When an LG dryer makes noise, it is usually telling you which part is wearing by the kind of sound: a thump or rumble per turn points to the drum rollers or an unlevel stance, a squeal or screech points to the drive, a rattle or clank points to something loose or trapped in the drum, a loud roar points to a restricted vent or a blower problem, and a hum with no spinning points to the drive. Stop the dryer first, because a noise that is new, loud or combined with a burning smell is a reason to unplug it before you work out the cause.
Why is my LG dryer so loud?
Most dryer noise has a short list of causes, and the sound narrows it down. The drum rides on support rollers and is turned either by a belt and idler pulley or, on some designs, directly by the motor. Anything that wears in that path makes a sound that repeats once per turn of the drum. A second group of causes is outside the drive: loose objects in the drum, an exhaust duct that is clogged or crushed, or a dryer that is not sitting level. The last group is electrical or mechanical failure near the motor, which makes a hum, buzz or grinding that does not change with the load. Work from the easiest cause to the hardest, and stop at any sign of burning.
Is something loose or trapped in the drum?
Check this first because it costs nothing. Unplug the dryer, open the door and look through the drum for coins, keys, buttons, a zipper pull, a hook from a bra or a pen that was left in a pocket. Run your hand along the drum wall and the door opening to feel for a bent edge, and look down the lint filter slot. A rattle or a regular tick that begins after you dried a particular load usually points here. Also check that the lint filter is seated, since a filter that is loose can chatter in its slot. If you find a trapped object, remove it, and if the dryer is still noisy after that, move on to the next causes.
Is the dryer level, and is the load balanced?
A dryer that rocks on an uneven floor thumps and vibrates, and the noise gets worse when the drum is full of heavy, wet laundry. Push gently on the top corners to see whether it rocks, and adjust the feet according to your owner’s manual until it sits firm. Our LG dryer installation guide lists a level stance as one of the three things to get right at installation. A single heavy item, such as a wet comforter, can also clump into one side of the drum and cause a heavy thump for a few turns; stop the dryer, spread it out and restart. A thump that continues with a half load of light clothes is more likely a roller or the dryer’s footing than the laundry.
Do worn rollers or a belt make an LG dryer noisy?
Often, yes. On belted designs the drum is carried on support rollers and driven by a belt and idler pulley, and the drum not turning page on this site lists a worn roller, a seized idler pulley and a broken belt as the usual mechanical causes. A worn roller makes a rumble or thump with each rotation, and a failing idler or a belt that has begun to slip makes a squeal. Do not open the cabinet to inspect these yourself. The rollers sit behind the drum and the cabinet panels expose wiring and sharp metal, and a technician can replace the worn part before it damages the drum or leaves the dryer unable to turn. If the drum will not turn at all and only hums, read our guide to an LG dryer drum not turning.
Could a clogged vent make the noise?
A restricted vent makes a different sound: a loud roar or whoosh from the blower working against a blocked duct, together with clothes that take more than one cycle to dry. LG’s Flow Sense feature watches exhaust airflow and posts d75 through d95 as the duct restricts, so a code on the display along with a loud sound points to the vent, not the drive. Clean the lint filter, then, with the dryer unplugged (and for a gas dryer, without touching the gas connection), check the duct for lint and kinks. Our guide to LG dryer vent cleaning lists the steps, and a clogged duct is also a fire risk, so do not postpone it. If the dryer takes too long, see why an LG dryer takes too long. On ventless heat-pump models, the blower or fan motor can be the source: LE3 is the code that points to it.
When should you stop and call a technician?
Call if the noise is a squeal or grinding that continues after you have cleared the drum and leveled the dryer, if the drum hums but does not turn, if an LE1 or LE3 code shows or if the dryer is slow to dry and loud together. Unplug the dryer or switch it off at the breaker right away if you smell burning, see smoke or hear metal scraping on metal. Do not keep running a dryer that smells hot. Our vent cleaning guide notes that a clogged duct creates a fire and overheating risk, so a restricted vent is not something to put off. Our LG dryer repair page explains how a visit works, and if the dryer is old and the repair is large, the guide to repairing or replacing an LG dryer helps with the decision.
