How to Fix the Belt for a Noisy Dryer

The belt in a dryer is vulnerable to general wear and tear over time, due to the high friction it experiences. If you hear a tapping noise in your dryer, it is possible that a piece of the belt has come off and is slapping the side of the cabinet of your dryer. The belt will continue to fray over time until it eventually snaps. At this point, the tapping noise will stop, but your dryer will likely stop working as well. Therefore, it is best to fix this issue before it progresses, and we’ll show you how.

How to Diagnose the Belt

Your dryer belt typically has a braided backing and a ribbed rubber that goes down on the drum. While inspecting the belt, pinch it as you check for fraying or splitting:

What is a Belt?

The dryer belt is a rubber strip that grips the outside of the dryer drum, allowing it to spin when the motor is running. It is attached to the idler pulley, drum, and motor pulley. If the belt is damaged, it may cause the drum to not spin at all. In this case, you may hear the motor running, but the drum will not rotate. On certain dryer models, a loose or damaged drive belt may prevent the motor from running as well.

Where is the Belt Located?

The dryer belt is fitted around the outside of the drum.

General Location of the Belt in a Dryer

What Type of Noise Can You Expect?

A broken belt would tap against the dryer repeatedly during its spin cycle.

How to Access and Remove the Belt

1. Disconnect the dryer from the electrical outlet.
2. Inspect the belt by opening the front door on your dryer and rotating the drum using your hands. Alternatively, you can lift the top off the dryer and check from there.
3. If you are unable to tell if the belt is damaged or hanging loosely, you can remove the front and top panel of the dryer to access the belt.
4. Once these panels are removed, you will be able to easily access the belt, which you can find looped around the dryer drum.
5. Inspect the belt to see if it is fraying and is still able to hold tension. If it is in good condition, then you will need to investigate another part of your dryer.
6. If the belt is visibly damaged or hanging loosely, you will need to get rid of it and install a new belt. You can do this in just a few minutes.

FIX TIP

It is advisable to have a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, and a pair of safety gloves for this repair.

How to Install a New Belt

1. With the top and front panel removed, locate the idler pulley inside the machine and press down on it to release the belt.
2. Pull the old belt off the drum and discard it.
3. Place the grooved side on the drum and around the motor pulley and keep the flat side on the idler pulley.
4. Make sure the belt is taut and use your hands to turn the drum and ensure that it is rotating freely.
5. Reinstall the front panel and reconnect the wires to the door switch.
6. Place the top panel on the dryer and secure it.
7. Plug in your machine, and your repair is complete!

Next: Troubleshooting the Drum Seal

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