Top Reasons Why Frigidaire Dryer Is Squeaking

A dryer in good working order should never make too much noise, least of all a high-quality dryer by Frigidaire. So, when a dryer starts squeaking, you know that there’s a problem that needs solving.

The top reasons a Frigidaire dryer may squeak include a lack of grease at the idler pulley (tension roller), worn-out drum or rear bearings, or a stuck blower wheel.

Let’s take a look at each of these reasons and how you can get this problem resolved.

What it is: A dryer consists of a drum that rotates so that the clothes inside will dry out evenly. The drum is turned by a belt and a series of pulleys working behind the scenes inside the appliance. 

One of those pulleys is called the ‘idler pulley’ or ‘tension roller’, which keeps that belt under tension so that it can rotate the drum effectively.

Why it fails: The idler pulley applies pressure on the belt to keep it tense, while a rotating wheel on the pulley ensures that the belt can move without a problem.

The problem arises when that rotating wheel isn’t greased up enough. Perhaps the manufacturer mistakenly applied too little grease or did so incorrectly.

Besides that, it’s also possible that the existing grease may have dried out. That’s especially true for dryers that have been in use for many years.

When an idler pulley lacks grease, it will have a very tough time rotating freely. That will result in you hearing the loud squeaking noise coming from your dryer.

How to fix: To fix this problem, you generally have two options. You can attempt to reapply lubrication to the idler pulley that you already have.

If your dryer has been in use for many years and the pulley is worn, you could also buy and install a new idler pulley assembly as preventative maintenance on your dryer.

In either case, you’ll need to remove the rear or front access panel to reach the idler pulley. Be sure to disconnect the dryer from its power supply before you do this.

A dryer in good working order should never make too much noise, least of all a high-quality dryer by Frigidaire. So, when a dryer starts squeaking, you know that there’s a problem that needs solving.

The top reasons a Frigidaire dryer may squeak include a lack of grease at the idler pulley (tension roller), worn-out drum or rear bearings, or a stuck blower wheel.

Let’s take a look at each of these reasons and how you can get this problem resolved.

What it is: A dryer consists of a drum that rotates so that the clothes inside will dry out evenly. The drum is turned by a belt and a series of pulleys working behind the scenes inside the appliance. 

One of those pulleys is called the ‘idler pulley’ or ‘tension roller’, which keeps that belt under tension so that it can rotate the drum effectively.

Why it fails: The idler pulley applies pressure on the belt to keep it tense, while a rotating wheel on the pulley ensures that the belt can move without a problem.

The problem arises when that rotating wheel isn’t greased up enough. Perhaps the manufacturer mistakenly applied too little grease or did so incorrectly.

Besides that, it’s also possible that the existing grease may have dried out. That’s especially true for dryers that have been in use for many years.

When an idler pulley lacks grease, it will have a very tough time rotating freely. That will result in you hearing the loud squeaking noise coming from your dryer.

How to fix: To fix this problem, you generally have two options. You can attempt to reapply lubrication to the idler pulley that you already have.

If your dryer has been in use for many years and the pulley is worn, you could also buy and install a new idler pulley assembly as preventative maintenance on your dryer.

In either case, you’ll need to remove the rear or front access panel to reach the idler pulley. Be sure to disconnect the dryer from its power supply before you do this.