Maytag Dryer: making noise

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

If your Maytag dryer is making unusual noises like squealing, grinding, or thumping, it can disrupt your laundry routine. These sounds often indicate issues such as loose items in the drum, unbalanced loads, or worn parts like drum rollers. Identifying and addressing these problems early can help maintain your dryer's performance and longevity.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Maytag Models

  • Gas dryers may make normal clicking from gas valve during cycle
  • Flat spots on drum support rollers may cause initial thumping after long idle

Possible Causes

Loose items inside drum (e.g., coins, buttons, pens)

How to Identify: Rattling or knocking sounds that change when load shifts; check inside drum and lint trap for small items

Part: Drum interior

Unbalanced load or bulky items

How to Identify: Steady thumping or banging when bulk items like sheets clump on one side

Part: Drum and load distribution

Worn drum rollers or bearings

How to Identify: Squealing, grinding or scraping that worsens as drum spins; noise persists with empty load

Part: Drum rollers/shaft bearings

Faulty idler pulley or drive belt wear

How to Identify: Squealing or screeching from front/side; belt may slip and make noise

Part: Idler pulley/drive belt

Loose or unlevel dryer legs

How to Identify: Rumbling or thumping at start; dryer physically unstable on floor

Part: Dryer legs/frame

Foreign objects stuck between drum and housing

How to Identify: Scraping or grinding when drum rotates; visual inspection reveals trapped objects

Part: Drum housing seam

Damaged blower wheel

How to Identify: Rumbling or high-pitched noise from rear during operation; persistent after clearing drum

Part: Blower wheel

DIY Solutions

Remove Loose Items in Drum

Easy 5-10 minutes
  1. Stop dryer and unplug
  2. Empty drum and inspect for small objects
  3. Check lint trap and lint chute for trapped items
⚠️ Safety First: Unplug before reaching inside drum

Redistribute Load and Level Dryer

Easy 10-15 minutes
Tools Needed: Level, Wrench for legs
  1. Pause cycle and redistribute items evenly
  2. Ensure load not overloaded or bulky items clumped
  3. Adjust and tighten dryer legs to be level

Professional Repairs

Replace Worn Drum Rollers or Bearings

Estimated Cost: $150–$300 installed

Inspect/Replace Idler Pulley or Drive Belt

Estimated Cost: $150–$300 installed

Blower Wheel Replacement

Estimated Cost: $200–$350

When to Call a Professional

Noise persists after checking load and removing foreign objects
Squealing/grinding noises indicating internal component wear
Burning smell or dryer fails to operate normally

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean lint filter: Foreign-object rattling and airflow problems
    Frequency: after every load
  • Check and level dryer: Rumbling from unlevel installation
    Frequency: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Maytag Dryer making noise?
Common causes include loose items in the drum, unbalanced loads, or worn drum rollers and bearings.
How do I fix Maytag Dryer making noise myself?
You can remove loose items and redistribute the load for balance. Ensure the dryer is level.
How much does it cost to fix making noise?
Professional repairs typically cost between $150 and $350, depending on the issue.
When should I call a technician for making noise?
If the noise persists after DIY fixes or if it indicates worn parts, it's time to consult a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

50%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Either

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Bad rollers (2 mentions)
  • Bad pulley and belt (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Replace the rollers using a maintenance kit and clean the roller shafts.

    Success rate: 33.0%

  2. Replace bad pulley and belt; check idler arm or drum rollers.

    Success rate: 33.0%
Analysis based on 3 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Maytag Dryer making noise
  2. Maytag dryer making weird noise when running and even more w...
  3. Help with Maytag Bravos xl terrible noise

Community Discussions

making a weird noise

Replace the rollers using a maintenance kit and clean the roller shafts.

DIY View on Reddit →

horrific noise

Bad pulley and belt; possibly idler arm or drum rollers.

Pro needed View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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