and Canadian noise guides, which sort sounds by type. Samsung’s pages are written for its own dryers, but the load-related advice applies to any drum that is simply too heavy.

Squealing, squeaking or grinding. Samsung says these are usually the result of an overloaded dryer and that they are not normal. Its instruction is to immediately stop the cycle and reduce the weight of the load. It then suggests drying fewer items at a time and spinning the laundry in the washer first to remove excess water. If the noise returns with a normal load (Samsung’s example is about four wet towels), it says to request service. That gives you a concrete test: a grind that disappears with a smaller load points to weight, and a grind that stays with four towels does not.

Thumping. Samsung separates the two cases the way this guide does. If the dryer is loaded, the thump can be the load hitting the drum wall, and its fix is a smaller load and turning items with large buttons, snaps or zippers inside out. If the dryer is empty and still thumps, Samsung says it is not a homeowner fix and to request service. Run an empty cycle only briefly to confirm, and stop if the noise is loud.

Rattling. Samsung does not treat rattling as normal. Its steps are to level the dryer by fully retracting the leveling feet, finding with a carpenter’s level which feet need adjusting and adjusting with a wrench, using the smallest change needed. It also says to check that the exhaust vent is secure and does not wiggle or rattle after installation or adjustment, make sure the vent or the power cord is not knocking against the cabinet, and remove loose items such as buttons, pens or coins from the drum.

Humming or buzzing. Samsung says this is the blower motor pulling air through the dryer and is completely normal. A steady hum that is the same on every cycle needs no action.

Samsung’s Canadian page does not discuss clicking and groups squeaking with squealing and grinding. Neither page gives safety warnings beyond stopping the cycle before lightening a load, so the cautions in this guide about not opening the cabinet still stand.

What the sound probably means, by conditions

What you notice	Most likely reading	First action
Soft thump in the first minutes after a long idle period	Rollers settling (Whirlpool)	Watch whether it fades
Rattle or tap tied to each drum turn	Pocket item, loose vent or unlevel cabinet	Empty pockets, check level and vent
Thump only with a full load	Load hitting the drum wall (Samsung)	Reduce the load, turn zippers inside out
Squeal or grind that stops with a smaller load	Overloaded dryer (Samsung)	Dry smaller batches, spin first
Squeak that returns as the dryer warms	Not normal (GE)	Stop and call service
Thump or grind from an empty dryer	Fault (Samsung)	Stop and call service
Even hum	Blower motor	Nothing to do

Where the dryer sits can matter as much as what is inside it

Samsung’s UAE support page on vibration and noise starts with installation rather than parts. It is written for Samsung’s range there, which includes condensing models, so treat the model-specific details loosely. The general points hold for any dryer.

• A level, solid surface. The page says uneven surfaces cause vibration and rattling, and that soft tile or carpet can let a dryer shift and vibrate while it runs. It offers no fix beyond a level, solid surface, so if the dryer sits on a soft floor covering, that is a question for the installer.
• Leveling feet. Check the feet with a carpenter’s level and adjust them with a wrench if needed.
• Back and side clearance. Make sure the back of the dryer is not touching hoses, power cords or other objects, and keep at least an inch between the dryer and an adjacent appliance such as a washing machine. A cabinet that taps a neighbor sounds like an internal fault.
• Heavy items. The page says bathmats or jeans can cause knocking or thumping. Empty all pockets and turn garments inside out before loading.
• Cold rubber rollers. It says a thump can occur after the dryer sits unused for a long time or when the surrounding temperature is low. That matches Whirlpool’s roller explanation above, with temperature added as a trigger. The page gives no fix, so the practical test is whether the sound fades within a few minutes of tumbling.
• The lint filter. The page says a clogged filter can affect performance and cause noise, so clean it before you conclude anything is worn. See how to clean a dryer vent for the airflow side of that.

Samsung’s page also says to stop the cycle if the dryer is overloaded and that addressing these issues promptly can prevent further damage. It does not mention shipping bolts or give a specific load size, so check the manual for your model.

Stop and call a pro

Stop using the dryer if the sound is grinding, scraping continuously, loud enough to shake the cabinet or accompanied by a burning smell. Do not run repeated cycles to see whether the noise changes. Tell service whether it began at installation, after the dryer sat unused, after a heavy load or after it warmed.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dryer thump for a few minutes and then quiet down?

Whirlpool says rollers can flatten where they touch the drum while the dryer is idle; a light thump at the beginning can fade as the rollers regain shape.

Is a squeak normal when a dryer starts?

GE says a startup squeak that stops after a few seconds can be normal. A squeak that begins as the dryer heats or repeats every few seconds is not normal and needs service.

What if my dryer makes a grinding noise?

Samsung says grinding is usually an overloaded dryer: stop the cycle and lighten the load. If it continues with a normal load, or the drum is empty, stop using the dryer and call a technician.

Sources

• Dryer Sounds and NoisesWhirlpool Product Help
• GE Dryer Squeaking or SquealingGE Appliances
• Dryer Drum Does Not TurnGE Appliances
• Dryer Repair CostFixr (secondary cost source)
• Samsung dryer is too noisySamsung Support (US)
• A guide to understanding the noises made by your Samsung dryerSamsung Support (Canada)
• Why is my dryer vibrating or making noise?Samsung Support (UAE)