# Bad whining noise from dryer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 5, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730 "2016-10-05T19:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/1 "2016-10-05T19:55:22Z")
Just moved into a new place and the dryer in the washer/dryer stack makes the most ungodly whine. Like unbearable. It seems to diminish during the cool-down phase, but maybe I was just going deaf by that point. This is a short-term rental and the landlord won’t pay to repair or replace the unit. Is this something I can fix myself? Is it something a professional might be able to do easily for a reasonable amount? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/2 "2016-10-05T20:04:49Z")
Sounds like the drum belt. Easy enough fix, but probably something the landlord should be handling rather than making it a DIY project. If you do wind up doing it, you should save the receipts and make every attempt to deduct the cost of the parts from the rent. It’s probably less than $20 though. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/3 "2016-10-05T20:14:38Z")
My first thought was it sounds like the bearings going. [http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-replace-a-dryer-bearing](http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-replace-a-dryer-bearing) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/4 "2016-10-05T20:17:21Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > My first thought was it sounds like the bearings going. My first thoughts were pretty similar, either the drum bearings or the motor bearings or the idler pulley. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/5 "2016-10-05T20:39:03Z")
I vote bearings as well. Ours went out and the sound was horrible. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/6 "2016-10-05T20:51:14Z")
The lease specifically states the landlord won’t repair the dryer (or washer). It didn’t occur to me that this was because the thing was already broken…he was a bit weird about the lease, eg cut the monthly rent so we could buy a fridge instead of just buying one himself–this worked out better for us monetarily. Anyway, it’s me or a handyman. Probably a handyman because if I mess up, it’s a new dryer for sure. Sounds like belt or bearings are not a huge problem though. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/7 "2016-10-05T20:58:09Z")
Check for small children inside the unit. They make ungodly whines all the time. My wife claims she was put in a dryer by her older siblings when she was but a wee lass, so it could happen. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/8 "2016-10-05T20:58:22Z")
I’m not sure of your definition of whining, but it sounds like it could be either the belt or bearings. Anecdotally, I’ve never had the bearings wear-out in a dryer, but I’ve replaced a couple of belts. My last dryer had a loose belt that would “sing” when it was cold. As long as ambient temps were above ~70, there was no noise. If ambient temps were less than that, the belt would sing for a while until it warmed-up enough to \*grab \*the drum. It wouldn’t make any noise when empty and would protest louder when it was full o’ wet clothes. I hope you find this helpful or, at least, entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/9 "2016-10-05T21:00:08Z")
Run the dryer when it’s empty. Is the noise any different? I had had a loud squeal and I thought it was the belt or the motor, but it turned out to be a plastic bushing near the door that the dryer drum rested against as it spun around. When the dryer was empty, the drum didn’t press down as hard and the noise went away. The plastic had become rough and the friction caused the squeal. Regardless, since this is a rental, I do _not_ recommend you try to fix it yourself. If you do and the dryer happens to break at a later time, the landlord could blame you for messing it up. If you decide to try to fix it, don’t tell the landlord. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/10 "2016-10-05T21:23:53Z")
A rental which the owner will not fix? Does the thing still work? Unless it no longer even dries clothes, _ignore it_. As a “file for future use” item, note that the choices are belt or bushing/bearing (a bushing is a cheaper thing which does the same as a bearing (in this case). ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/11 "2016-10-05T23:00:18Z")
There is NO WAY I can live without fixing the dryer. I don’t think you realize how awful the sound is. I wish it wasn’t out of pocket, but that’s where I am. Cheaper than a new one. I think the genius thing about it breaking permanently is that the landlord says in the lease he’ll cart it away at his expense, so I got that going for me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/12 "2016-10-06T01:58:31Z")
You could get one of those [portable, solar-powered clothes dryers.](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CJ12QO) The new models are practically silent. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/13 "2016-10-06T03:39:03Z")
drum bearings are common failures. If one of those breaks the drum is no longer centered. At that point it could be anything squealing. If you can get the back of it’s usually pretty easy to see if one of them is bad. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/14 "2016-10-06T18:44:49Z")
Just following up– I did call a repair service, because even if the repair were in my capacity, I have no time just now . Even if I did, the risk of ending up with a service call anyway–and meanwhile no dryer–was just too great. The problem was indeed the bearing; the belt and roller also were old and replaced at no additional charge. I watched a bit of what he did and might give it a shot myself next time if I have more leisure. Thank you everyone for your thoughts. The repair was $260–seemed like a lot, but not near as much as a new stacked WD unit. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/15 "2016-10-06T22:13:16Z")
Good to hear it’s fixed. See if the land lord will take it off your bill as a discount over time. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-whining-noise-from-dryer/767730/16 "2016-10-07T01:47:33Z")
^^He can easily make that back by charging the next tenant an extra $30 a month for the convenience of an on-site washer and dryer.