GE Dryer Is Squeaking – Troubleshooting Guide

It’s normal for a GE dryer to make a bit of noise while being used. Still, loud squeaking noises signify that the appliance is facing a problem.

The most likely reasons your GE dryer is squeaking are that its drive belt is worn out, its idler pulley is dislodged or damaged, and the dryer motor bearings are worn out. Brand new dryers should not squeak at all unless there’s a foreign object stuck inside.

As concerning as squeaking might be, don’t worry. This noise does not pose a dryer safety hazard. So, keep reading to understand why this happens and how to fix it.

There are three likely reasons your GE dryer is squeaking: a worn-out drive belt, a damaged or dislodged idler pulley, or worn-out motor bearings. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at each component to understand how they work, how they fail, and what you can do to fix them.

Worn-Out Drive Belt

What it is: Have you ever wondered how the drum inside your dryer turns? It does that thanks to a drive belt that connects it to the dryer motor. The belt is typically made of rubber, and it wraps around the motor and the drum while also passing through one or more pulleys.

The power generated by the motor will turn the belt, which then turns the drum. Effectively, the belt transfers power from the motor to the drum.

The drive belt in your GE dryer must be kept under tension at all times. That’s important for the belt to maintain its grip when turning the drum. However, as you’ll see below, that tension can also be a part of the squeaking problem.

How it fails: As you might imagine, the drive belt that constantly turns the drum will experience a lot of friction. That friction will eventually lead to excess wear which causes the belt to wear out, stretch, or even crack.

When that happens, the belt will lose its ability to grip the dryer drum as it should. As a result, the belt may slip as it turns, which causes the squeaking noise that you hear.

How to fix it: Dryer belts cannot be repaired in any way. So, you must replace it as soon as the belt starts to wear out.

It’s normal for a GE dryer to make a bit of noise while being used. Still, loud squeaking noises signify that the appliance is facing a problem.

The most likely reasons your GE dryer is squeaking are that its drive belt is worn out, its idler pulley is dislodged or damaged, and the dryer motor bearings are worn out. Brand new dryers should not squeak at all unless there’s a foreign object stuck inside.

As concerning as squeaking might be, don’t worry. This noise does not pose a dryer safety hazard. So, keep reading to understand why this happens and how to fix it.

There are three likely reasons your GE dryer is squeaking: a worn-out drive belt, a damaged or dislodged idler pulley, or worn-out motor bearings. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at each component to understand how they work, how they fail, and what you can do to fix them.

Worn-Out Drive Belt

What it is: Have you ever wondered how the drum inside your dryer turns? It does that thanks to a drive belt that connects it to the dryer motor. The belt is typically made of rubber, and it wraps around the motor and the drum while also passing through one or more pulleys.

The power generated by the motor will turn the belt, which then turns the drum. Effectively, the belt transfers power from the motor to the drum.

The drive belt in your GE dryer must be kept under tension at all times. That’s important for the belt to maintain its grip when turning the drum. However, as you’ll see below, that tension can also be a part of the squeaking problem.

How it fails: As you might imagine, the drive belt that constantly turns the drum will experience a lot of friction. That friction will eventually lead to excess wear which causes the belt to wear out, stretch, or even crack.

When that happens, the belt will lose its ability to grip the dryer drum as it should. As a result, the belt may slip as it turns, which causes the squeaking noise that you hear.

How to fix it: Dryer belts cannot be repaired in any way. So, you must replace it as soon as the belt starts to wear out.